Podcasts about principal matters

For the final Friday of Black History Month, the Black educator highlighted this week is Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket. She is a wife, mother, principal, public speaker, and author, and has decades of experience in public education. During her educational career, she has proudly served as a classroom teacher, instructional team leader, mentor teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal. In this interview, she talks with me about her book  The Principal's Journey: Navigating the Path to School Leadership. Listen in to hear the full conversation! You can visit the original blog post to learn more about Dr. Edoho-Eket. The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP412: The Principal's Journey with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is particularly loaded, so it will be answered in two parts, with part two coming out next week. The question is: I'm a longtime listener and am reaching out because […] The post PMP489: Leading with Heart and Strategy with Blaine Wise appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week's Monday Matters episode is a longer response to a listener question covered in the Q&A portion of Principal Matters Podcast. The question is: “As a system leader, how do you encourage teachers in high-performing schools to go beyond “my students do well on the tests” or even other administrators, “have you seen our […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Stretching Students Beyond the Test appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy Friday! Our encore episode for the third week of Black History Month is an interview with Enid Lee. She is a front-line educator, an anti-racist professional development specialist, leadership coach, writer and community builder. Originally recorded in 2021, this conversation is as relevant in 2026 as it was then. Listen in to hear the […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP268: Equity, Equality, and Systems with Enid Lee appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: As a system leader, how do you encourage teachers in high-performing schools to go beyond “my students do well on the tests” or even other administrators, “have you seen […] The post PMP488: Empowering Student Voices with PAHS Principal Advisory Committee appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to Monday Matters! Recently, Will attended his nephew's naval flight school graduation. While at the graduation, an Admiral gave a speech to the graduates that centered around these three main points: Know your mission, be decisive, and invest in your people. This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to reflect […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Leadership Lessons From an Admiral appeared first on Principal Matters.

I am excited re-release this interview with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley for the second Friday of Black History Month. With over 12 years of school leadership, Dr. Swilley was the 2025 National Principal of the Year. Currently, she is serving as the Assistant Superintendent at Fairfield Central School District in Winnsboro, South Carolina. To learn […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP452: Reaching Every Student with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: I'm struggling with how to best reach our teachers with clear communication. What systems help with clarity and consistency with staff, without depending on a single communication channel? Listen […] The post PMP487: Leaning Into Student Leadership with Paul Branagan appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters. This week, Will and Jen are discussing a conference Jen recently attended that was dedicated to the topic of AI in schools. Some of what is covered in this conversation include cautions for schools. Schools are currently being sold lots of different AI products, and they need […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Some Thoughts on AI appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy Friday, Principal Matters Listeners! In honor of Black History Month, I am re-releasing the interviews from some exceptional Black educators that I have had the privilege of interviewing over the years. This week's encore episode is an interview with Dr. Don Parker. Don is a former teacher and principal who is currently working to […] The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP362: Be the Driving Force with Dr. Don Parker appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: What Self-Reflection Practices work for you? Listen in to hear their response! You can find the link to the self-assessment questions mentioned here. Meet Elizabeth Dampf: Elizabeth Dampf is […] The post PMP486: The Cost of Happiness for Education Leaders with Elizabeth Dampf appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about financial wellness for educators. They talk about the importance of making sure that your financial house is in order in the event that a new or different job opportunity comes up. Finances can either be an anchor that is […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Financial Wellness appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question.  —- 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 […] The post PMP485: Preventing Trauma Before it Happens with Dr. Jan Harrell appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about the challenges and emotional burdens faced everyday by school leaders. They highlight the importance of self-reflection practices and finding hope in trying times, and emphasize the importance of keeping challenges in perspective. This post was inspired by a blog […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Keeping Challenges in Perspective appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question.  —- 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 […] The post PMP484: Brain-Body Literacy with Trish Keiller appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to discuss second semester PD planning. This topic comes from this question: A common “Catch-22” is when the principal feels staff needs a particular PD, but staff says, “Just let me go to my room, close my door, and teach.” How can […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Planning PD appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: Why do you think reading non-education books is important? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Maureen Chapman and James Simons: Maureen Chapman and James Simons are co-founders of […] The post PMP483: Leaders of the Class with Maureen Chapman and James Simons appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to this week's episode of Monday Matters where Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing the topic of wellness. Will shares some takeaways from a book he is reading called Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity by Dr. Eric Topol. The book highlights a study with 1400 participants called a ‘well-derly” study. […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Wellness for the New Year appeared first on Principal Matters.

