The Empowered Principal® Podcast

What if the way we've been thinking about student behavior, engagement, and learning is missing a critical piece: the brain itself?   In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Lisa Riegel, a former educator and expert in brain science, to explore how understanding neuroscience can completely shift the way you lead your school, support your teachers, and respond to your students. We dive into her work around the "8 C's" and how school leaders can create the conditions for meaningful, lasting change.   Join us this week as we talk about how neuroscience impacts teaching, learning, and leadership. You'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how the brain influences behavior, why traditional approaches to motivation and discipline often fall short, and how you can lead in a way that aligns with how people actually learn and change. This episode will help you think differently about your role as a leader and give you a new lens for supporting both students and staff in a more human-centered, effective way.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/432   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/   Check out Dr. Lisa Riegel's books here:  https://www.amazon.com/NeuroWell-Applying-science-supportive-proactive/dp/B0F1N5DJQF https://www.amazon.com/Aspirations-Operations-leaders-making-transformative/dp/B0GHF3P15G    

What if preparing students for life after high school felt less overwhelming for both families and school leaders?   In this episode, I sit down with Warren Buck, founder of Future Finders, to explore how we can better support students and families through the college admissions process. Warren brings a unique perspective as a former teacher and principal who now works directly with families to help students navigate their options after high school.   Join us this week as we explore how the college admissions landscape has changed, why it can feel so complex and overwhelming, and how students benefit from having a guide who can help them explore possibilities, clarify their goals, and take ownership of their future. You'll learn what families and educators should prioritize early in the college planning process, the importance of focusing on school fit rather than rankings, and how to help students tell their authentic story through their application materials.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/431   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/   Check out Future Finders here: https://www.futurefindersllc.com/  

Have you ever wondered how to stay in your power when everything around you feels uncertain or out of your control?   As leaders, we talk about empowerment all the time, but the truth is, we naturally move in and out of it. Whether it's a difficult conversation, a challenging staff situation, or something happening outside your school, it's easy to feel thrown off and pulled into fear. In this episode, I break down what it really means to stay in your power and why it can feel so hard in the moments when you need it most.   Tune in this week to learn how to regulate your nervous system, challenge fear-based thinking, and access the part of your brain that allows you to lead with courage, clarity, and self-trust, even in the most uncomfortable situations. You'll also discover intentional questions that will help you move out of reactivity and back into empowered decision-making.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/430   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

What happens when staff movement brings up both excitement and disappointment at the same time?   In the spring season of school leadership, the movement of staff members becomes part of the HR landscape. Retirements, leaves, resignations, internal transfers, and district reassignments can all create a ripple effect across your campus, and those changes can bring up a mix of emotions that leaders do not always expect.   Tune in this week to discover what it means to lead yourself through employee movement with intention. You'll learn how to acknowledge the duality of your emotions when staff move on, how to self-coach when someone joins your team and you already have concerns, and how to respond when district staffing decisions feel frustrating or unjust. I also walk you through the difference between reacting, staying silently resentful, and processing your emotions so you can respond as the most empowered version of yourself.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/429   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

What makes holding some staff members accountable feel easy while others make your stomach turn?   As leaders, we often notice that accountability conversations feel very different depending on the person involved. Some staff naturally hold themselves accountable and welcome feedback. Others are eager to grow and see accountability as a collaborative process. And then there are the situations that feel much harder, where discomfort, fear, or uncertainty start to creep in.   Join me this week as I dive into the concept of impartial accountability and why it can feel so challenging for school leaders, especially during the spring season when evaluations, observations, and staffing decisions are front and centre. You'll hear questions you can ask yourself when accountability feels difficult, how your past experiences with accountability might be influencing your leadership, and why documenting concerns and communicating expectations early in the year matters.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/428   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Dual language education is one of the most powerful ways schools can honor students' identities while strengthening academic outcomes, and this week's conversation makes that crystal clear.   I'm joined by Instructional Superintendent at District of Columbia Public Schools Eric Bethel and Executive Director of The Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation Dr. Maggie Marcus for a rich discussion on bilingualism, multilingualism, and what it really looks like to teach content through two languages in a way that supports every child.   Join us on this episode as we break down what dual language programs are, including the difference between whole school models and strand models, and why the structure matters for equity and school culture. You'll also hear how dual language programs can reduce isolation for multilingual learners, why this work is not just a programme choice, but a deeper commitment to belonging and opportunity, and practical ideas for leaders who do not currently have a dual language programme but want to better serve multilingual students right now.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/427   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Have you ever reached the end of a season and realized you're busy, productive… and completely out of rhythm?   As winter wraps up and spring begins in the school year, it's easy to slip from proactive leadership into reactive mode. Evaluations, HR decisions, IEP meetings, staffing conversations, and mounting expectations can create a snowball effect that leaves you feeling overwhelmed, even if you're technically "getting it all done."   Tune in this week as I explore what happens when you move from a success cycle into an overwhelm cycle and the signs it's time for a rhythm reset. You'll learn how to identify the problem behind the problem, how internal chaos often shows up as external clutter, and how small intentional resets can restore clarity, alignment, and momentum.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/426   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

