The Empowered Principal® Podcast

“Equal value but different” is a powerful concept that has transformed the way I think about my work as a school leader and my relationships in my personal life. It's the idea that every person has inherent worth and value to offer, even if it looks different from what we typically prioritize or celebrate.

Learn what the concept of “equal value but different” means, how you can apply this concept to your school community and pers...

As an educator and school leader, it’s easy to get caught up in the endless demands of the job - pleasing your staff, students, parents, and district, putting out fires, and chasing external metrics of success. We think experiencing pleasure and delight in our work is irresponsible, but this week, I challenge the deeply ingrained belief that feeling good is at odds with being a committed, effective school leader.

Hear my own jour...

Leaders are often obsessed with “doing,” and this approach comes with a certain kind of hustling or forcing energy. People forcefully create results in their lives all the time, but is that the way you want the experience of school leadership to feel? 

Join me this week as I explore the concept of "feel good goals" and how balancing masculine and feminine energy can help you create a more fulfilling and impactful leadership exper...

In this episode, I’m joined by Nicola Soares, president of Kelly Education: a company that specializes in providing talent services to school districts across the United States. With a background as a public school social studies teacher, Nicola understands the challenges that principals face when it comes to finding qualified substitute teachers. She’s here to debunk the myth that there’s a shortage of high-quality substitute teac...

Many educators struggle with the decision to stay or go, feeling a profound sense of commitment to their work even when it's no longer serving them. That’s why this week, I explore the concept of retirement resistance and how it can keep principals trapped in a cycle of burnout and dissatisfaction.

Whether you're considering retirement or a career change, this episode will help you gain clarity on your motivations and empower you...

Do you ever feel discouraged or distraught by your school's performance score? As a principal, it's easy to take these ratings very personally and let them define your sense of success or failure as a leader. If you find yourself getting caught up in the trap of chasing perfection or letting a low score define your worth as a leader, this episode is for you. 

I provide some perspective on school scores and how they can impact you...

This week, I sit down with Dr. Jamay Fisher who brings a unique perspective to the topic of public image and school leadership. As an academic advisor and branding expert who has worked in both education and politics, Dr. Jamay sheds light on the importance of intentionally shaping your reputation and legacy to make a bigger impact in education, and what it takes to be a top-class leader.

Hear how to build an empowering public im...

Whether you're in the midst of the fall dip, dealing with a challenging situation, or simply feeling the weight of your responsibilities, empowered school leadership is all about the ability to regulate your emotions. That’s why, this week, I share a powerful practice for grounding yourself and guide you through the skill of emotional regulation.

Join me in this short and sweet episode as I show you how to master emotional regula...

In this episode, I explore the three different hats you wear as a leader: the leader, the teacher, and the student. By understanding and embracing these roles, you can expand your capacity to handle everything that comes your way and inspire others to develop their own empowerment.

Learn why we slip out of empowerment when we’re mentally, physically, or emotionally exhausted, and the importance of leveraging emotions as a tool fo...

The fear of insufficiency is a universal emotion that plagues everyone from leaders to students. The good news is that while our brains love to seek evidence for all the ways we’re insufficient in both school leadership and our lives outside of work, we get to redirect and reframe our thoughts, and I show you how in this episode. 

Learn what it means to feel insufficient and how we can overcome this debilitating fear. Hear why ou...

In this episode, I talk with my long-time client Wendy Cohen, an assistant principal in New York City, about her journey of becoming a runner and how it accelerated her growth as a school leader. Coaching has taught her many lessons that have helped her navigate the ups and downs of training for a 25K trail race. But the biggest one is the power of celebrating small wins, reframing challenges as opportunities, and the importance of...

Do you ever feel like you're constantly chasing organization but never quite achieving it? How often do you catch yourself saying, “I need to get organized”? If you’re ready to finally break free from the endless cycle of chasing organization and step into your most organized self yet, you’re in the right place.

Learn what it really means to be an organized principal and leader, and how one subtle mindset shift can make all the d...

A conversation with a parent about a classroom assignment change doesn’t have to be contentious, anxiety-ridden, or reflect negatively on you as a principal. It’s not about your expertise, professionalism, or ability to make decisions. It’s about a parent who wants the best for their child, and in this episode, you’ll learn how to respond to these requests with intention rather than reaction.

Learn how to handle even the most cha...

Today, I share my journey from feeling completely powerless in my early years as a principal to founding a program that helps school leaders reconnect with their personal power. The truth is, the current education system leaves most principals feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and unfulfilled. But it doesn't have to be this way.

Discover how expanding your mind to what's possible and rewriting the script of who you are as a leader...

Planning is an essential element of leadership, but too often, we develop a negative relationship with the process. We set goals that feel constrictive, scary, or disconnected from what we truly want to create. But what if instead of planning from a place of fear and doubt, we planned as though we were guaranteed to succeed?

I share a powerful framework for valuable planning that will transform the way you lead. Explore the secre...

As a school leader, it's easy to get caught up in what others are doing and feel like you're not measuring up. But the truth is, their path is different from yours, and it's important to focus on your own journey. If you’re struggling with compare and despair triggers, you’re in the right place because in this episode, I show you how your feelings of insufficiency are just thought errors, not reality.

Learn how to recognize your ...

Your identity is simply what you believe about yourself and what you're capable of learning, doing, experiencing, handling, creating, and having. You can hold firm to your identity if it’s currently serving you well, but if you feel restless or stuck on repeat, it might be time for an identity shift. Today, you will learn how evolving your identity is the key to expanding your impact, productivity, and fulfillment as a principal.

In this episode, I share my insights on radical empowerment - what it means, why it matters, and how to embody it as a school leader. Get ready for a perspective shift that will transform how you lead.

Discover how to balance being the boss with compassion, navigate difficult emotions, and see the potential in everyone on your campus. It's time to stop seeking external validation and step into your most empowered self. Let's go!

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The school leader’s job description often requires being an expert in it all while doing everything at once. Whether you’re making the shift from good to great or great to exceptional, you are not alone if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why it’s my mission to make leadership development a mainstream practice in every school community, and I show you how I’m doing this in today’s episode.

Learn why we despe...