Shows
The School Leadership ShowS9 E11: Becoming Your Own Factchecker (News Literacy for Students and Citizens)In this episode, Mike had the privilege of speaking with Howie Schneider, the executive director of the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University's School of Communication and Journalism. Howie shared his fascinating journey from a 35-year career in journalism, including being the editor of Newsday, to leading the charge in preparing citizens to navigate today's complex information landscape. They delved into why Stony Brook created the first university course in the U.S. focused specifically on news literacy, defining reliable information not just as "truth," but as "actionable information". Howie explained their crucial realization that...2025-07-2535 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E10: Bridging the Implementation Gap in EducationIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang interviews Jenice Pizzuto and Steven Carney about their book Implement with IMPACT: A Strategic Framework for Leading School and District Initiatives. The discussion focuses on their strategic framework for effectively implementing school and district initiatives using research-based practices. They emphasize the importance of including stakeholders, meticulous planning, professional learning, and a human-centered approach to change. The conversation highlights the common pitfalls in implementation, particularly the often-skipped "plan and prepare" stage, and offers actionable insights for educators and leaders looking to close the gap between knowledge and practice. They also introduce their acronym...2025-07-1139 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E9: How Principals Can Elevate Instructional Impact with Principal KafeleIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang sits down with renowned educator and turnaround Principal Kafele to discuss his latest—and most personally significant—book: “What Is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers I Supervise?” This conversation zeroes in on the principal’s role as an instructional leader. Principal Kafele makes it clear that the core focus of his message—and his latest book—is on how and why principals themselves must strengthen and own their role as instructional leaders. What You’ll Learn: • Why the principal must lead instructionally • How self-reflection can transform your leade...2025-06-2544 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E8: Rigor Redefined (Unpacking the Myths of Hard Work and Hierarchy)In this episode, Jenn David-Lang took the reins and had a fascinating conversation with Michael McDowell, author of Rigor Redefined: 10 Teaching Habits for Surface, Deep, and Transfer Learning. Listen to the podcast to hear how Michael challenges our traditional understanding of rigor. Apparently, rigor isn't just about things being "hard" or doing a lot of work quickly. Instead, it's defined as a balance between surface, deep, and transfer learning, and importantly, it's a taxonomy, not a hierarchy. This means you don't have to master knowing facts (surface) before you can relate ideas (deep) or apply learning to...2025-06-1044 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E7: Don't Let Them Drown (Practical Support for First-Year Teachers)In this episode, I'm incredibly excited to be joined by two amazing people: my fantastic co-host, Jenn David-Lang, who's also stepping in as a guest today, and the one and only Kim Marshall! We're diving into a topic that feels more important than ever right now: supporting new teachers. It's something I'm seeing firsthand as my daughter navigates her first year teaching, and believe me, it's a challenge. That's why we're shining a spotlight on the brand-new, absolutely invaluable section on the bestofmarshallmemo.org website. Jenn and Kim have curated the most powerful, practical insights from thousands...2025-05-2435 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E6: Unlocking Educator Joy (Pathways and Permission)In this episode, Jenn and I are thrilled to welcome William Parker! A longtime educator from Oklahoma who transitioned into full-time consulting, speaking, and writing, Will is the author of "Messaging Matters" and his new book, "Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?: An Educator's Guide to Doing What You Love" Will shares how his new book, born from coaching conversations with high-achieving leaders at crossroads, is designed to help educators think through career options, get out of ruts, and reconnect with their joy. We dive into key concepts from the book, including: • Avoiding the...2025-05-1044 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E5: Don't leave teacher induction up to chance.In this episode, Jenn has a conversation with one of the educators who was featured prominently in Harry and Rosemary Wong's latest book, THE New Teacher Induction Book: How to Recruit, Train, and Retain New Teachers. Tara Link is a leader who started an induction program 18 years ago in Moberly, Missouri. She joined Jenn to talk about Rosemary and Harry Wong's latest book, and she had so many useful tips to share. Unfortunately, while we are losing a number of our new and newer teachers, we are also not doing as good of a job of supporting...2025-04-0844 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E4: S.H.I.N.E Bright: Empowering Women Leaders with LaVonna RothMarch is Women’s History Month! This episode features a conversation with LaVonna Roth, an inspirational speaker and consultant whose work has inspired women leaders everywhere. Jenn introduced LaVonna, highlighting her impactful speaking on leadership. LaVonna shared her "S.H.I.N.E." framework, initially for students but powerfully applicable to adults and leaders. SHINE represents Self, Heart, Inspire, Navigate, and Exceptional, focusing on strengths, passion, inspiration, action, and becoming your best self. We explored how this framework resonates with all leaders because of its human-centered approach. LaVonna shared her journey of growth and emphasized the importance of...2025-03-2143 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E3: Are you REALLY ready to respond in an emergency?Responding to emergencies takes two things: leadership and communication. Are