The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

The principal drive home test: if you can't name one thing that mattered today, you're in reactive mode. Here's the fix. Principal burnout doesn't start in a crisis. It starts in the car at 6pm, when you've done a lot but moved nothing forward — the instructional leadership, the culture work, the long game stuff that actually changes outcomes never got touched. That's not a productivity problem. It's an access problem. This episode introduces selfmentorship — the practice of being your own first coach instead of waiting for permission-based PD, the right mentor, or the right conference to land in your lap. You'll hear how Elaine, an AVID coordinator stepping into a brand new school, used 90 minutes of clear thinking to walk in day one with a real plan instead of firefighting her way through week six. Then you'll hear how to join the next Selfmentorship Sprint on Thursday, May 28 at 7pm Eastern — a live one-hour training plus 90 days of Digital Danny access for $100. Reserve your seat: https://ruckusmakers.news/sprint

A professor at San Diego's High Tech High Graduate School of Education and co-author of PLC+: Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design, Nancy Frey has spent decades studying how teachers actually collaborate — and why most of it doesn't work. Her research-backed PLC+ framework is the difference between a Wednesday morning ritual and a genuine engine of collective efficacy. She teaches full-time at a high school that runs every student through a real-world internship program, so her frameworks aren't theoretical — they're road-tested. Find her work at hightechhigh.org. Professional learning communities were supposed to fix teacher isolation. Instead, most schools turned them into a weekly meeting where teachers explain why students failed. If your PLCs feel like compliance theater, this episode of the Ruckuscast is the reset you need — Nancy Frey breaks down the PLC+ model and the exact questions that shift a team from admiring problems to solving them.

Her career started in Philadelphia public schools in the 90s, full of idealism and a master's in counseling psychology. A decade later, she was coaching executives in global corporations. Now Sage Hobbs coaches school principals and superintendents on the skill that drives everything else — the ability to have conversations that actually matter. She is the author of Naked Communication: Courageously Create the Relationships You Really Want and the host of the Principal Pep Talks podcast. School leadership research points to strategy, curriculum, data, and policy as the levers that move outcomes. Sage Hobbs will tell you those are all downstream of something simpler: the conversations principals are avoiding. If you've ever softened a message that needed to land hard, or left a difficult conversation for "another time" that never came, this episode is the diagnosis.

A Chicano educator from Los Angeles has spent nearly 20 years building the infrastructure that schools won't — the kind that catches students before they fall through the cracks. Hector Flores is the CEO of the Latino Film Institute, home to the Youth Cinema Project, a filmmaking mentorship program now operating in 21 California school districts across 61 classrooms. YCP brings professional filmmakers into English classes to guide students from concept to screen over a full school year. The results — in test scores, reclassification rates, graduation, and lives redirected — are impossible to ignore. Find ALIFI at latinofilm.org. Arts integration in schools has been underfunded, undervalued, and cut first for decades. This episode is the case against that pattern — told through data, two schools that are outperforming their affluent neighbors, and a story about a kid living in a motel who just won Best High School Actor.

The man who co-created category design — the strategic framework behind companies like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Drift — has a blunt message for principals: your recruiting ads are announcing that nobody wants to work at your school. Christopher Lochhead is co-author of Play Bigger, Niche Down, and Category Pirates, the wildly popular business newsletter read by some of the sharpest operators in tech and venture. His latest book, Creator Capitalist, makes the case that the creator economy isn't a trend — it's the future of every career, including the ones you're trying to build on your campus. Most principals spend their careers trying to fix a reputation problem they don't realize they have. This conversation with Christopher Lochhead lands like a two-by-four: your school's reputation is built entirely by what people say when you're not in the room, and most of the signals you're sending are saying the opposite of what you intend. The connection between category design, teacher recruitment, AI in education, and what it means to do school different turns out to be a single through-line — and it starts with the courage to be different.

