William D. Parker from the Principal Matters Blog reveals his school leadership strategies, insights from other leaders, and practical tips so that you can have the tools to achieve your own goals. Rediscover healthy motivation, resolve conflicts and challenges, maximize your communication, grow you…
William D. Parker: Principal, Author, Speaker and Blogger
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Listeners of Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker that love the show mention: school leaders, parker, leadership, practical, bring, information, first, great, highly, content, listen.
The Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker is an incredibly valuable resource for educators in leadership positions. Hosted by William D. Parker, this podcast offers a wealth of knowledge and practical advice for school leaders at any stage of their career.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is its relatability and relevance. Parker and his guests discuss topics that directly address the challenges and opportunities faced by principals and instructional leaders on a daily basis. The conversations are not only insightful but also inspiring, providing listeners with actionable strategies to implement in their own schools. Additionally, the guests on the show come from diverse backgrounds, offering a well-rounded perspective on various aspects of educational leadership.
Another notable aspect of this podcast is Parker's genuine passion for lifting up educators and serving as a mentor in the field. His servant leadership approach is evident in every episode, as he consistently seeks to support and encourage his audience. With his experience as a principal himself, Parker understands the unique demands of the role and provides resources and materials specifically tailored to the needs of school leaders.
While it can be challenging to find podcasts that are both encouraging and practically helpful, The Principal Matters succeeds in delivering both elements effectively. Listeners can expect to find episodes that not only motivate them but also provide tangible strategies to improve their leadership skills.
In conclusion, The Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker is an invaluable resource for educational leaders seeking inspiration, guidance, and practical advice. Parker's passion for supporting educators shines through each episode, making it a must-listen for anyone in a leadership role within the education field.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke's graduate class at OSU. The question is: From your experience as a podcaster, what are the most compelling or surprising insights you've gained from other educational leaders regarding human capital management? (This question is asked […] The post PMP454: Maximizing Systems, Focus, and Impact with PJ Caposey appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another Monday Matters. As school leaders across the country are wrapping up their school years, Jen and I are wishing everyone a happy summer! This week's episode is a discussion of a chapter on coaching from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Coaching appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke's graduate class at OSU. The question is: Through your consulting work, what common human capital challenges do you see schools facing and how can principals proactively address them? (Question from Madeline Platfoot, 6th grade math […] The post PMP453: Leading with Wellness in Mind with Dr. Angela Diggs appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hi, Principal Matters listeners! Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Monday Matters. This week, Jen Schanke and I are talking about chapter 10 from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. Before we jump into that discussion, Jen announces all of the places […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Cycles of Reflection appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke's graduate class at OSU. The question is: How did you ensure equity and fairness in staff evaluations, promotions, and leadership opportunities? (Question from Diona Ross, High School Intervention Specialist from Columbus, Ohio) Listen in to […] The post PMP452: Reaching Every Student with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hi, Principal Matters listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about building systems that produce the outcome you want (Chapter 8 in Whose Permission). I want to talk about systems on Monday Matters because Jen Schwanke has helped me understand systems better. Jen shares […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Systems That Produce Outcomes You Want appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke's graduate class at OSU. The question is: What practical strategies did you use to boost staff morale and prevent burnout, especially during times of high stress or change? (Question from Cameron Carter, first grade teacher […] The post PMP451: What is My Value Instructionally with Baruti Kafele appeared first on Principal Matters.