you prepared? Mike and Jenn had a truly productive conversation with school preparedness expert, Chris Joffe. He talked about everything from why leaders need to start with themselves and understand how THEY respond to emergencies. He also shared that one of the essential keys is having an emergency org chart and teams to deal with the wide range of emergencies your school might have. Throughout it all, Chris emphasized that humans and relationships are key. Why? Because “emergencies require people to respond.” Unfortunately, his data show...2025-03-1242 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E2: Year of Acceleration for All (Yes, that includes Black Males)Khalid Oluewu, principal of Webster Elementary School in Chicago, has done what many principals would love to do: He has created structures and practices at his school to ACCELERATE learning for all, and in particular for Black males. Wow. The idea started when he was a teacher and taught middle school math and had students come to him years behind. He looped with the students and in three short years he not only got them on grade level, but when they went to high school they were able to skip Algebra and start with Geometry. ...2025-02-2440 min
The School Leadership ShowS9 E1: A Truly Transformational Approach to CoachingAfter 30 years in the field Elena Aguilar gathered all of her experience and learning and put together the most powerful book on coaching we've seen -- Arise: The Art of Transformational Coaching. Elena sees coaching as the way -- one conversation at a time -- that we transform our schools. In this deeply insightful conversation she shares the importance of coaching more than the teacher BEHAVIORS we are all used to coaching. She shared an example of how, when she coached a teacher to change her behavior -- and change her classroom from rows and direct instruction to...2025-02-1144 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E10: Relationships, Relationships, RelationshipsMike returns to the podcast! Jenn and Mike had a great conversation with Coach Carlos about his book Power Engage: Seven Power Moves for Building Strong Relationships to Increase Engagement with Students. No, he's not a coach of a sports team, but a former school leader who has successfully turned around three failing schools by improving STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. How? By focusing on relationships. Teacher-student relationships and parent-school relationships are particularly key. Listen as we talk about the 3 indicators every school should examine to detect problems with culture: Three years of recruitment data Three years of retention d...2025-01-0943 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E9: Building trust matters, and it matters deeply in schoolsMegan Tshannen-Moran and Jenn had a delightful conversation about the power of trust in schools. It is one of three factors that is so powerful that it oustrips SES in predicting student achievement. Far from being a "soft skill," building trust has become a must-have skill for educational leaders. In this conversation Megan not only defines trust for us, but she also gives us lots of concrete strategies and tidbits to build and keep trust alive in schools. We discussed what happens with betrayals of trust and Megan outlines in detail how leaders can bring...2025-01-0343 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E8: Is A.I. the teaching assistant we've all been waiting for?What a great conversation about the new book, The Artificial Intelligence Playbook: Time-Saving Tools for Teachers that Make Learning More Engaging! Jenn got to talk to all three of the authors: Meghan Hargrave, Douglas Fisher, and Nancy Frey and learned so much. We discussed everything from what AI is and isn't, to the reasons leaders should address teachers' emotions around AI, to whether AI is going to take over our jobs! (Spoiler alert, the authors quoted Ethan Mollick who says, "AI won't take your job, but someone who uses AI will!" ... so listen to this podcast to...2024-12-1454 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E7: How to Supercharge Your CommunicationYou probably know Charles Duhigg from his book, The Power of Habit. Or maybe Smarter Faster Better. Now he has a newer book out that is another great resource for school leaders — Supercommunnicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection. Charles shares with Jenn how people mess up communication and how to improve it. He says that most miscommunication happens when we are having different conversations, and when we fail to connect. There are basically three conversation types: decision-making, emotional, and social relationships. You don't want to miss this conversation because you'll see how Je...2024-11-2641 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E6: The Secret to Turning Conflict into CollaborationJenn had an outstanding conversation with Robert Feirsen, one of the two authors of From Conflict to Collaboration, along with author Seth Weitzman. They chatted about the tough stuff – like how prevalent conflict is in schools and a number of the sources of that conflict. But then Robert shared the positive way he thinks about conflict and how we, too, can use conflict as an opportunity for learning and growth. Robert shared the idea that design thinking – an approach that comes from the discipline of engineering – can be used to address conflict effectively. First you put together a team...2024-11-1341 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E5: How about some help with talking about the election in schools?Jenn made me do this episode. I really didn't wat to, but I'm glad we did. As we approach the upcoming presidential election, you may remember the fallout from the last two elections. Some school communities experienced heightened divisions, increased bullying, more tension in classrooms, and a general sense of uncertainty. Fortunately, there are some steps school and district leaders can take to proactively anticipate some of these challenges. We need to plan ways to communicate clearly, set expectations, and create a calm and inclusive school environment while also thinking through ways to address challenges t...2024-10-2831 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E4: Want better