Meet Charles Rizzuto: Charles Rizzuto currently serves as Assistant Principal at Islip High School, following 15 years as a health and physical education teacher at Oyster Bay High School. A nationally recognized speaker, he has presented across the country on high-quality instruction, leadership, school culture, cultural proficiency, and social and emotional wellness. His highly regarded […] The post PMP482: Empowering Learning Through Physical Education with Charles Rizzuto appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy New Year! This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take some time to reflect on the past year through a series of questions. They talk about reaching major milestones, meeting personal and professional goals, overcoming challenges,  and learning lessons. Reflecting back is an important step to growing forward. Will challenges listeners […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Reflections appeared first on Principal Matters.

Note from Will about Guy: Principal Matters listeners are primarily education leaders, so they may be surprised at first that today's guest is a specialist in marketing and communication. But I've been an avid listener of Guy Kawasaki's podcast and recently read his book Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a […] The post PMP481: Think Remarkable with Guy Kawasaki appeared first on Principal Matters.

John Boyd is the Principal of Ste. Genevieve High School in Missouri, where he leads with a passion for innovation, efficiency, and creating memorable experiences for students and staff. A proud SGHS alum, he returned to teach for seven years, served three years as Assistant Principal, and is now in his fourth year as Principal. […] The post PMP480: Maximizing Your Systems with John Boyd appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy holidays, Principal Matters listeners! This week Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to reminisce about the year and share some of holiday traditions that they are looking forward to. Listen in to hear the full conversation, or read the post below to learn more about what we are thankful for this holiday […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – A Year in Review appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: What are your practices for writing a book? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Danny Steele: Danny Steele worked for 31 years in education as a principal, assistant […] The post PMP479: The Instructional Leader in You with Danny Steele appeared first on Principal Matters.

Meet Will Parker, author, leader, speaker, and host of the Principal Matters podcast & blog. He was the Teacher of the Year in OK, AP Teacher of the Year, and served as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals for six years. Learn more at https://williamdparker.com/. and subscribe to the PMP & Monday Matters podcasts. His latest book was released in March 2025, Whose Permission are you Waiting For? with ConnectEDD: you can find it here: https://bit.ly/3Yty5vV. Join us LIVE on the #ELB Podcast today, Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, at 4:30 EST. Keep surviving & thriving!This podcast is sponsored by IXL Personalized Learning. IXL is used by more than 1 million teachers each day. It is also the most widely used online learning and teaching platform for K-12. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/ELBIXL

This week on Monday Matters Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share some thoughts on addressing the political landscape that educators face. They discuss how educators, particularly school leaders, are often asked to weigh in on culture war issues. Taking sides on political issues is not what school leaders are paid to do, and in doing […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Not the Place appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: How can we build and sustain trust with staff, students, and parents? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Dr. Greg Johnson: Greg Johnson is the high school principal […] The post PMP478: From Classroom to Crisis and Beyond with Dr. Greg Johnson appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen tackle the topic of understanding your identity outside of your career. They discuss how this can be particularly challenging for mothers, who often carry the mental load of running their households on top of having a career. Jen shares some insights into how she has […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Who Are You Without A Title? appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: What are the common pitfalls that keep principals from effectively leading instructional communities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Beau Brannon: Beau Brannon is the Principal of Union […] The post PMP477: Lessons from Transition with Beau Brannon appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about the difference between responsive vs. reactive leadership. This conversation was inspired by a thoughtful post written by Will, you can read it below. As always, thank you for doing what matters! Responsive, not Reactive, Leadership During a […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Responsive vs. Reactive Leadership appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is:  I'm struggling with a new teacher responding to constructive feedback. Suggestions? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Steve Ventura: Steve Ventura is the founder and president of Advanced […] The post PMP476: Leading a Community of Educators with Steve Ventura appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about how curiosity leads to discovery. Sometimes, school leaders can get so caught up in their work that they forget to be curious, forgetting that curiosity is the engine of learning. As leaders, we need to intentionally seek out the […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity and Cracking the Code appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: What are some strategies for my own professional growth while managing so many daily responsibilities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Robert Kaiser: Dr. Robert “Rob” Kaiser brings […] The post PMP475: Lessons from the First Year with Dr. Robert Kaiser appeared first on Principal Matters.

Principals often juggle a multitude of tasks and responsibilities, and they are constantly being asked to add more to their plate. Sometimes, you have to say “no” to say “yes” to something else. This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss the never-ending todo lists that many principals face. They talk about […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Less is More appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: How do we balance the expectations and challenges of system-wide leadership vs. site-specific leadership? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Kate Anderson Foley, Ph.D. Kate Anderson Foley, Founder […] The post PMP474: Radically Excellent School Improvement with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to have a conversation about the use of AI in public schools. They talk about how AI has blown up and the ways that it is impacting education. One concern about AI that is often cited is […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Addressing AI appeared first on Principal Matters.

