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

Even in uncertain times, it is good to remember that positive ideas can come from even the most difficult situations. Juan David Campolargo, a seventeen-year-old high school student from Chicago, is no stranger to difficulty. Immigranting to the U.S. from Venezuela at age 14, he began to learn English for the first time, and over […] The post PMP196: Generation Optimism with Juan David Campolargo appeared first on Principal Matters.

During school closures and remote learning, maintaining connection with students has been an enormous puzzle to solve. When 8th grade teacher Jena Nelson, from Deer Creek Middle School in Edmond, Oklahoma, switched to online delivery, she looked at this new difficulty as a new opportunity. Digging into her arsenal of costumes from her previous years […] The post PMP195: Instruction from a Distance with Jena Nelson appeared first on Principal Matters.

School leaders share a common bond – whether you lead in an urban, suburban or rural setting. During the last two months, I’ve also been thinking a lot about another common bond all school leaders now share: caring and serving from a distance. Whether your school is public, charter, or private – you wear many […] The post PMP194: Lessons from Leading in New York with Principal Patrick McLaughlin appeared first on Principal Matters.

I don’t know about you, but it seems like every waking hour has been spent adjusting to a new normal, and the idea of relaxing almost seems unkind when you think of all the sacrifices people are making during times like this. In Oklahoma, school leaders have been managing distance learning for more than a […] The post PMP193: Taking a Music Break from COVID-19 appeared first on Principal Matters.

When storms roll across my home state of Oklahoma, residents here have a few common reactions. First, we listen to the weather station. Oklahoma has the best storm-tracking radar systems in the world. Second, we check our storm closets or shelters to make sure we have a good place to hide if severe weather turns […] The post PMP192: Leading from a Distance, Part 2 with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.

If you’re like me, you’re probably still adjusting to a new normal. Each morning I still wake up, walk the dog, or go for a run around the neighborhood. I login to my email and check my calendar for the series of meetings via Zoom or Google Meets. But life still doesn’t feel normal yet. […] The post PMP191: Reflections on Leading from a Distance appeared first on Principal Matters.

This morning I was running a three-mile track around my neighborhood. As I passed the houses and occasional drivers, I felt a sudden kinship to my neighbors I’m not sure I’ve felt before. We don’t just share the same zip-code; we now share a common experience. And this experience spreads beyond our cities and states. […] The post PMP190: 5 Tips for Running the Uncertain Leadership Roads Ahead appeared first on Principal Matters.

When Don Parker was a Dean of Students, he knew his students were struggling – especially those with high risk factors. Don’s passion became simple and challenging: Find the best ways to help students be more successful. Through his doctoral dissertation and his practice as a school administrator, he narrowed his focus to two approaches: […] The post PMP189: Building Bridges to Reach Students with Dr. Don Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week I had the privilege of capturing a few minutes with Chris Legleiter, Principal of Leawood Middle School, Blue Valley Schools, just outside Kansas City, Missouri.  The state of Kansas has closed buildings for the rest of the school year, and like principals around the world, Chris is learning what it means to still […] The post PMP188: COVID-19 Update, Principal Reboot, Finding Balance Continued appeared first on Principal Matters.

As schools across the nation continue closures because of the Coronavirus pandemic, this week’s episode includes an update from listener, Terrence Simmons, Assistant Principal at Floyd Elementary, in Nye County, Nevada. Their team has already launched distance learning for their students, and the district website serves as a great resource for parents wanting guidance and […] The post PMP187: Reboot for Principals, Part 2 appeared first on Principal Matters.