Ten years of school leadership podcasting reveals one consistent truth: most principals are doing it alone when they don't have to. In this special anniversary episode, Danny Bauer sits down with co-host Dan Watt to trace the arc from isolated AP to category-defining podcast host — and what he's learned coaching hundreds of school leaders along the way. Dan Watt is a school principal, leadership coach, and Mastermind coach for Better Leaders Better Schools, based in northern British Columbia, Canada. He joined the Ruckus Maker community as a member before stepping into a coaching role, and now co-writes the weekly Ruckus Makers newsletter. He brings a practitioner's lens to every conversation — someone still in the building, still doing the work. Find him through the Ruckus Makers community at ruckusmakers.news. ☑️ What You'll Learn Why Danny started the podcast and what leadership gap drove the decision How the Ruckus Maker Mastermind was built to fill a void no one else in education had addressed The mindset shift that separates thriving principals from burned-out ones What patterns Danny sees repeatedly in the leaders he coaches today Where the Ruckus Maker brand is heading — and why it's bigger than school leadership

Principal leadership development is broken — 3 out of 4 school leaders have no coach, no mentor, no one to think it through with. Principal coaching and self-mentorship are the difference between leaders who wait for answers and leaders who generate their own. Corey, a Chicago principal, logged 910 conversations with Digital Danny over one school year — not for generic advice, but to think through the hardest decisions he faced: a staff situation, a career crossroads, a coaching conversation he needed to get right. He called it "almost like your self mentor." That's the category. That's what this is. This sprint on April 30 gives you one hour to experience the framework, watch a live Digital Danny session, and work through something real you're carrying right now. $100 gets you in — and that includes 30 days of Digital Danny access. Register for the sprint here: https://ruckusmakers.news/sprint  ⌚️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - 3 out of 4 principals lead without a mentor 00:46 - Corey's first Digital Danny conversation 01:38 - The basketball coach situation and the shift 02:25 - Corey's career question and interview prep 03:13 - Digital Danny retrains — Corey accelerates 04:14 - What self-mentorship actually means 05:12 - The Self-Mentorship Sprint: April 30 details

Quick take: What happens when a leader ditches ego, prioritizes relationships, and treats students like real-world innovators? Jeremy Quals proves you can turn around struggling schools and create one of the most exciting entrepreneurial programs in the country.

The Ruckus Report. Quick take: What if the secret to becoming a more effective school leader was … leaving school? Joe Clausi, known as the Traveling Principal, shares how stepping out of the building helped him step into his purpose. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Joe Clausi, aka The Traveling Principal, is reimagining what it means to lead schools by exploring the world — and himself — one passport stamp at a time. Breaking Down the Old Rules

The Ruckus Report Quick take: If you're facing pushback on your bold school vision, this episode is your playbook for flipping critics into raving fans. Learn how one principal shifted the narrative — and built massive community support in the process. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Christopher Jones is a high school principal, leadership author, and host of the Seeing to Lead podcast. He helps educators shift from surviving to thriving by encouraging reflection, connection, and vision — even in the most resistant environments. Breaking Down the Old Rules

What started as a frustrating Sunday afternoon mistake in a tiny Chicago apartment turned into a million-download podcast that changed everything. Join 5,000+ Ruckus Makers who want to Do School Different

The Ruckus Report Quick take: From pushing a broom to leading the boardroom — Dr. Chris Jackson's journey from custodian to principal at his own alma mater proves that grit, humility, and authentic community connection matter more than pedigree when transforming schools. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Chris Jackson rose from custodian to administrator in his hometown of San Bernardino, fueled by hard work, family, and perseverance. A husband, father, and lifelong learner, he overcame personal loss and humble beginnings to inspire others. Raised by his grandmother after being born to teen parents, Chris worked his way through every level of education — from custodian to teacher, coach, instructional coach, athletic director, and eventually principal of Cajon High School, where he met his wife as a 15-year-old student. Author of "From Broom to Boardroom," Chris's journey proves that with grit, purpose, and love, anyone can rise, no matter where they start. Breaking Down the Old Rules

The Ruckus Report Quick take: Two beards, two red hats, one mission to blow up education's broken boundaries. Mitch Weathers reveals why saying "no" to district busywork and "yes" to what actually moves the needle isn't rebellion — it's leadership. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Mitch became a gifted teacher because he was a mediocre student. Mitch rarely felt comfortable in the classroom. In fact, it took him 7 years to graduate from college. Choosing to become a teacher, Mitch was fortunate enough to experience school as if it was happening all around him. He was unsure how to jump into his learning with confidence. There is a loneliness to experiencing your education as a passive object as opposed to an active subject. From the moment he entered the classroom, Mitch relied on his personal experiences as a learner. He recognized that what we teach—the content or curriculum—is secondary. We must first lay the foundation for learning before we can get to teaching. Mitch designed Organized Binder to empower teachers with a simple but research-backed strategy to teach students executive functioning skills while protecting the time needed for content instruction. The secret is found in establishing a predictable learning routine that serves to foster safer learning spaces. When students get practice with executive functions by virtue, we set them up for success. Learn more in his recent book Executive Functions for Every Classroom. Breaking Down the Old Rules