supervision? Listen to the source.Kim Marshall needs no introduction. He is the most recognized name in the field of educational leadership because he is the person behind the weekly Marshall Memo -- a subscription service that provides curated summaries of the most important articles in education each week. In this podcast Kim provides an overview of the three essential areas school leaders need to keep an eye on to be successful supervisors and coaches: • Supervising and coaching TEACHING • Supervising and coaching LEARNING • Supervising and coaching PLANNING Most know him because he is the guru of...2024-10-0838 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E3: Leading When It’s Hard - A Cell Phone Ban.In this episode, Jenn and I interview Dave Blanchard, a seasoned superintendent from a school district in Upstate New York. Three years ago Dave’s district implemented a distraction-free environment, which included no cell phones during the school day. We talk about this leadership challenge in the context of Jonathan Haidt’s 2024 book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. If you would like a summary of the book along with discussion questions to use with families, email Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. If you would like to hear the resear...2024-09-1039 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E2: Learn what the BEST principals do differently than the AVERAGE ones.We were fortunate to get to talk to the renowned Todd Whitaker in today's podcast. He is one of the most influential thought leaders in educational leadership and has written 65 books on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness! Today Whitaker talks about the latest edition of his classic book, What Great Principals Do Differently: Twenty Things That Matter Most. Todd shares 8 of the 20 things he has found (through research AND personal experience as a principal) the BEST principals do that the average ones don't. He was quite a hoot to talk to...2024-08-2648 min
The School Leadership ShowS8 E1: Executive Functioning Isn’t Just for ExecutivesTeachers spend a lot of time making sure students know what they’re supposed to do, and many students struggle to understand expectations and translate them into action. The results are less time for teaching and less capacity for learning. Schools need to teach executive functions to all students in the context of the learning they are already doing to boost learning and engagement today and equip them for the future. In his book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom, author Mitch Weathers offers a beginning routine and a concluding routine any teacher can adopt to teach executive fun...2024-08-0951 min
The School Leadership ShowS7 E10: It all starts with Belonging.Students today are suffering from an epidemic of disconnection. School leaders I work with see it in students’ disengagement from learning and in their mental health. While there are many factors at play here, there’s no doubt that belonging is something that kids (and grown-ups too) desperately need. In this episode, Jenn and I interview Dominique Smith, who along with his co-authors Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Vincent Pompei, and Rachael Stewart, wrote Belonging in School Creating a Place Where Kids Want to Learn and Teachers Want to Stay. Belonging in School is an actionable and il...2024-07-1327 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E9: If these are the next generation of teachers, we're all good!In this episode, Jenn had the privilege of speaking to three rising juniors in college, all of whom want to become teachers. While we've spent so much time fearing the loss of teachers from our field, it was so inspiring to remember that some energetic young people are going to bring so much to our schools, too. Exciting! The passion of these three young women — Annie Morrison, Audrey Garfinkel, and Isabella Argote — was palpable! First of all, they KNOW kids — from teaching swimming and ballet to being camp counselors to starting an innovative virtual book club for young...2024-06-2438 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E8: Reading Is Everyone’s Business (Part 2)According to Beverly Cleary (yes, that Beverly Cleary), “Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.” Jenn and I couldn't agree more, and that’s why in this episode we talk about the book The Joy of Reading by Donalyn Miller and Teri S. Lesesne (Heinemann, 2022). Here’s more of what we know: Decades of over-testing and standardized learning has crowded out students’ joy in reading. When it comes to reading, students report they are bored and uninterested. Research tells us that this undermines reading achievement. Fortunately...2024-06-1126 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E7: Reading Is Everyone’s Business (Part 1)“If you’re not reading by the end of third grade, there’s a 70% chance you won’t become a proficient reader.” That’s what author Karen Gazith told us as we talked with her about her most recent book, The Power of Effective Reading Instruction: How Neuroscience Informs Instruction Across All Grades and Disciplines. Here’s more of what we know: Neuroscience and decades of research have provided a clear understanding of how children learn to read and how teachers can help them when they struggle with reading. Teachers in every grade level and content area n...2024-05-2935 minThe School Leadership ShowMini-sode 5: Trust us, your teams need work.In this fifth special episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about resources to help school leaders with building better teams. To support this work, Jenn has gathered her summaries of three must-read books: Learning by Doing by Richard DuFour et al. - This book shows how to effectively implement PLCs so they will raise student achievement and improve the professional lives of teachers. The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle - Great cultures can be built. This book shares the 3 key skills that organizations with extraordinary cultures have mastered — building safety, sharing vul...2024-05-1018 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E6: We Can’t Yoga Our Way Out of ThisIn this episode, we're shining a light on a pressing issue in the educational landscape: teacher burnout and attrition. With schools across the nation feeling the impact, we turn to expert Chase Mielke, author of Illuminate the Way: The School Leader’s Guide to Addressing and Preventing Teacher Burnout (ASCD, 2023), for insights and solutions. If you're a school leader, educator, or anyone passionate about creating a positive and sustainable teaching environment, this episode is a must-listen. To learn more about Chase and his work, you can find him here: https://www.facebook.com/chasemielkespeaker, https://www.instagram.com...2024-04-1034 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E5: "Diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is being asked to dance.”DEI feels like it’s becoming the (a) third rail in K-12 education. The quote in the title is from Verna Myers, VP of inclusion strategy at Netflix, and is included in Ruchika Tulshyan’s book Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work. In this episode, Jenn and I have a real and practical conversation with Ruchika about what you can do personally and as an organization to help everyone feel like they belong. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podca...2024-04-0735 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E4: We've had something wrong in education – it's not the GPA or the test scores.Many of us as educators have assumed that the kids with strong grades and strong test scores were set up for success. Isn't that what we were supposed to work toward in schools? Dr. Borba has interviewed scores of students and has found that these 2 areas – grades and test scores – are not the markers of success today in the 21st century. Instead, as educators, leaders, and parents we should be focusing on 7 character strengths: self-confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism. Dr. Borba is an educational psychologist, author, and parenting expert. She has written over 2...2024-03-1634 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E3: Find and Tap Your Hidden PotentialEveryone has hidden potential for growth and achievement, but standard approaches to studying, practicing, coaching, and organizing education often leave this potential untapped. The practices of high-achieving individuals (and a high-achieving school system) reveal the surprising skills, scaffolds,and systems that unlock potential. Even better, anyone can learn them, and anyone can teach them, too. In this episode we have a great conversation about Adam Grant’s book Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things and how to apply his insights to our own lives as busy educators. As always, send your comments, questions, and...2024-03-0934 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E2: Educators of color are leaving schools: What can leaders do differently to support them to stay?In this conversation between Dr. Andrea Terrero Gabbadon and Jenn, we talked about the reasons educators of color are leaving: working conditions and leadership behaviors. The good news is that school and district leaders can actually do something about this, and Dr. Gabbadon walks you through how. She shares 6 principles, backed by research, that will help you create the types of inclusive schools where educators of color will want to work and will thrive. Educators of color benefit all students in our schools and it's time to look at the changes we can make in the culture, school practices...2024-02-1341 minThe School Leadership ShowS7 E1: Forget Hiring; Let’s Try to Keep the Teachers We HaveIn this episode, I talk with Becky Gerdes and Ryan Siegle about their book Six Steps Toward Teacher Retention and a Long-Lasting Legacy. We focus mainly on their Six Steps to Maximize Your Leadership Impact and Improve Teacher Retention: Step One: Lead Authentically Step Two: Build Teacher Self-Efficacy Step Three: Foster Collective Efficacy Among Your Staff Step Four: Cultivate a Culture of Trust Step Five: Listen to Your Staff with Empathy Step Six: Unite Around a Shared Vision This was a great conversation with a...2024-01-2137 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E10: Listen To Your Inner CanaryIn this episode, Jenn and I talk about Sharone Bar-David’s book Trust Your Canary: Every Leader's Guide to Taming Workplace Incivility. Bar-David provides some simple strategies for helping leaders see incivility (even when it’s hard to recognize) plus a whole toolkit of easy-to-implement ways to address it (so you can stop doubting yourself when it’s time to intervene). These skills are critically important for school leaders because two of the drivers of incivility are organizational change and high stress levels – both of which are rampant in schools right now. As we mentioned during the show, Jen...2024-01-1132 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E9: An Entrepreneur Helps Mike OutSometimes in education it helps to hear from our end users. In this episode I interview fellow Coke Scholar Raleigh Dewan (‘19). Raleigh is a 23-year-old entrepreneur and business owner (https://steadispoon.com/ and https://sistershaq.com/) from Austin, Texas. Raleigh and I talk about his experiences in K-12 and higher ed. and the advice that he has for aspiring and practicing school leaders. Raleigh has offered a discount at Sister Shaq tea for listeners of the show. Use promo code schoolleadership for 20% off your first order or follow this link: https://sistershaq.com/discount/schoolleadership Ral...2024-01-0136 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E8: How healthy is your organization?More than anything, organizations should strive for organizational health. In this episode, Jenn David-Lang and I talk about Patrick Lencioni’s 2012 book The Advantage Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business. This book clearly and powerfully explains what your organization needs to do to become healthy: 1) Build a cohesive leadership team, 2) Create clarity, 3) Overcommunicate clarity, and 4) Reinforce clarity. Check out this great two minute video of Lencioni describing the 5 dysfunctions of a team: https://www.tablegroup.com/topics-and-resources/teamwork-5-dysfunctions/ And here is the self assessment to see...2023-12-0935 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E7: A.I. in K-12, Part 1In the field of education, we have no choice, AI