Description

“I student taught in Harlem, so I felt like I could handle anything. What I didn’t realize was how much good leadership matters.”

Katie Niemczyk started questioning her decision to be a teacher very early in her teaching career, and it wasn’t because of the students, her team, or even the pay.

Rather, it was because of leadership.

In this episode, Katie shares her own experience in education, including expectations as a teacher with student discipline, why a mandate of planning with other teachers impeded her impact, and what can happen inside the mind of a teacher when school leaders don’t actually listen.

Katie also discusses:

• The toxic culture of education
• How school leaders can support their teachers when in conversations with parents
• Why leaving seemed like the only realistic step she had left
• And a quote from Colon Powell that school leaders everywhere need to read

Katie Niemczyk is a freelance writer and former English teacher who lives in the Twin Cities with her husband and two children. She has a BA in English from Wake Forest University and a Master’s of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Episode Links:

• Katie\'s LinkedIn Profile