Urban Principal: Leadership Lessons

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This podcast is based upon lessons learned in my 31 years of experience in education--21 as a principal. I spent 10 years turning around a high poverty school, and left to start Nebraska's first focus school--a year-round extended day program centered on leadership, technology and communication. It was named by Harvard's One Nation, Indivisible publication as one of the most innovative and successful schools in the country.

Bret


    • Jun 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 282 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Urban Principal: Leadership Lessons

    Improving The Profession

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 16:28


    How do we keep educators? This episode wraps our dive into the book, “Meet Their Needs and They'll Succeed” by Salome Thomas-EL as we review ways to keep teachers in the profession.

    Supporting Our Students Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2025 20:50


    This episode continues our unpacking of the book, “Meet Their Needs and They'll Succeed by Salome Thomas-EL. We specifically look at joyous, engaging classrooms and after-school support.

    students succeed salome thomas el
    Supporting Our Students

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 26:26


    This episode draws from the recent ASCD book by Salome Thomas-EL “Meet Their Needs and They ‘ll Succeed” and looks at ways to support student success!

    Warren Buffett on Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 24:41


    This episode looks at some insights from Warren Buffett that translate into effective leadership skills. His habits can help make you a better leader!

    Leadership Burnout

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 14:16


    This episode discusses the significance of creating balance to perform at your best, Leaders need many types of rest in order to remain effective.

    Leadership Growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2025 9:03


    Leaders keep growing! It is important to continue to grow as a leader. What are strategies you can do to maximize your growth?

    Student Differences

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 16:20


    This episode looks at the original marshmallow experiment that was testing delayed gratification and the impulsivity of children and whether it predicted adult success.

    Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 13:30


    As leaders we can't see the future . Education is constantly changing and will continue to do so. How do we stay motivated in uncertain times.

    Educational Updates

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 13:36


    This episode looks at some recent legislation passed in my state and reviews some good news on SEL and student success! It

    Conflict Advice

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 12:38


    Conflict can be valuable. This episode is a good wrap to our previous discussions on challenging conversations and looks at a variety of advice by leaders on conflict.

    Challenging Conversations Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2025 22:58


    This episode continues our discussion around addressing challenging conversations with staff and gives tips to assist in making these discussions constructive. If this is done well, leaders can set the tone for a positive culture.

    Challenging Conversations Pt. I

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 17:35


    Leaders must continually work with people and it can often be demanding. How do you handle challenging conversations?

    Words of Wisdom

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2025 12:19


    This episode takes from a chapter in my book Urban Principal Leadership Lessons and shares lessons learned in one line statements.

    Practical Principal Tips

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2025 19:20


    This episode is full of practical tips principals can use to assist in building a positive culture and bringing out the best in staff. This translates into retaining teachers through the right support.

    EQ Leaders

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2025 23:07


    This episode highlights the number of leaders in top positions who do not have high emotional intelligence. As we develop as leaders, our EQ relationship skills must increase to cultivate a positive culture.

    Leading With Emotional Intelligence Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2025 12:52


    Enhance your leadership with emotional intelligence. This episode dives into the four emotional intelligence skills as described in Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradbury & Jean Greaves.

    Leading With Emotional Intelligence Pt. I

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2025 17:00


    This episode looks at the impact you can have through developing your emotional intelligence as a leader. We look at Daniel Goleman's work on creating effective, positive leaders.

    The Best Leadership Style

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 11:37


    This episode quickly summarizes the many different leadership styles. Daniel Goleman's six leadership styles are also highlighted as we look to the most positive styles.

    It's People Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2025 18:01


    This episode continues to stress the importance of working with people. As leaders, what are things we can do when building a collaborative culture? We can learn from the tips of the successful CEO, Bill Campbell, and his ability to coach others.

    It's People

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 19:59


    This episode uses different resources to illustrate the importance of people. As leaders we develop a positive culture through taking care of people.

    Leadership Focus

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2025 14:20


    This episode talks about looking at your organization and what you are concentrating on while setting goals to make a hedgehog focus on needed practices.

    You Got This!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2025 18:12


    Leaders, are you setting goals and getting ready for the last half of the year? It can often be overwhelming as we think of everything we want to improve. It is important to stay positive and keep moving forward. Your attitude can make a difference as you set the course.

    Season 5-Year In Reflection

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2024 14:16


    This episode wraps up another successful year and looks at our Spotify wrapped data and growth of our podcast.

    Leaders Are Outliers Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 17:57


    This episode continues our discussion around how leaders work to improve the status quo while making positive changes. More examples of things I did as a leader to promote effective needed change are given.