It's Monday, so that means it's time for another Monday Matters episode! This week, Jen and I are continuing a series of conversations that revolve around the chapters from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. The chapter we're discussing this week is called “Let's […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Let's Talk About Money appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday, Principal Matters listeners! This week's encore episode is a conversation between myself and Pete Hall from 2022. Pete is a veteran school administrator and education consultant who has authored many books and articles on leadership. In this episode, we talk about his book Chasing the Show, a YA novel. Listen in to hear […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP287: Chasing the Show with Pete Hall appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […] The post PMP450: Instructional Excellence with Michelle Steingart appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hi, Friends! Welcome back to another installment of Monday Matters! This week, I am joined by Jen Schwanke to talk about a chapter called “Will It Fly?” in my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. When I wrote this chapter, I wanted to share with […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Will It Fly? appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! We're back this week with another encore episode. This one is an interview from 2022 with Dr. Keri Launius, an administrator who has served in various roles throughout her education career. At the time of this interview, I was working alongside her team to facilitate learning and growing for her team of aspiring […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP291: Growing Leadership Teams with Dr. Keri Launius appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP449: Inclusive and Supportive Schools for Every Learner with Dr. Eric Mace appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen and I are talking about chapter 6 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. But before we jump into that discussion, we would like to share some details about some upcoming conferences we […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! We're back this week with another encore episode. This week's pick is from 2022, when I talked with Brad Gustafson about his book The 6 Literacy Levers. Our conversation is filled with great advice for school leaders to rethink literacy through the use of Brad's six literacy levers: We also discuss questions about […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […] The post PMP448: The Antiracist School Leader with Dr. Daman Harris appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hi, friends, and welcome back to Monday Matters! Today Jen and I are discussing the value of consistency, which is one of the chapters in my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. To start out the conversation, Jen shares the heartwarming story of a nurse, […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Consistency appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! This week's Encore Episode is one from 2022, a dynamic interview with Dr. Chris Jones. We discuss teacher-centric leading and supporting teachers, to name a few discussion areas. I feel like this is the perfect encore episode to wrap up teacher appreciation week. Listen in to hear our conversation or check out the […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP279: Support, Empower, Engage with Chris Jones appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […] The post PMP447: The Blueprint for Administrators with Todd Bloomer appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen are talking about another chapter from Will's new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. Throughout their conversation, Will and Jen discuss how important it is for school leaders to stay curious. One of […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity Plus Inquiry Equals Discovery appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! This week our encore episode is a conversation between Jen Schwanke and I, focused on encouraging and motivating staff. Listen in to hear us discuss the following reminders for education leaders: Tune in to hear the full conversation or check out the original blog post to learn more. Thank you doing what matters! The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP278: Encouraging & Motivating Staff with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […] The post PMP446: Recovering After Fire with Lana Penley & Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing a chapter from Will's new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. The chapter is on avoiding the binary, and discusses innovative ways for readers to approach decision making in their work through […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Avoiding the Binary appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! This week's encore episode is one from 2021, a conversation between Will Parker and Jen Schwanke about school discipline. Listen in to hear them talk about several different ways to approach consequences for student discipline, as well as some great advice and practical applications to approaching discipline. You can learn more by tuning […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP271: Answering Questions on School Discipline with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before this […] The post PMP445: Powerful Voices in Education with Donna Hayward and Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
This week on Monday Matters, Will and Jen talk about professional pathways for educators and getting through the end of the school year. They discuss strategies for powering through what Will and Jen call the “slog” at the end of the school year, and share how they have each adjusted their mindset to have a […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Professional Pathways for Educators appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! Our encore episode this week is one from 2021, another interview with D.J. Klein. His interviews on this show are popular for a reason; he always has sage advice to offer listeners! Check out this interview to hear him share ten lessons he learned in his first year as an assistant principal. Listen […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP253: 10 Lessons from a First Year Assistant Principal with D.J. Klein appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP444: Leading with Simplicity and Harmony with John Marinucci appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Monday, friends! This week for Monday Matters, Jen and Will are taking some time to catch up and talk about the exciting work we have been doing recently. Jen talks about a presentation she gave recently. By the time this recording comes out, she will have returned from speaking at national school boards association […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Catching Up appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to Encore Friday! This week's episode is one from 2021, a conversation with Jen Schwanke about gaining buy-in and building leadership teams. Tune in to hear us answer the following questions from principals: Listen in to hear the entire episode, or follow this link to read the original blog post. Thank you for […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP270: Gaining Buy-In & Building Leadership Teams with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP443: Why Every Student Deserves a Pathway with Dr. T.J. Vari appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hi, friends. This week for Monday Matters, Jen and I are taking some time to talk about an exciting new offering from Principal Matters, led by Jen Schwanke! Based on her book, The Principal's Guide to Conflict Management, Jen will be leading a 3-hour masterclass on June 3rd, 2025, at 11 am EDT. This dynamic […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Introducing a New PD Offering from Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday, friends! This week, we are re-releasing an episode from 2022, an interview with a rockstar leader DJ Klein. DJ Klein has been featured on the podcast several times throughout the years and he is still doing the same phenomenal work in 2025 that he was doing in 2022. Listen in to hear the […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP299: 10 Lessons from a 2nd Year in School Admin with DJ Klein appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP442: Keys to Successful Schools with John Mihalyo appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week Jen Schwanke and Will Parker are sharing some lessons learned from doing PD with school leaders. They talk about some of the strengths that leaders who are women bring to the table, as well as strengths that leaders who are men bring to the table. During their conversation, […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Tips on Maintaining Sanity appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! This week's encore episode is one from 2022 with Garth Larson. He chats with Will Parker about guiding leaders and helping them build their leadership. Listen in to hear the full conversation or check out the original blog post to learn more! The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP292: The Profile of a School Leader with Garth Larson appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP441: Ease the Pain – Guidance for Safety and Regulation with Dr. Bethany Bilodeau appeared first on Principal Matters.
