The Modern Principal Podcast

Finding Colleagues You Can Trust

Things pop up every day at work and sometimes you just need the advice of someone else...but who? Where do you turn and how can you be sure who to trust?! This week on the pod, Karen and Christy deep dive different mindsets to take into building collegial relationships with those in your same role! We cover tips to consider when developing trust with colleagues, boundaries to establish, avoiding self-comparison and even being sure you don't lose yourself in the advice of others. Be sure to tune in and rate us on iTunes!

Battling COVID Fatigue

Year 3 of the pandemic and going strong...wait a minute. Not so fast. We are tired. Teachers are tired and fatigue is setting in. It's a hard place to be at the start of a school year. On the pod this week, Karen and Christy tackle the burnout our teachers and school staff are facing while working harder than ever in a pandemic. We discuss ways to filter the new demands being added to teachers' plates while matching more resources to meet those demands! We also talk through how to be real and vulnerable about the struggles you're facing and being sure to keep people in the forefront of all you do! Tune in!

The Impossible Imposter Syndrome

Isn't it the worst? You are just starting to find your confidence as a leader or in your skill and then BAM...a failure hits or someone doubts your abilities and it all comes crumbling down in your head. Good thing is, you aren't alone. And that is actually comforting to know! This week on the pod, Karen and Christy take a shot at vulnerability and lay it all out there about how we've struggled with this in the past (AND currently), as well as what some of the scholars recommend you do about it! Tune in!

The Production of Back-to-School PD

This week, Karen and Christy tackle the monstrous planning that is the back to school preservice professional development for teachers. We deep dive on how to think of the PD time as a production, connecting everyone to the heart of the work we are going to do as well as the intentions we need for the year. We also discuss how to keep the sessions lively while also valuing teachers time! We hope you tune into this episode and leave us some feedback on themodernprincipal.com

The Principal and Instructional Coach

This week on the podcast, Karen and Christy dive into the relationship between principal and building instructional coach and share how to set the role up for success!

Instructional Feedback: Your #1 Priority

On this episode of the pod, Karen and Christy dive into instructional feedback, which can be hard to prioritize with the last-minute fires that seem to pop up all day. However, instructional feedback is one of our #1 priorities as principals, and by using scholar, system, and soul, you can make it happen each day!

Introducing Yourself as Principal to a New Staff

In this week's pod, Karen and Christy tackle a scenario from a newly-appointed principal who is stuck between knowing exactly what to do and also being paralyzed with indecision in regards to her first staff email. This episode aims to share the many facets of introducing yourself to a new staff to ensure you're conveying your priorities, professionalism, and the personal side. 

 

Preparing for Fall in Summer

In this pod, principals Karen and Christy tackle one of their most-asked questions: "What do you do in the summer to prepare for the fall?" They'll use their 3-pronged approach of scholar, systems, and soul to talk through preparing committees, 2-way feedback, setting calendars, and more! 

A Staff Divided: Focusing on Culture in Year 1

A brand new principal is assigned a building with a highly divided staff. Building climate can be a deterring factor for student and staff achievement and overall joy in the workplace. The culture matters. But how does the new principal come in and address the 'elephant' in the room of the divided staff without further alienating members of the team? This week on the pod, Karen and Christy tackle just that very scenario and talk through various ways the leader can approach the challenge. We discuss how to set expectations, connect with the past while revisioning the future and grow the camaraderie along the way. Join us for this episode on the Modern Principal Podcast.

Disrupting Low Student Expectations

Christy and Karen explore the idea of adult mindset when it comes to student achievement. This week, we dive into the language we use in schools that perpetuate achievement gaps and further stereotypes and inequities. We also explore how teachers' mindset, their belief that all students can succeed, is the greatest predictor of student success. Deficit thinking perpetuates inequities and we talk all about various ways our systems are actually wired to do that very thing. Are you ready to disrupt the status quo?! Join us for this episode of the Modern Principal Podcast.