is here to stay. So, listen to this whimsical conversation with Technology Coach, Jason Strzalkowski, whose enthusiasm for all-things-AI-in-schools is infectious! Yes, we share ideas to spice up teaching to make learning more engaging, accessible, and equitable. But we know our listeners are busy educational leaders so you will be excited to hear ways to save principals and district leaders TIME with some AI efficiency hacks specifically for our field. And Jason was kind enough to compile a list of AI Tools for Educators: https://d...2023-11-2141 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E6: Let’s Get Math Instruction RightIn this episode, Jenn and I interview Peter Liljedahl, the author of Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics: 14 Teaching Practices for Enhancing Learning. As former math teachers, Jenn and I had a great time talking with Peter about concrete and actionable ways teachers can improve math instruction. The practices are simple, high impact, and are easy and cheap to implement. Given what we know now, not implementing these 14 practices borders on educational malpractice. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pa...2023-11-1047 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E5: Creating an Inclusive Environment for Students with DisabilitiesThe research is clear: to provide equitable learning opportunities for all, schools must actively include students with disabilities alongside their peers in general education settings.School leaders don’t need a degree in special education to lead their school toward more equitable and inclusive education for all, but they do need to watch, listen, ask questions, and learn all they can about the law and research-backed practices. In this episode, Jenn and I interview Belinda Karge, the author of Watch, Listen, Ask, Learn How School Leaders Can Create an Inclusive Environment for Students with Disabilities. Belinda shares pra...2023-10-1229 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E4: You're NOT Too Busy to Take Care of YourselfAre you the type of leader who gets up at 4:00 AM to exercise before work? Then this episode is for you. Are you the type of leader who NEVER gets up at 4:00 AM to exercise before work? Then this episode is for you, too. Kelly and Juliet Starrett are highly regarded exercise and health gurus (they mention working with Barack Obama in the podcast!) and they believe that MOVEMENT throughout the day has a much more profound impact on the body (and mind!) than just doing an hour at the gym each day. Plus, they say you...2023-09-1257 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E3: Top Ten for New PrincipalsIn this episode, Jenn interviews Mike about what new principals need to think about as they begin the new school year. Here is Mike's top ten list: Listen and Learn Communicate Effectively Lead by Example Stay Visible Manage Your Time Empower Your Teams Build Relationships Set Clear Goals Embrace Conflict Prioritize Self-Care If you would like us to go deeper on any of these individual topics, let us know. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass th...2023-08-1446 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E2: Want impact? Expand your supervisory practices this year.In this episode, Jenn has a lively conversation with Ann Mausbach and Kimberly Morrison about their book Differentiated Supervision: Growing Teachers and Getting Results and how much of an impact you can have as a school leader by EXPANDING your supervisory practices beyond the typical individual observation and feedback we all do. Instead, they suggest we include other practices such as observing teacher teams and giving feedback to the whole school. And observing for themes throughout the school and giving whole-school feedback. There's a lot to their DIFFERENTIATED SUPERVISION model so listen in to learn more. This process is so effec...2023-08-1041 minThe School Leadership ShowS6 E1: It’s Time to Find JoyIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, and I interview Berit Gordon about her book The Joyful Teacher: Strategies for Becoming the Teacher Every Student Deserves. This was a fantastic conversation about teaching and learning and what leaders can do to support teachers. Learn more about Berit and her work at her website. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the...2023-07-1238 minThe School Leadership ShowMini-sode 4: Supervising TeachersIn this fourth special episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, and I talk about resources to help school leaders with teacher supervision and evaluation. To support this work, Jenn has gathered her summaries three must-read books: Now We're Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership by Justin Baeder Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation: How to Work Smart, Build Collaboration, and Close the Achievement Gap by Kim Marshall Leverage Leadership 2.0: A Practical Guide to Building Exceptional Schools by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo These three books are a great place to start if you are l...2023-06-2523 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E10: Be An Instructional Change AgentIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, interviews Adam Drummond about his book The Instructional Change Agent: Instructional Change Agent: 48 Ways to Be the Leader Your School Needs. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and you can subscribe to The Main Idea at this link: https://www.themainidea.net/subscribe/ As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to spon...2023-06-1435 minThe School Leadership ShowMini-sode 3: Being Organized and ProductiveIn this third special episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about resources to help school leaders be more organized, productive, and effective. To support this work, Jenn has gathered her summaries four must-read books: The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear Getting Things Done, by David Allen The Together Leader: Get Organized for Your Success - and Sanity!, by Maia Heyck-Merlin2023-05-1035 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E9: It’s All About ConversationsIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea, and I interview Jim Knight about his book Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected. While our conversation was mainly about conversations, we did head off on some great tangents. Learn more about the Jim and his work at his website. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Con...2023-04-1132 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E8: Why Educator Bandwidth MattersIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Jane A. G. Kise and Ann Holm about their book Educator Bandwidth: How to Reclaim Your Energy, Passion, and Time. This was a compelling conversation with implications for professionals across our systems. To learn more about the authors and their work, please visit their page at ASCD.org. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mi...2023-03-0933 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E7: We Can’t Ignore Students’ Mental HealthIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Michael Hass and Amy Ardell about their book Supporting Student Mental Health: Essentials for Teachers. Specifically, we talked about the authors’ 4R framework of helpful skills to develop: relate, recognize, respond, and refer. Michael mentioned the suicide prevention resources at The Lighthouse Project aat Columbia University. Here is the link to the website: https://cssrs.columbia.edu/. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As alwa...2023-02-1038 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E6: Strategies to Manage Conflict in Your SchoolIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Bill Sommers about his book Responding to Resistance: Thirty Strategies to Manage Conflict in Your School (An educational leadership guide to conflict management in the school community). Bill is a seasoned leader with a ton of experience and the sense of humor to match. This conversation could easily have lasted hours. His no-nonsense, straightforward approach to conflict is something we can all learn from. To learn more about Bill and his work visit his website: http://learningomnivores.com/. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary o...2022-12-2031 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E5: How Regret Can be a Good ThingIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss Dan Pink’s book The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Dan Pink is one of my favorite authors, and I never miss an opportunity to talk about his work. This was a fantastic conversation on a topic that is so important to everyone’s mental health and well-being. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and sho...2022-12-1321 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E4: Why do we still get grading so wrong?In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Joe Feldman, the author of Grading for Equity: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Can Transform Schools and Classrooms. This was an amazing conversation on a topic that is so central to our work as educators. It’s amazing that we are still so tied to a system that was designed for the Industrial Revolution. You can learn more about Joe and his great work at the website for the Crescendo Education Group, where Joe is the CEO. Jenn has done a Mai...2022-11-1030 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E3: It’s Time for a PD PARTY.In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Elena Aguilar about her new book with co-author Lori Cohen The PD Book: 7 Habits That Transform Professional Development. To learn more about Elena and her great work visit her website: https://brightmorningteam.com/. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass...2022-10-1330 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E2: Trauma-Sensitive LeadershipIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea flies solo to interview John Heller and Tom Hierck the authors of Trauma-Sensitive Leadership: Creating a Safe and Predictable School Environment. It was a great conversation, and I’m sad to have missed it live, but Jenn did a great job. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leavi...2022-10-1138 minThe School Leadership ShowS5 E1: Gather BetterIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I have a conversation about The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker. While not written explicitly for an education audience, the author lays out a fantastic framework for orchestrating any type of gathering. And we have lots of gatherings in education - everything from open houses to faculty meetings. Jenn has done a brief (two-page) Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and show ideas to...2022-09-1325 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E9: Time to Run the RoomIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I have a conversation with Tom Bennett about his book Running the Room: The Teacher's Guide to Behaviour. This discussion was a blast; I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. We get into all things behavior - philosophy and practice. Definitely check out Tom’s website to learn more about his work. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As always, send your comments, questions, and s...2022-06-2435 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E8: Street Data - What is it and why does it matter?In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss the book Street Data: A Next-Generation Model for Equity, Pedagogy, and School Transformation by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan. We talk about what street data is and why we should care about it, equity traps and tropes, a new framework for approaching school improvement, changing pedagogy, and changing adult culture all to support improving teaching and learning. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. As al...2022-06-1128 min
The School Leadership ShowMini-sode 2: Interpersonal Skills for School LeadersIn this second special and short episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss interpersonal skills for school leaders, the things they don’t teach you principal school, in the context of four must-read books that Jenn has summarized: The Listening Leader: Creating the Conditions for Equitable School Transformation by Shane Safir Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen Working With Difficult and Resistant Staff by John F. Eller and Sheila A. Eller Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools by Megan Tschannen-Moran These four boo...2022-05-1319 min
