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.
LaDonna Chancellor is the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning for Bartlesville Public Schools in Oklahoma. With over 25 years in education, she began as a special education teacher, later serving as assistant principal and principal at Central Middle School and Bartlesville High School. As a high school principal, she led major transitions, expanded STEM […] The post PMP466: Leading Collaboratively with LaDonna Chancellor appeared first on Principal Matters.
This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker are talking about building trust with students. Their conversation is a follow-up to last week's episode, where they talk about what kills trust with students. If you haven't already listened to that episode, go back and give it a listen! Building trust with students is the […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Trust with Students appeared first on Principal Matters.
Derek is the principal of Alleghany High School in Covington, Virginia, where he led the merger of two rival schools into a unified school community. Instead of allowing division to define the transition, he focused on building culture first, ensuring students, staff, and the community had a voice in shaping a new identity under a […] The post PMP465: Better Together with Derek Cantrell appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Monday Principal Matters listeners! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing a topic from Jen Schwanke's new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Today's conversation is part one of a two part conversation about building trust with students. Building trust with students is an essential skill […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust Killers with Students appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another episode of Principal Matters Podcast! This week's episode is a little different than our regularly scheduled content. A few months ago, Will Parker joined Dr. Jen Schwanke's class on human capital management at Ohio State University to answer their questions about school leadership. This class is made up of students who […] The post PMP464: Human Capital Management with OSU Graduate Students appeared first on Principal Matters.
This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke talk more about a concept from Jen's new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. The topic of conversation this week is building trust with parents. Jen shares several components that are key to schools building a trusting relationship with […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Trust with Parents appeared first on Principal Matters.
A quick note to listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What feedback do you have for an AP who feels like they are carrying all the weight of the Principal? Listen in to hear their response! Leaning into Leadership with Darrin Peppard: […] The post PMP463: Leaning into Leadership with Darrin Peppard appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are talking about building trust with teachers. Competency, openness, and honesty are three key building blocks to building trust with teachers. Teachers feeling that their principal is competent is key to having a trusting relationship between teachers and principals. Staying […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust with Teachers appeared first on Principal Matters.
A quick note to listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to share some feedback that Will has recently received after a PD session with teachers and staff. Listen in to hear their conversation! Meet Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang: Kim Marshall is a veteran educator and writer […] The post PMP462: Supporting New Teachers, Part 2, with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back, Principal Matters listeners! This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are talking about trust pillars and trust killers, a concept covered in Jen's new book. When it comes to school trust, there are a number of methods school leaders can employ to build organizational trust among teachers and staff members. […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust Pillars and Trust Killers appeared first on Principal Matters.
A quick note to listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What would a spouse tell a principal stepping into their first year on the job? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Kim Marshall and Jenn David-Lang: Kim Marshall is a veteran […] The post PMP461: Supporting New Teachers with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hello, Principal Matters Listeners! Welcome back to another conversation about Jen's new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, available August 17th. Pre-order your copy now! Today, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker will be talking about what sets this book apart from a lecture on how to be trustworthy. Their […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trustworthy vs. Trust-willing appeared first on Principal Matters.
A quick note to listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following listener question: What other practical ways (like your student handbook) can you rethink for sending positive messaging to your students and school community? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Richard Culatta: As […] The post PMP460: Digital for Good with Richard Culatta appeared first on Principal Matters.
Hi, friends. Jen Schwanke is excited to announce that her new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, will be released on the 17th of this month! Over the next several weeks, Jen and I will be using the Monday Matters episodes to dive into each of the chapters of […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trusted: A New Book by Jen Schwanke appeared first on Principal Matters.
A quick note to listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following listener question: As I step into a new role at a new school, how can I make a difference in a school that is struggling with disengaged teachers without being seen as a […] The post PMP459: Unlocking Academic Achievement with David Young appeared first on Principal Matters.
Lessons from Climbing Mt. Massive On June 26, 2025, my son Jack and I summited Mt Massive, at 14,429 feet, the 2nd tallest peak in Colorado. That one sentence sums up an impossibly difficult-to-describe one-day adventure that he and I have dreamed about for a long time. The day began at 4:30 AM, when we […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Lessons From Climbing Mt. Massive appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What should I be thinking as I step into the school year, especially if I am starting a new role? Listen in to hear their response! Meet LaVonna Roth: With almost 20 […] The post PMP458: Permission to S.H.I.N.E. with LaVonna Roth appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another installment of Monday Matters! This week, Dr. Jen Schwanke and I are discussing chapter 13 from my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. The focus of chapter 13 is based on avoiding the mindset that our greatest joy has to be […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Your Greatest Joy Is Not What You May Think appeared first on Principal Matters.
Meet Karen Borchert: Karen Borchert is the founder and CEO of Alpaca, a company with a mission to make it easier to support teachers. Karen started off in secondary education, but most of her career is as an entrepreneur, helping to grow high trust, highly aligned teams. Karen started Alpaca to combine her passion for […] The post PMP457: Listening To Your Teachers with Karen Borchert appeared first on Principal Matters.
In this episode, I wanted to share some feedback from another Mastermind group I've met with in 2024-25. These leaders include: Julieta R. Flowers – Principal, Discovery Community School, Toledo, OH Kelly Brodzenski – Principal, Beacon Academy, Canton, OH Laura Krulik – Assistant Superintendent & Title II/Civil Rights Coordinator, Utica Shale Academy (Southern Local Schools), […] The post MONDAY MATTERS BONUS with Ohio Academy Grads Mastermind appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share an update on the United Conference they will both be attending in Seattle this week. Listen in to find out what time they will be presenting and how you can connect with both of them at the conference. They would […] The post PMP456: Empowering Student Agency with Dr. Mike Nicholson appeared first on Principal Matters.
Happy Monday, Principal Matters listeners! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about chapter 12 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love. The premise of this chapter is on something I like to call “life liturgies”: practices, routines, and rituals that define a […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Life Liturgies appeared first on Principal Matters.
A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke spend some time talking about Jen's upcoming book: Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Listen in to hear more about this book, as well as where you can pre-order it. Thank you for doing what matters! […] The post PMP455: Cybersecurity in Schools: Risks, Prevention, and Best Practices with Mike Fitzpatrick appeared first on Principal Matters.
Welcome back to another Monday Matters! I can't believe it is already summer. This week, our Monday Matters Podcast is going to be a little different than usual. As listeners may already know, the focus of recent Monday Matters episodes have been on the chapters of my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? […] The post MONDAY MATTERS Bonus Episode – Mastermind Lesson with Legacy Leaders 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: 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.
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