The Modern Principal Podcast

New Principal Planning

Are you new to the principal role and wondering what you're missing? You have a whole list of tasks but don't actually know what to do?! This is the episode for you! Here's all the thoughts we would have if we got a "do-over" of the first year again! 

We chat about: 
- looking at your school through the 4 organizational frames (Bohlman and Deal)
- people to schedule meetings with
- questions to ask and people to talk to
- quick tips for your mindset

Visit www.themodernprincipal.com for more! 

References:
Bohlman and Deal
Bryk and Schneider

Summer Planning for Principals

"When you guys say you are planning over the summer, what are you actually doing?" We get this question a lot! So we've broken it down to tell you all the things we do during the summer to make the school year go smoother! 

You'll hear about:
- planning for the holidays
- systems for committees
- calendaring
- updating policies and procedures
- and more! 

Find more at www.themodernprincipal.com !

References:
EDUTOPIA Article
Center for Student Achievement Solutions

Leading Effective Meetings

Have you ever worried your staff are sending "This meeting could have been an email" memes to each other during your weekly staff meeting? In this week's episode, Karen and Christy walk you through the basics of facilitating meetings that get results!

Learn how:

- to use meetings to further your vision

- prepare meetings where work gets done

- make meetings more efficient

If you like this episode, be sure to check out our Leading Effective Meetings course with even more examples, resources, and information! 

References:
How to Run a Meeting by Antony Jay, Harvard Business Review
The Economic Impact of Bad Meetings, TED
Steven Rogelberg
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

New Season Kick-Off!

Karen and Christy are BACK in action! Hear about what they've been up to over the last school year, where they're headed this year, and what you can expect from this new season of The Modern Principal Podcast!

How to Sustain Your School's Vision

This conversation explores the importance of sustaining a vision in education and provides practical strategies for doing so. Christy and Karen share personal anecdotes about their experiences as  principals, highlighting the challenges and successes they encountered. They discuss the role of mindset and implementation in achieving a shared vision, emphasizing the need for clear roles and frequent feedback. The conversation also delves into the importance of tackling hurdles and conducting SWOT analysis to address weaknesses and threats. Additionally, the hosts explore ways to involve families and share stories to reinforce the vision. Listen to find out more about vision sessions and engaging in collective thinking to keep the vision alive!

How to Create a Vision for Your School

Creating a vision for a school is an important responsibility of a leader.In this episode, Karen and Christy discuss the process of creating a vision for a school. They provide steps for creating a vision, including gathering stories, identifying themes, and drafting a why statement. They also discuss the challenges of creating a vision and the need for ongoing communication and repetition. 

Be sure to check out Part 2 of this series for tips on sustaining a vision! 

Using Conflict to Improve Your School Culture

On this week's episode, Karen and Christy discuss the idea that conflict is natural - and even necessary - in a school culture. 

Listen to hear more about: 

- how to use personality tests to create common language and understanding
- normalizing conflict
- creating a safe environment for conflict to occur

This episode was sponsored by Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD. 

Shared Leadership: What to Do When Staff Don’t ”Stay in Their Lane”

Ever had a staff member who shares lots of opinions on things that maybe don't apply to her? You probably want to acknowledge her concerns but also encourage her to "stay in your lane!" On this week's episode, Karen and Christy talk about:

- why you should feel grateful when staff bring complaints out of their "lane"

- how to use teams to improve decision-making and reduce complaints

- setting ground rules for sharing feedback

This podcast is sponsored by Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD. 

Communicating Student Behaviors with Parents

It can be anxiety-inducing for a principal to relay negative information to parents but especially when their child has made a mistake or engaged in a major behavior. On this episode of the pod, Karen and Christy talk about: 

- how to get on top of behavior communication before the behavior even occurs

- tips to prepare for a calm conversation

- writing communication plans into behavior plans

and more! 

Check out our website at www.themodernprincipal.com and on social media @themodernprincipal.

This episode is sponsored by: Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD.

Impact of Physical Resources on Students and Teachers

In this episode, Christy and Karen interview Dr. Samantha Keppler, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations, who studies education operations, or the management of human and material resources, in public schools. 

In this episode Dr. Keppler helps principals:

- understand the current data (or lack thereof) regarding how teachers are supplementing resources in their classrooms

- the correlation of funded crowdsourcing projects and student achievement

- the correlation of funded crowdsourcing projects on teacher retention

- the complicated role of the principal in providing physical resources to staff

Samantha M. Keppler received her PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on resource operations and management in public education. Before graduate school, she was a public school math teacher in New York City. Learn more about her work at www.samanthakeppler.com or email her at srmeyer@umich.edu.