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

One of my favorite illustrations of the brain is not from a science magazine.It is from a Mercedes Benz advertisement. In it you see a painting of the brain with the left side showing scaffolds, numbers, and graphs–a sample of analytical thinking. The right side of the brain is painted with vivid colors, swirls, and […] The post PMP:092 Making ‘First Days’ Every Day, Using Key Responsibility Areas, and Helping Students Flourish appeared first on Principal Matters.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy a long drive is by listening to podcasts or audio-books. And I especially find biographies a helpful way to learn lessons about life and leadership. Two audiobooks that I’ve enjoyed in my drives may sound like they have nothing in common: Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Lauren Hillenbrand […] The post PMP:091 Reflecting on Lessons in Leadership appeared first on Principal Matters.

When I was in junior high school, everyone on my basketball team wore Converse high-tops. I’ll never forget mine: they were the color of golden-rod, and I was so proud of them that I never wore them outside the gym because I didn’t want to scuff them up. For a thirteen year-old boy at the […] The post PMP:090 Why You Should Brand Your School with Marlena Gross-Taylor appeared first on Principal Matters.

Recently, on a trip to Philadelphia, I was sitting in airport gate seating area, which gave me a view of the ground crews prepping planes for departure. Workers were driving baggage trains, pulling fuel trucks in and out, and loading bags on runways into planes. While I watched them, I thought about how many people […] The post PMP:089 Marching off the Map with Andrew McPeak appeared first on Principal Matters.

When I was in college, I was a resident advisor in the dormitory where I lived. My dorm director, Scott Boss, was a graduate student who not only supervised all the resident advisors in my dorm but also taught us leadership lessons. One day Scott was talking to the R.A.’s about ways we could better […] The post PMP:088 Moving from Average to Excellence in School Relationships appeared first on Principal Matters.

Recently, my twelve-year-old son, Jack, and I took a long road trip from Oklahoma to West Tennessee to visit my parents. Gran and Grandaddy live in the country–so far out they receive no cell service. It was a weekend of being unplugged. It was also a weekend to be reminded that my life is more […] The post PMP:087 Reflections on Disciplining with Dignity, Remembering Teachers, and Maintaining Sanity During Stressful Times appeared first on Principal Matters.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you walked into your child’s room at home, looked around, gave him a quick nod, and then left him a walk-through-form listing the pros and cons of your short visit? None of us would ever think about building relationships by practices like that with our […] The post PMP:086 Now We’re Talking – Interview with Justin Baeder appeared first on Principal Matters.

When I was a boy, I loved to walk the garden where my grandparents grew summer vegetables. My grandfather had an interesting way of planting tomatoes. He would dig a deep hole, scatter a small handful of fertilizer in the bottom of the hole, and then place a tomato plant in while gathering the rich […] The post PMP:085 Managing Demands, Dealing with Difficult People, and Promoting Positive Morale appeared first on Principal Matters.

I’ve been reading an excellent book by Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak, Marching Off the Map: Inspire Students to Navigate a Brand New World, and it has sparked a lot of thought. The first half of the book is what educators know intimately: the changing cultural trends in technology, relationships, politics, and information – and […] The post PMP:084 Adapting to the Changing Winds of Education appeared first on Principal Matters.

A few days ago I was at airport security when I ran into a parent from my previous school. We exchanged pleasantries, and I asked him about his children. As we said goodbyes, he commented, “We miss you.” I thanked him, and as I walked away I couldn’t help but be grateful. In my new […] The post PMP: 083 The Importance of Mindset, Motivation, and Modeling for Education Leaders appeared first on Principal Matters.