As a school leader, how do you navigate the constant pressure and stress of the job without losing sight of your own well-being?   Leadership can often feel like an emotional balancing act: trying to manage expectations, navigate difficult situations, and balance your professional and personal life. And in this episode, we'll explore how to handle the pressure, stress, and emotional turbulence that comes with school leadership, while also striving for satisfaction and fulfillment.   Tune in this week as I dive into the emotional experiences that come with leadership. You'll learn how to differentiate between relief and satisfaction, why true satisfaction comes from holding space for discomfort, and how to empower yourself as a leader by making conscious decisions rather than seeking quick fixes.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/425   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

As a school leader, you don't stop being human just because you carry a title, yet many leaders feel pressure to compartmentalize their emotions in order to keep going. When the events happening in our communities and across the nation feel overwhelming, it can become harder to lead with clarity, presence, and compassion.   In this episode, I'm speaking directly to the humanity of education and the emotional reality school leaders, teachers, students, and families are experiencing right now. This is not a conversation about politics. It's a conversation about what it means to lead humans through difficult moments and why ignoring the emotional experience only creates more strain, disconnection, and burnout.   Join me this week to hear how leadership always moves from the inside out and why allowing yourself to fully process emotions creates the bandwidth needed to hold space for others. We'll talk about how to bring humanity back into education through small, intentional actions and courageous conversations that prioritize connection, compassion, and empowerment at every level of your school community.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/424   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Feeling shame as a leader is a common experience, but it doesn't have to hold you back.   Whether you're grappling with a moment of emotional reaction or procrastination, it's easy to fall into the trap of feeling inadequate or disconnected from your true leadership potential. But what if I told you that shame could actually be a powerful tool to redirect you towards greater alignment and personal growth?   Join me on this episode as I dive into the uncomfortable feeling of shame, especially in the context of school leadership. We explore the different layers of shame, from the shame of acting out of alignment with your values to the shame that arises from procrastination. But most importantly, we'll discuss how to turn shame into a call to action, rather than letting it paralyze you. You'll learn how to process and repair your mistakes, stay aligned with your leadership vision, and use shame to propel you forward.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/423   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Do you ever feel guilty about wanting nicer things for your school?   Maybe it's fresh carpet in the office, a wellness room, or simply air fresheners to combat that musty smell. But then that voice creeps in: "Who am I to want this? We should be grateful for what we have." Here's what I've learned after years of coaching school leaders: When you resist luxury, you're not just denying yourself - you're denying your entire school community.   If you find yourself struggling to embrace luxury as a school leader, this episode is for you. Listen in to learn how luxury is actually a feeling we experience, not just something we buy, the difference between wanting to say yes but saying no, and how pushing through that discomfort of embracing luxury opens the door for more to come in.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/422   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Have you ever felt guilty for wanting things to be easier at your school... and then immediately felt selfish for wanting these things? What does it truly mean to experience luxury as a school leader?   In part two of the Leadership Luxury Series, I explore the idea that luxury isn't about having all the things at your fingertips. It's about the energetic experience you have as a human walking on your campus, feeling proud of who you are, what you stand for, and the commitment of your teachers and students.   Tune in this week to hear why we feel shame around our desire for luxury and how to reclaim the luxury that's already in your life. You'll learn how to hold the duality of luxury, which means embracing both the good and the balance that comes with it. This episode will help you expand your capacity to receive the luxuries you already have while creating space for new ones.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/421   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

What if luxury isn't about wealth, exclusivity, or expensive experiences at all?   In this episode, the first of a three-part series, I explore the energetics of leadership and the empowerment we want to embody as school leaders. This isn't another "how-to" leadership training. This is an exploration of who you're being versus what you're doing.   Join me today to hear how education itself is both essential and a luxury, and why the privilege of being in the field of education is something worth celebrating. We'll dive into how leadership could feel luxurious - not in terms of expensive cars or fancy vacations - but in the satisfaction, fulfillment, and pride you experience every single day.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/420   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

