The Modern Principal Podcast

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!

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!

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. 

 

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 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.

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.

Ever feel like work is taking over every facet of your life? Or you are moody, cranky and just a wreck at home and at school? We hear that! And we've been there. Work and life balance is a challenge for those of us in education and educational leadership. Work/life balance isn't something you achieve and can check off your list. It's something you are constantly having to monitor and make adjustments depending on the season of your life. Join Karen and Christy this week as they share some stories from personal experience as well as tips they've picked up along the way from other scholars in the field of time management.

What's working, what isn't and what could be...in relation to facility design?? Not the most riveting concept that's ever been podcasted on before, but Karen and Christy think creating a school to meet the needs of the future is something we all should be dreaming about in education.

 

In this podcast, we stick with our scholar meets soul approach -- exploring what research says our spaces and places should be to support our students and what we know our schools need NOW to enhance the work we do. Join in the conversation and let your mind dream of what could be with the schools of the future. 

Be prepared for a different kind of podcast today. With some unexpected news for Christy this month, we decided to dedicate a special episode to when unexpected change occurs in your career. After four years at one elementary school, Christy is moving to another within her district. In this Q & A session, Karen and Christy uncover initial reactions and start to brainstorm plans to move forward. We discuss the importance of vulnerability and honesty in your professional journey. If you've ever experienced unexpected change in your work, this episode of the pod is for you!

Stepping outside the classroom into a leadership role can feel lonely and at times, isolating.  It becomes even more of a challenge when a few members of the 'lead team' have a closer personal relationship and you get left out of conversations.  In this week's episode, Karen and Christy tackle a scenario shared by an assistant principal who is struggling to stay connected to the administrative goals of her team when the principal and the instructional coach inadvertently have conversations without her present.  

 

Using our patented 'scholar, system and soul' approach, we take on this situation from two different angles--what are some habits of practice the head principal can do to foster a collegial relationship with the entire team and, as the assistant principal, what are some key moves she can make now to create criteria for effective teamwork?  Join us for this frank discussion about the tricky balance of friendship in your working relationships.