The School Leader’s Podcast explore the challenges, strategies, and successes of the school leader's journey. Listeners hear from fellow school leaders and other voices on the field about how they can level up and scale up their leadership skills and practices. In this post, I will reflect on the podcast and share the “Top 10 Episodes” that our listeners found impactful and inspiring. I will share takeaways, insights, and leadership lessons from the episodes. These episodes will provide various perspectives, challenge your thinking, and assist in your leadership journey.
10. 6 Tips for Aspiring School Leaders #30
Are you an aspiring school leader? In this episode, I share 6 tips for how aspiring school leaders can differentiate themselves from the pack. I explore ways emerging school leaders can collaborate with their supervisors or principals to gain the necessary skills to move quickly into administration. This episode will help you examine yourself and make the needed adjustments for improvement.
9. Tips for New Assistant Principals #8
As you start your 1st year as an assistant principal or a veteran assistant principal in a new building, I would challenge you to consider or ponder on these tips for new assistant principals. This episode highlights ways to collaboratively work with your principal to turn your school around and improve student's achievement.
8. Self-Care Tips for Educators #26
Researchers from University of Missouri and an elementary principal examined 2,300 teacher surveys and found that teachers were having a difficulty and tough time managing their stress. It led to teachers quitting, leaving the profession, and with low job satisfaction. I shared several ideas and tips educators can use to take care their mental, physical, and even spiritual selves. These self-care tips are reminders for educators, school leaders, and principals throughout the new school year to refill and rejuvenate.
7. Practical Ideas to Recharge Your Leadership Batteries #1
What level is your “leadership battery”? Leaders, especially school leaders and principals, are absorbed, pressured, and stressed out over the day-to-day work of school life. Over school violence? Over school shootings? Over the political polarization of our schools? A lot has been put on school leaders and principals to ensure schools are safe, whether it is from school shooting, mental health, and many other challenges.
How are you dealing with it? This episode shares practical ideas and strategies to recharge your leadership batteries. It also provides ways to intentionally recharge physically, mentally, and even spiritually.
6. Instructional Leadership with Fedrick Cohens #22
As the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Georgetown County School District, Fedrick Cohens supports elementary coaches, school leaders, and principals to provide evidence-based instructions to students. He shares insights for how school leaders can support and create optimal opportunities for effective teaching and learning. In this conversation, he shares lessons and tips to become a better instructional leader in your school or department.
5. Creating a System of Support for Hard-to-Reach Students with Dr. Joseph Williams III #25
As an experienced educator, Dr. Joseph Williams III recognizes that an excellent and equitable education is the key to a world of opportunities for all children. He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Strong teachers, quality educational programs, and a supportive mother changed the trajectory of his life, which is why he has dedicated his life to ensuring that a student’s race, identity, gender, economic status, or zip code does not determine their life outcomes. Dr. Williams shares lessons learned and tips to create a system of support for hard-to-reach students. He also shares ways to invest and work with students, teachers, leaders, and the community to deliver a world-class educational experience for students.
4. Steps to be a Better Leader #16
Do you want to be a better leader? With the start of a new year, it is an exciting time to get a fresh start, look toward new beginnings, and make positive changes. It is always a perfect time to grow in your leadership.
Before you examine what you will want to do in the New Year, let’s start with who you want to become. So many people make “do” goals. I encourage you to start with “who” goals. Who do you want to be as a leader?
3. Instructional Coaching with Zach Groshell #23
Are you an instructional coach? In this episode, I interviewed Dr. Zach Groshell. Zach is an instructional coach in the Seattle area and an experienced elementary teacher. Zach holds a PhD in Education and presents about cognitive science and education research. Zach shared evidence-based strategies, techniques, and tips for how instructional coaches can support and help build their teachers’ craft. Listen to the conversation for lessons learned and tips to help teachers improve students’ learning.
2. 10 Tips for New Assistant Principals #28
Are you a newly appointed assistant principal? I shared 10 tips new assistant principals can utilize to be successful in their 1st days on the job. Also, a veteran assistant principal transitioning to a new building can implement these strategies to be successful. The episode further shares strategies and techniques for how you can be ready to work alongside your principal to turn your school around or scale it up to a make it a better learning environment for students.
1. How To Increase Your Influence #27
I discuss ways and tips to increase your influence – up, down, and across your organization or school. Whatever type of organization you’re leading, to be effective in your role requires being able to influence people. In fact, John Maxwell, the leadership guru, said, “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing else.” I shared insights for how you can influence or manage up, down, and across our school or organization if you are going to increase your influence and effectiveness.
Hopefully, this list was helpful. You can check out the older (but still relevant) episodes. I am working hard to keep it fresh and to bring on fascinating guests to discuss current and relevant topics for school leaders and principals. These must-listen episodes and future releases will provide valuable insights on your leadership journey.
Dr. Harrigan
Stay up-to-date by signing up for our monthly newsletter. Make sure you subscribe (button on the right) so you don’t miss any future posts.
