Shows
The Principal Patterson PodcastLeadership in Action: Walking the Talk in Coaching, Growth, and ImpactI want to tell you a quick story.Earlier this month, I walked into the Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City—nervous, excited, and still wrapping my mind around the fact that I was selected as one of just 300 women across the country for their One Million Black Women: Black in Business program.Days later, I received my JP Morgan Chase Coaching for Impact credential.Now, listen… I don’t share this to impress you. I share it to show you something.These two honors? They’re not just big wins for my business. They’re...2025-03-2708 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastHow To Help Teachers Manage Student BehaviorsIf your teachers are sending students out of the classroom constantly, calling for admin backup, and feeling like they can’t manage behaviors on their own, it's not just your school. Right now, student behavior issues are at an all-time high, and it’s taking a toll on both instruction and school culture.
The problem? Many teachers don’t know the difference between what they should handle and what truly requires admin intervention. And without clear expectations and support, they default to what feels easiest—removing students. But here’s the reality: every time a student is sent out...2025-03-1412 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastOvercoming the "Us vs. Them" Mentality as School LeadersAs a school leader, you’ve probably felt that “Us vs. Them” tension between admin and teachers. It’s frustrating, right? You’re pulling in one direction, but your team feels like they’re pulling in another. Here’s the truth: that disconnect almost always comes down to trust. In this episode, I’m breaking down how to rebuild that trust and start working as one team again. I’m sharing four areas that can help close that gap and get everyone on the same page:
Character: Are your actions matching your words? Your team is paying attention.
Communication: It’...2025-02-2519 min
Black on Black Education PodcastTransforming Education Through Student-Centered Leadership (Feat. Chanavia Patterson)Leading a school isn’t for the weak-hearted. It’s messy, it’s hard, and sometimes it feels like you're juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle. But GOOD leadership is actually the key to unlocking the student-centered classrooms we dream about!In this episode, I sit down with the powerhouse Principal Chanavia Patterson to talk about what it really means to lead schools that center students, empower teachers, and create spaces where everyone can thrive (yes, even on a Monday morning). Episode resources: Connect with Principal Chanavia Patterson PODCAST: Leadership Refined: The Power of Tea...2025-02-2132 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastHow to Lead Change and Overcome ResistanceHey there, leaders!In this episode of The Principal Patterson Podcast, I’m diving into one of the biggest challenges in school leadership—navigating change when your team is resistant. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like to introduce something new, only to be met with hesitation, skepticism, or even outright pushback.
I’m sharing a personal story from my first year as a principal when I rolled out a new instructional coaching model and quickly realized that change—even when it’s for the better—is never easy. That experience taught me that leading thr...2025-02-1120 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastThe Top 5 Skills School Leaders Need to Build Culture, Create Synergy, and Take Control of Their TimeAs we dive into the second half of the school year, let’s talk about how you can create the synergy needed to sustain culture shifts and reclaim your time as a school leader.5 Key Leadership Skills for School Leaders:Strategic Thinking – Plan your time and priorities to steer your school toward success.Identifying & Developing Talent – Empower teacher leaders to lighten your workload and foster collaboration.Leading Change – Cultivate buy-in and embrace collaboration for smoother transitions.Decision-Making – Use data and feedback to make clear, confident decisions.Influencing Others – Build trust and inspire your team to...2025-01-1414 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastBonus Episode 4: The 3-Part Framework to Sustainable LeadershipAfter working with dozens of successful principals, I’ve noticed a powerful shift in how they approach leadership. They’re not just working differently—they’re thinking differently. This shift is the foundation of what I call the Sustainable Leadership Cycle, and it’s helping them lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
If you’re ready to move beyond survival mode and embrace sustainable leadership, join me on December 5th at 7 PM ET for The Second Semester Reset, a free masterclass designed to help you thrive.
Register now at www.principalpatterson.com/reset2024-12-0404 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastBonus Episode 3: The Hidden Cost of “Making It Work”How often do you find yourself saying, “I’m just trying to make it work”? For so many school leaders, this means juggling crises, meeting district demands, supporting struggling staff, and constantly putting yourself last. But here’s the truth: making it work comes at a cost you can’t afford to keep paying.
In this bonus episode, I’m breaking down why it’s time to stop surviving and start resetting. I’ll share why resetting your standards, reclaiming your excellence, rebuilding your team, and rebooting the balance between work and life are essential for sustainable leadership.
2024-12-0302 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastBonus Episode 2: From Survivor Mode to SustainabilityThe holiday season is just around the corner, and I know many school leaders are already feeling the weight of months spent managing crises, sub shortages, and teacher turnover. If the second semester feels like an uphill battle, I want you to hear this: it doesn’t have to be.