Meet Darrin Peppard: Dr. Darrin Peppard is a dynamic keynote speaker, leadership expert, and consultant with a passion for transforming organizational culture and developing the next generation of leaders. A former award-winning principal, Darrin draws from nearly 30 years of experience in education to inspire leaders to embrace clarity, purpose, and joy in their work.  […] The post PMP473: Road to Awesome with Darrin Peppard appeared first on Principal Matters.

In this week's episode of Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to highlight the extraordinary skills of school leaders. Using the image of a Swiss Army Knife, Will and Jen tie that image to the image of the job description of a school principal. The job of a principal often requires […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Being a Swiss Army Knife appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's episode, Will and Jen take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: How do I face a team of teachers who resist collaborating and like to “admire the problems” more than look for solutions? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Tyler Comeau: […] The post PMP472: Elemental Educator with Tyler Comeau appeared first on Principal Matters.

In this week's episode of Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss the challenges that school leaders face as they navigate both the mundane and complex aspects of their job. They offer advice on how to lead through the ordinary and fight boredom in the job of a school leader by reconnecting to one's […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Leading Through the Ordinary appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is:  Do I HAVE to appease parents? How can I shut down a cycle of unproductive conversation?  (I'm referring to the most unreasonable situations) Listen in to hear their response! […] The post PMP471: Lead with H.O.P.E with Dr. Brandi Kelly appeared first on Principal Matters.

Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about a post Jen wrote for her newsletter about staff meetings. Running a staff meeting can be a daunting task! We hope that this episode will provide principals with ideas to run staff meetings in a way that makes […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Staff Meeting Glow-Up appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Note to Listeners: Before this week's interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week's question is: What tips do you have for someone transitioning to a support role without specifically defined responsibilities? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Tim Villegas: Tim Villegas is the Director […] The post PMP470: Staying Committed to Inclusivity with Tim Villegas appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss the article below written by Will about left brain and right brain leadership. Listen in to hear their conversation! Left Brain and Right Brain Leadership, by William D. Parker There's an old ad from Mercedes-Benz that shows an illustration of the human brain divided […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Left Brain and Right Brain Leadership appeared first on Principal Matters.

Meet Crystal Williams: Crystal Williams is a dedicated instructional leader with 20 years of experience, currently serving as a District Literacy Coach in Houston, Texas. Originally from Albuquerque, NM, she holds a BA in Psychology and MA in Elementary Education. Now in her sixth year as an instructional coach, Crystal is passionate about equity, justice, […] The post PMP469: Instructional Coaching with Crystal Williams appeared first on Principal Matters.

Will Parker is an educator, author, and executive coach. Will helps school leaders build strong cultures, communication, and community through his work at Principal Matters. He's a former principal and host of the Principal Matters podcast. Will's work matters for inclusion because he supports educators in leading with heart and compassion, especially during challenging times. In this episode, Tim Villegas talks with Will Parker about navigating the emotional weight of current events, the impact of political rhetoric on schools, and how educators can stay grounded in their mission to serve students. The conversation centers on leading with compassion, focusing on local action, and finding hope in everyday relationships. The episode is intentionally broad so listeners can apply the insights to many situations. Complete show notes and transcript: https://mcie.org/think-inclusive/navigating-school-leadership-in-chaotic-times-a-conversation-with-will-parker-1306/

This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss a post written by Will. Check out the post below and listen in to hear their thoughts on it! Random Moments, Major Outcomes by Will Parker I recently listened to an insightful episode of Hidden Brain that really provoked my thinking.  In the interview, […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Random Moments, Major Outcomes appeared first on Principal Matters.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week's episode, Will and Jen take some time to answer the following listener question: Is achievement only dependent on the perfect leader happening along at the perfect time? Listen in to hear their response! Meet Tony Frontier: Tony Frontier, PhD, is an award-winning educator, author, and consultant who […] The post PMP468: AI with Intention with Tony Frontier appeared first on Principal Matters.

This week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and I discuss happiness among educators. We cover an article by Elizabeth Dampf, The Cost of Happiness, and Jen talks about some articles she has written about joy in educators. School leaders face a lot of stress on the job. We spend a lot of time pouring into […] The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Whose Happiness Are You Responsible For? 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 is missing that keeps every school from moving forward at high levels all the time?  Listen in to hear their response! Meet Danny Bauer: Daniel Bauer is the founder of Better […] The post PMP467: Being a Ruckus Maker with Danny Bauer appeared first on Principal Matters.