As we step into 2026, I want you to imagine something powerful…   What if you woke up every morning knowing that your leadership energy has the power to transform the educational experience for everyone in your school community? Not just hoping. Not just wishing. But knowing it in your soul.   This week, I'm talking about what tapping into leadership energetics is about, and why it has the power to transform the educational experience for students, staff, families, and your entire community. If you're ready to test drive the power of your leadership energy and see just how limitless you can be, this episode is your starting point.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/419   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

As we wrap up 2025 and settle into the holiday season, I have a special gift for you.   Instead of adding to your already full plate, I've curated the most powerful moments, insights, and conversations from the past year of The Empowered Principal® Podcast. Think of it as your personal highlight reel, wrapped up with a bow.   This best-of collection brings together transformative concepts that have resonated most deeply with my community: from understanding leadership as personal development to recognizing the energy of a classroom beyond just what it looks like. Take some time for yourself this season. Pour a cup of something warm, find a cozy spot, and let these reminders wash over you.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/418   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Do you find yourself dreading the holidays instead of enjoying them?   Maybe it's the pressure of sending hundreds of greeting cards, hosting the perfect party, or dealing with difficult family conversations. The truth is, most of us are trying so hard to meet everyone else's expectations that we forget to ask ourselves what we actually want. And once you fall into this pattern, the holidays become more about obligation than celebration.   Join me this week as I dive into how to embrace your personal empowerment over the holidays. I share my own experiences from my days in school leadership, and a simple process for evaluating your holiday commitments and saying no to the things that don't serve you. Most importantly, you'll hear how to be the version of yourself that you want to be during the holidays.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/417   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Have you noticed an uptick in complaining at your school lately?   Maybe it's the constant venting about broken technology, construction delays, or just the general "heaviness" of the year. We've all been there, nodding along as someone vents, secretly agreeing with their frustrations. But when we jump in the pool with complainers, nobody's left on the sidelines to throw a life preserver.   Tune in this week to discover a powerful approach to transform the culture of complaining into empowerment. You'll learn the exact questions to ask that flip the energy from helpless to hopeful, and how to create a complaint-free culture without dismissing legitimate concerns.    Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/416   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Have you ever noticed how kids approach new experiences?   My 10-year-old niece came over the other night to bake brownies. When I asked if she'd found the recipe online, she said, "No, I just created it. I made it up and I want to try it." Her confidence in her creative ability stopped me in my tracks. Because here's what I realized: We're all born creators, but somewhere along the way, we forget.   Join me this week as I explore how we've all used this creative ability before. You'll hear why everything in life is a form of art, including leadership, how your feelings about yourself directly impact your leadership outcomes, and a powerful reframe for those moments when you feel like circumstances are happening to you rather than being created by you.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/415   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Have you ever been in a relationship where you know something's wrong, but you're too afraid to talk about it because you don't want it to end? That's exactly what's happening in education right now.   We're clinging to the old paradigm where we're the authority figures, students comply without question, and everyone understands the value of school. Deep down, we school leaders know that world doesn't exist anymore. We're struggling to articulate the value of what we offer, grappling with the very purpose of school itself, while students and families seem to be questioning whether they're buying what we're selling anymore.   Tune in this week to discover why it's time to have courageous conversations about education's future, how confusion might be at the root of our exhaustion and overwhelm, and what happens when we finally sit down to talk about what we really want school to look like and feel like. This isn't about going back to the way things were. It's about stepping up to the leadership table and navigating the discomfort of not having all the answers while still moving forward.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/414   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

Have you noticed how the value of education is being questioned by everyone - students, parents, even some of your staff?   Since the pandemic, there's been an explosion of change in how people view school. Students question why they need to attend. Parents wonder if the curriculum still matters. And you're caught in the middle, trying to uphold standards while the ground shifts beneath your feet. The truth is, we're experiencing a massive disconnect between what educators believe school should be and what our communities actually want. And that disconnect? It's drowning us in doubt.   Join me this week as I explore why there's such a disconnect between educator expectations and community values, and how to recalibrate the purpose of school for today's reality. If you've been feeling like you're losing at the game of education, this episode will help you understand why, and show you a path forward.   Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/413   Keep up with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/