In this bonus episode, I’m sharing why the second semester is the perfect opportunity to reset, refocus, and reenergize. I’ll give you a sneak peek into what I’ll be covering during my free masterclass, The Second Semester Reset, happening on December 5th at 7 PM ET. You’ll...2024-12-0203 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastBonus Episode 1: The Second Semester ResetI’ll never forget one of those mornings as a principal—the kind that starts with back-to-back crises before the school day even begins. It was exhausting, overwhelming, and felt like it would never end. But that day became a turning point for me—not because I figured out how to juggle it all, but because I realized something huge: the way we’ve been trained to lead is broken. In this bonus episode, I’m sharing what I learned about moving from survival mode to sustainable leadership and how it transformed everything for me. This shift is exactly...2024-12-0104 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastMaintaining Leadership Momentum: Sustaining Yourself Over the Next 90-day SprintSchool leaders everywhere are facing the high energy of students, teachers running on fumes, and endless administrative tasks piling up. This episode is all about keeping that momentum going through the next 90-day sprint without burning out.Here’s What We’ll Cover:Managing Your Energy – How a personal power hour and the 80/20 rule can keep you focused on what truly matters.Supporting Your Team – Showing appreciation in ways that resonate, setting achievable short-term goals, and giving flexibility to lift teacher morale.Planning Ahead – Strategies to break down year-end tasks, create mini-deadlines, and keep everyone o...2024-11-0518 min
Coaching the Whole Educator#110: **BEST OF** SERIES: Untold Secrets of Teacher Retention and School Culture: The Art of Listening For What's Not Being SaidSend us a textThis is part of our *BEST OF* Series, where we highlight the most downloaded episodes of all time.In this episode, Becca dives into an intriguing conversation with Chanavia Patterson, affectionately known as Principal Patterson, on the powerful concept of "listening for what's not being said" in school culture. Discover the secrets behind understanding underlying messages, emotions, and nonverbal cues to foster a thriving school climate and increase teacher retention. From active and reflective listening techniques to creating open communication spaces and the game-changing impact of creating your very own advisory...2024-10-2920 min
The Principal Patterson Podcast4 Steps To Creating A Healthy CultureCulture doesn’t just happen; it has to be intentionally built and consistently maintained. If left undefined, it will manifest in ways that undermine your school’s goals and vision. In this episode, I’m walking you through four essential steps to build a healthy, sustainable school culture that positively impacts everything from academic outcomes to staff morale and student engagement.What You’ll Learn:1. Designing Your Culture: We’ll discuss how to define what you want your school culture to look like, including identifying core values that guide behaviors and interactions.2. Deploying Your Culture: Turning yo...2024-10-2225 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastSchool Culture: Toxic, Tolerable, or Top Tier?Understanding your school’s culture is crucial, and today, I’m sharing insights on the three key phases: toxic, tolerable, and top-tier. During a recent culture audit at a partner school, I witnessed the power of honest feedback within leadership teams. The discrepancies between leaders’ perceptions and the realities on the ground revealed significant gaps.
Whether you’re dealing with a toxic environment filled with conflict or a tolerable culture that feels stagnant, knowing where your school stands is essential. I’ll share practical steps you can take to improve your culture, no matter your starting point.
If you...2024-10-1518 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastNavigating the 5 Stages in Your SchoolWhen I first became a principal, I walked into a school with an existing leadership team—passionate, capable, but completely out of sync. The conflicts were deep, and the school’s struggles were a direct reflection of the leadership breakdown. I realized something crucial: everything that happens in our schools is either leadership created or leadership allowed. And if there’s conflict or misalignment at the top, it’s going to ripple all the way down into classrooms and directly impact student performance. As I began to learn more about team dynamics, I discovered Bruce Tuckman’s five stages...2024-10-0817 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastShifting Your Leadership: The Power of Learning, Unlearning, and RelearningReflecting on my own journey, I remember stepping into my first principal role feeling confident and ready to tackle any challenge. I had a successful background as an assistant principal and a wealth of training behind me. But, as many of you know, reality often throws curveballs that challenge our preconceived notions of what leadership looks like. My school was in a state of crisis, and despite my training, I was faced with adult challenges and a toxic culture that needed transformation.It became clear that my previous strategies weren't going to cut it. I needed to...2024-10-0117 min
The Principal Patterson PodcastLeadershipWelcome to The Principal Patterson Podcast! I’m Chanavia Patterson, and I’m thrilled to guide you on your journey to becoming a high-performing school leader. Each week, we’ll dive into the essential pillars of successful schools. Everything that happens in our schools is either leadership-created or leadership-allowed. Together, let’s build schools of excellence, one principal at a time!2024-09-2500 min
The Woman Of Color Sales Show320k Selling 1:1 Coaching & Groups To Educators With Chanavia Patterson: Liberation Case StudyDielle talks with her client Chanavia Patterson who shares her story. Chanavia talks about her journey and shares how she was able to turn her career success into a successful business. Follow Dielle on instagram: forthe23percent Make consistent sales even on part time hours inside of our lifetime program, Everything Full-Time. Get our free sales training to get started [forthe23percent.com/free-training]. Make more than $50k? Scale to six or multiple six figures inside of the 12 month Mastermind, Everything Scaling. Get on the waitlist now [https://forthe23percent.com/everything-scaling]. 2024-05-0227 min
Coaching the Whole Educator#49: Untold Secrets of Teacher Retention and School Culture: The Art of Listening For What's Not Being SaidSend us a textIn this captivating podcast episode, Becca dives into an intriguing conversation with Chanavia Patterson, affectionately known as Principal Patterson, on the powerful concept of "listening for what's not being said" in school culture. Discover the secrets behind understanding underlying messages, emotions, and nonverbal cues to foster a thriving school climate and increase teacher retention. From active and reflective listening techniques to creating open communication spaces and the game-changing impact of creating your very own advisory council, Principal Patterson shares invaluable insights to transform your leadership approach. Uncover the essence of school culture, far...2023-07-3019 min