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: The most dangerous myth in school leadership is that problems will eventually stop. Jennifer Schwanke reveals how embracing challenges and shifting from "trustworthy" to "trust willing" transforms toxic school cultures into thriving communities. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jennifer Schwanke, Ed.D., brings nearly three decades of experience to the field of education, having served as both a teacher and leader across all levels. She is a published author with ASCD, including four current books and a forthcoming fifth title, "Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools," expected in the summer of 2025. In addition to her books, Jennifer has contributed hundreds of articles to numerous educational publications. She is actively involved in professional development, offering her expertise to school districts in areas such as school climate, personnel management, and instructional leadership. She is also a frequent presenter at major educational conferences, including those hosted by ASCD, NAESP, NASSP, AASA, and various state and national organizations. Jennifer shares her insights as the co-host of the widely listened-to "Principal Matters" podcast and as an instructor in educational administration at The Ohio State University. Currently, Dr. Schwanke serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio. Breaking Down the Old Rules

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: Student voice isn't just nice to have—it's the missing ingredient in creating schools worth showing up for. Casey Wright proves that when you design with students instead of around them, everything from panini lines to classroom layouts becomes a catalyst for engagement. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Casey Wright has served as an educational leader in Illinois high school districts for 30 years. He began his career teaching social studies at Rolling Meadows High School while coaching girls track and boys basketball. After spending 12 years at Highland Park High School as an administrator, Casey is currently an Associate Principal at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. With a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University and a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Casey is also a member of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials. Breaking Down the Old Rules

Most principals feel like they're doing everything right — but something still feels wrong. That's not a personal failure. It's proof you're playing someone else's game. In this episode, Danny Bauer invites school leaders to stop following broken rules and start authoring their own. Breaking Down the Old Rules

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: When 21 kids are on your roster but only 3 show up on time, you don't quit — you reinvent how learning works. Rob Barnett's journey from near-burnout to building a model that reaches 100,000+ educators proves that ditching whole-class instruction might be the best thing you can do for student achievement. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Rob Barnett is co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project, which has empowered over 100,000 educators across 180+ countries to meet every learner's needs. A former public school math teacher who nearly quit during his first year, Rob transformed his frustration with traditional whole-class instruction into a revolutionary approach that made him fall in love with teaching again. Author of "Meet Every Learner's Needs: Redesigning Instruction so All Learners Can Succeed," Rob developed the free InstaleEson AI tool that helps teachers create blended, self-paced, mastery-based lessons in minutes. He believes every day, in every classroom, every learner should be appropriately challenged and supported. Breaking Down the Old Rules

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most school leaders are waiting for someone else's permission to create the change they know their students need. Will Parker destroys that myth and reveals the #1 barrier standing between you and transformational leadership — yourself. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker William D. Parker is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC—an educator, author, speaker, and executive coach who leverages his expertise in school culture, leadership, and communication to equip educators with strategies for motivating students, inspiring teachers, and reaching communities. He is also the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast, with more than 1.5 million downloads to date. Will supports schools around the world through professional development and leadership coaching. He frequently presents at K–12 events, education conferences, leadership team training, and graduate classes on effective practices, organizational management, and improved school communication. An Oklahoma educator since 1993, Will was named South Intermediate High School Teacher of the Year for Broken Arrow Public Schools in 1998. He became an assistant principal in 2004 and was named Oklahoma Assistant Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary Principals in 2012. As a principal of a Title I school, he helped lead initiatives in collaboration, remediation, and mentoring that significantly improved student achievement. For six years, Will served as executive director of the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals and the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association. Find out more about his leadership academies, masterminds, executive coaching, books, and keynote presentations at williamdparker.com. Will's new book: Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? And other books: Pause. Breath. Flourish., Messaging Matters., and Principal Matters. Breaking Down the Old Rules