Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

Spring time brings new opportunities. For some educators, it is a time of year when you may start feeling a little restless. Perhaps you will be considering new candidates for openings at your school. Or maybe you will be looking at new possibilities for your own leadership journey. In a previous podcast episode, Jen Schwanke […] The post PMP236: What to do When You Feel Restless in Leadership appeared first on Principal Matters.

Andrew O’Farrell has been the Principal of Beach Street Middle School in West Islip, New York since 2009. Prior to becoming a principal, Andrew was an assistant principal of Lindenhurst Middle School.  Andrew began his journey in education as a Social Studies teacher and then became the Dean of Students at Dyker Heights Intermediate School […] The post PMP235: Leading Re-Entry in a Pandemic with Andrew O’Farrell appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week, I had the privilege to interview TJ Warren, Director of Programs for Stand in the Gap Ministries. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Stand in the Gap is an organization committed to impacting the lives of orphans, widows and prisoners in partnership with generous donations from individuals, churches and businesses as well as various foundations. […] The post PMP234: Connecting Students to Caring Adults with TJ Warren appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week I have the privilege of interviewing Emily Paschall about her new book, Eyes on Culture: Multiply Excellence in Your School. As you know, culture drives the outcomes of your school, and Emily unpacks ways to not only live your own excellence, but to multiply excellence in others. In her book, you will learn: […] The post PMP233: Multiplying Excellence in Your School with Emily Paschall appeared first on Principal Matters.

Winter is a time of year for frigid temperatures across much of the U.S. It is also a time of year when principals look ahead. Many education leaders may also be considering new positions as they think about the final semester and plan for next school year. This week, Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run […] The post PMP232: Looking for a New Education Position appeared first on Principal Matters.

When I was a little boy, I remember sitting in a small theater with my family where we watched the 1977 release of the first Star Wars movie. It was a pivotal moment. The visual effects and music were like nothing I had ever seen or heard. The characters were funny and endearing. Afterwards, I pretended […] The post PMP231: Keeping Your Promises on Your Anti-Racism Journey appeared first on Principal Matters.

What do you do when every decision is a new one? How do you keep perspective amidst decision-fatigue? This week, Jen Schwanke, Principal of Indian Run Elementary in Dublin, Ohio, joins me for a conversation about leading through a pandemic. Welcome back Jen! Jen Schwanke is the author two books on education leadership. She provides […] The post PMP230: Managing Decision-Fatigue with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

In the book David and Goliath (Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants) by Malcolm Gladwell, the author presents two ideas in the introduction of his book. First, he says that much of what we consider valuable in our world arises out of ‘lop-sided’ conflicts – the act of facing overwhelming odds creates moments […] The post PMP229: Facing Your Giants with Samantha Bartrom appeared first on Principal Matters.

Years ago, when I was transitioning from assistant principal to high school principal, my superintendent gave me an assignment to map out goals for the next three years of my school. What was helpful about this assignment was the long-term planning required. Determining where I wanted my school to grow in the next three years […] The post PMP228: Strategic Leadership During Times of Uncertainty appeared first on Principal Matters.

Have you ever had a dream you’ve been unable to fulfill? Phil Vischer was born in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1967. He grew up mesmerized by Disney films, Star Wars, and later by MTV. Phil also came from a family that was deeply religious. As he grew up, he longed to see media created that would […] The post PMP227: Me, Myself and Bob. 7 Lessons from the Rise and Fall of VeggieTales appeared first on Principal Matters.