    Leaders Are Outliers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 21:18


    This episode talks about how leaders work to improve the status quo while making positive changes. I give examples of things I did as a leader to promote effective needed change.

    Engagement Matters!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2024 18:31


    This episode refers to a recent study on project-based learning. As educators, we have can increase academic scores while increasing student engagement and the joy of learning.

    Thanks

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 14:07


    Leadership is about being grateful for those around you and on your team. This episode goes into the impact a simple “thank you” can make and discusses a leader's ability to influence others.

    Attitude of Gratitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 15:14


    It is the time of year to remember to be grateful. Developing an attitude of gratitude can help you grow and survive as a leader. In fact, anyone can benefit from being grateful.

    Push The Positives

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2024 12:36


    This episode talks about the dip in morale that usually occurs this time of year. As a leader it is important to keep pushing the positives to get through the hard months.

    Up The Ladder

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 14:52


    This episode talks about moving up the career ladder and making sure they are the right moves for you.

    Your Legacy Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 14:56


    This episode continues our discussion on the legacy you leave as a leader. Leaders have the ability to influence others, let's make it a positive!

    Legacy of a Leader

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2024 12:18


    What legacy will you leave as a leader? How will people remember you? This episode looks at the legacy of a leader and the difference you can make in the lives of others.

    Loneliness of Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 21:05


    This episode talks about the loneliness of leadership and how easy it is to be misunderstood. You can rebuild with mindfulness, hope and compassion.

    High Expectations

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2024 9:38


    This episode looks at the effect high expectations can have on students. Encouragement and belief in others can make the difference in students and staff.

    The Principal Factor

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 14:34


    This episode looks at the principal factor and effective principals. Using Kafele, Whitaker, Gordon and Decker for insight.

    PDK Poll on Public Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024 10:17


    This episode looks at a quick review of the 56th annual Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools (formerly the Gallup/PDK Poll).

    Stronger Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 13:39


    This episode talks about building your strength as a team and also summarizes some of the principles in Stick Together by Jon Gordon and Kate Leavell.

    Leadership Takes Grit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 12:17


    This episode discusses the need for leaders to have grit in order to become the best they can can be. It is imperative to move forward and continue to be resilient, positive leader.

    Tribute to an Amazing Principal

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 19:42


    This episode pays tribute to a fellow colleague and principal, Cara Riggs. She recently passed away from cancer. Her caring leadership will be remembered and her strong belief in the success of all kids.

    Supporting New Teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2024 17:32


    This episode looks at a recent ASCD interview with Baruti Kafele on coaching and supporting new teachers. What are things leaders can do to provide needed support?

    Promoting Your School

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2024 13:30


    Branding and marketing are an important aspect to promoting your organization. As a leader, not only are you building a positive culture you are pushing it out to others.

    Take Care of Yourself!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2024 9:56


    The episode reminds every leaders to make sure we are taking care of ourselves, staying healthy and maintaining a positive perspective. It so important to keep your life in order and your priorities where they need to be!

    New Year Drive

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 9:09


    This episode talks about preparing for the new school year with drive, desire and determination. I had the opportunity to join in this excitement with an empowered staff.

    Making Connections with Students

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 15:55


    This episode hits on the importance of making connections and the difference relationship building can make in the success of a student.

    Team is Family

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2024 13:23


    This episode underscores the importance of developing strong staff relationships while creating collaborative teams. A staff can become like a family as they navigate the ups and downs and downs of a culture.

    Boosting Attendance Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 17:46


    This episode continues our discussion on school attendance. What is the best way to impact student attendance and help them succeed. what strategies can increase your attendance rate?

    Boosting Attendance Pt. I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2024 19:23


    This episode discusses the importance of school attendance for student success. We review the aspects of chronic absenteeism and what strategies can be done to increase school attendance.

    Positive Progress

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2024 16:23


    This episode talks about using positive psychology in the workplace to improve your culture.

    Culture Matters Pt. II

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 17:44


    This episode continues our discussion on culture and the impact creating a positive work environment has on staff. Great leaders involve staff in the achievement of a vision. If you empower, value, celebrate and create a sense of belonging your culture will thrive!

    Culture Matters Pt. I

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 11:51


    The culture is a major factor in an organization's success. Build the right culture and everyone will flourish and excel.

    What is your vision?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 10:33


    A vision is a powerful tool for an organization. It can also be a motivator for a leader. What is your personal vision? What drives you and keeps you going as a leader?

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