This week on Monday Matters, Jen and I talk about some of the responses to the “Dear Colleague” letter sent out by the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. Sent to educators across the country, this letter has generated a multitude of responses from teachers, principals, and superintendents alike. If you would like […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Dear Colleague Letter appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! This week's encore episode is one from 2022, in which I interview Jen Schwanke about her book The Teacher's Principal: How School Leaders can Support and Motivate Their Teachers. Jen shares a ton of great takeaways in this episode; I learned a lot from her as I listened back to this it! Give […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP303: Intro to the Teacher's Principal with Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP440: TRUST Principles for Professionalism with Dr. Nason Lollar appeared first on Principal Matters.
On this week's installment of Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke have a conversation about leaving your legacy and making your mark. Some topics covered in the conversation are: Listen in to hear the full conversation! Below is a piece written by William D. Parker about the topics discussed in this episode: Remembering Faces […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Remembering Faces appeared first on Principal Matters.
“These are the times for stepping forward with courage.” – Enid Lee. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are three things that make our country and our schools strong. I believe that it is vital to engage in conversations about these things in a time when our government in the US is cracking down on DEI. For […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP268: Equity, Equality and Systems with Enid Lee appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP439: Rebel Educator – Classrooms of Imagination and Impact with Tanya Sheckley appeared first on Principal Matters.
This week on Monday Matters, Will and Jen are doing something they have not done before: talking about books they're currently reading. Will talks about reading the book, The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Jen recently finished a book called Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May. Listen […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Reflections appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to Encore Friday! This week's episode from the archives is PMP281: Paradoxes of Leadership with Dr. Tim Elmore, originally released in 2022. In it we discuss his book, The 8 Paradoxes of Great Leadership: Embracing the Conflicting Demands of Today's Workplace. Listen in to hear Dr. Elmore talk about the complexities of leadership […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP281: Paradoxes of Leadership with Dr. Tim Elmore appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP438: Living on the Leadership Edge with Margaret Coates appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Monday! This week, Jen and I cover the topic of decision making for school leaders. Specifically, we consider the question: What goes in to the thought process when a leader has to make a decision? Some of the pieces of the decision making process we cover are: Listen in to hear our full answer […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker- Decision Making appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Friday! This week's encore episode is one from 2022. In it, Will Parker interviews Shenita Perry about her unique leadership experiences and the lessons she learned along the way. Listen in to hear the full conversation or check out the original blog post here! The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP321: Lessons in the Leadership Journey with Shenita Perry appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What's your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —- Before […] The post PMP437: Partners in School Innovation with Dr. Derek Mitchell appeared first on Principal Matters.
By William D. Parker When we lived in the basement, Daddy would wake up long before the rest of us. He would stir the remaining coals in the wood stove, adding fresh sticks to the barrel-sized belly and stoking it until the new wood caught fire. As we crawled out of our beds, we would […] The post MONDAY MATTERS – Warming Your Hands and Learning Lessons appeared first on Principal Matters.
It's Encore Friday! This week's episode is an interview from 2023 with Jen Schwanke and Robyn Jackson. Listen in to hear them discuss topics like: You can also check out the original blog post for this episode here. Thank you for doing what matters! The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP368: Buildership with Robyn Jackson and Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
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