The School Leadership ShowMini-sode 1: Leadership ResilienceIn this special and short episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I discuss leadership resilience in the context of three must-read books that Jenn has summarized and that we recorded podcasts about: From Burnt Out to Fired Up: Reigniting Your Passion for Teaching by Morgane Michael Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar The Mindful School Leader: Practices to Transform Your Leadership and School by Valerie Brown and Kirsten Olson These three books are a great place to start if you want to dig more deeply into the idea of leadership resilience. 2022-05-1318 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E7: Making Academic Conversations MatterIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk with Jeff Zwiers about his book Next Steps with Academic Conversations: New Ideas for Improving Learning Through Classroom Talk. We talked about the importance of teaching and supporting students to have better academic conversations with one another. We also get into strategies that teachers can use to support students and how school leaders might approach helping teachers and students with this important work. To learn more about Jeff and his work, please visit his website: https://jeffzwiers.org/. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary o...2022-04-0635 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E6: Burnout is real; here's how to beat it.In this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk with Morgane Michael about her new book From Burnt Out to Fired Up: Reigniting Your Passion for Teaching. This was another one of those conversations that flew by. I feel like we could have talked for hours. We get into Morgane’s research-based approach to this important topic. She shares real and effective strategies for educators to manage their own self care in a way that makes sense. Morgane also has a podcast that I encourage you to check out, KindSight 101, where she interviews “world renowned educational leaders abou...2022-03-1039 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E5: Candid and Compassionate FeedbackIn this episode, Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I have a conversation with Joe Jones and T.J. Vari about their book Candid and Compassionate Feedback: Transforming Everyday Practice in Schools. We talk about how leaders can empower teachers and change culture with an approach to feedback that can be challenging for many leaders who have developed ineffective habits over time. We could have gone on for hours. These gentlemen bring a level of experience and insight to school leadership that is both refreshing and instructive. You can learn more about their work at their website: TheSchoolHouse302.com. 2022-02-1042 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E4: A Resource You Need Right NowIn this episode, I interview Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and Kim Marshall of The Marshall Memo about their recent collaboration on The Best of the Marshall Memo website. This curated and expertly-organized collection of resources is a treasure trove of awesomeness for all educators. In addition to the best of the best Marshall Memo summaries of articles in 22 categories, there are actionable professional learning activities for leaders to implement today related to those topics. We had a great conversation, and it will be clear to you how these free resources can improve your practice. And if you...2022-01-0731 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E3: How School Leaders Really Can Impact Racial EquityIn this episode, semi-regular co-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Candace Raskin and Melissa Krull, who, along with Antonia J. Felix, are the authors of Principal Leadership for Racial Equity: A Field Guide for Developing Race Consciousness. These seasoned school leaders are phenomenal thinkers and are at the forefront of this important work. I can’t believe how fast this conversation went; it was amazing. Here’s the link to the authors’ website, which also includes a link to the book and all of the chapter resources: https://www.racialequityleadership.com/. The publisher’s website has addi...2021-12-1135 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E2: Trust-Based ObservationsIn this episode, regular co-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Craig Randall, author of Trust-Based Observations: Maximizing Teaching and Learning Growth. This was a great conversation and made me want to get back into classrooms and work directly with teachers again. Craig mentioned the Trust-Based Observation/Reflection form that he developed. The most recent version of the form can be found here. Jenn David-Lang has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, qu...2021-11-1033 minThe School Leadership ShowS4 E1: Time to Dive Deep into Deep LearningIn this episode, I interview Joanne Quinn, coauthor of the books Deep Learning: Engage the World Change the World and Dive Into Deep Learning: Tools for Engagement. This was one of the fastest 30 minutes of conversation I have experienced in a while. Joanne was amazing! You can access many of the authors’ materials about deep learning at their website: https://deep-learning.global/. You can also learn more about their upcoming Global Deep Learning Lab at https://deep-learning.global/dll21/. Jenn David-Lang has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a co...2021-10-1433 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E10: PRINCIPALedIn this episode, frequent co-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Kate Barker, Kourtney Ferrua, and Rachael George about their book Principaled: Navigating the Leadership Learning Curve. This wildly practical text provided us with tremendous fodder for a wonderful and honest conversation about all things principal. Jenn has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And ple...2021-09-1039 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E9: Mastermind Danny BauerIn this episode, frequent co-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Danny Bauer who produces the wildly popular school leadership podcast Better Leaders Better Schools. We had a great and wide-ranging conversation about Danny’s new book Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader and how Danny approaches his masterminds groups. Here is a link to a free chapter of the book. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or so...2021-08-1230 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E8: Leading the ReboundIn this episode, I interview Doug Fisher and Dominique Smith who, along with Nancy Frey and John Hattie, co-authored the book Leading the Rebound: 20+ Must-Dos to Restart Teaching and Learning. This was a great conversation about what school leaders and all educators need to be thinking about as they plan for a post-pandemic school year. Jenn David Lang has done a Main Idea summary of the book, and If you would like a copy, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the po...2021-07-0929 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E7: We Got ThisIn this episode, co-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I interview Cornelius Minor about his book We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be. This was a fun and wide-ranging conversation about all things equity and how teachers and school leaders can work in the system and on the system to improve school for all kids. If you would like a copy of Jenn’s summary of Cornelius’s book, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. Also, Cornelius and his publisher graciously gave me a few...2021-06-1232 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E6: Masterminds for School LeadersCo-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about her recent foray into the world of masterminds groups for school leaders as a tool for professional learning. It was a great conversation, and I learned a ton. If you would like to know more about the groups that Jenn is running, you can email her at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know...2021-05-0424 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E5: The Influential School LeaderCo-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about her summary of The Influential School Leader: Inspiring Teachers, Students, and Families Through Social and Organizational Psuchology by Craig Murphy and John D’Auria. If you would like a copy of this summary, you can email Jenn at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the show, send me an email...2021-04-1036 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E4: The Price You Pay for CollegeCo-host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about her summary of The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make by Ron Lieber. Jenn and I roped Jenn’s husband Tim into the conversation. Tim has many years of experience as a guidance counselor and college counselor. If you would like a copy of this summary, you can email Jenn at Jenn@TheMainIdea.net Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and...2021-03-0432 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E3: Distance Learning Playbook (Part 2)Part 2 of 2. Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about her summary of The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie. If you would like a copy of this summary, you can email Jenn at J.David-Lang@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the sho...2021-02-0732 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E2: Distance Learning Playbook (Part 1)Part 1 of 2. Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about her summary of The Distance Learning Playbook, Grades K-12: Teaching for Engagement and Impact in Any Setting by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, and John Hattie. If you would like a copy of this summary, you can email Jenn at J.David-Lang@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the sho...2020-09-2333 minThe School Leadership ShowS3 E1: Leading in Disruptive Times - Clarity and CommunicationWelcome to Season 3 of The School Leadership Show. In this episode Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about a new set of resources that she has developed to help school leaders through these challenging times. This series of one-pagers titled Leading in Disruptive Times each address an important topic in a clear and concise way. The first one we tackle is “Clarity and Communication.” If you would like copies of the one-pagers, you can email Jenn at J.David-Lang@TheMainIdea.net. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. ...2020-06-0332 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E11: Don’t Shoot the MessengerIn this episode Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk with Will Parker about his new book Messaging Matters: How School Leaders Can Inspire Teachers, Motivate Students, and Reach Communities, which Jenn has summarized in The Main Idea. You can learn more about Will and his work at his website: https://williamdparker.com/. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the show, sen...2019-12-1137 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E10: Engaging with Student EngagementIn this episode Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about student engagement. Our conversation is based on the book Engagement by Design: Creating Learning Environments Where Students Thrive by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Russell Quaglia, Dominique Smith, and Lisa Lande, which Jenn has recently summarized in The Main Idea. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the show, send me an...2019-11-1325 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E9: Why Aren’t We World Class? And What Can We Do About It?Teru Clavel is a comparative international education specialist, speaker, and author. Her book World Class: One Mother’s Journey Halfway Around the Globe in Search of the Best Education for Her Children, is a must-read for anyone interested in improving our education systems in the United States. Teru and I have a lively discussion about her experiences, what she learned about how different countries approach education, and the implications for our K-12 systems. Teru promised me a round two, and after you hear this conversation, you will know why I can’t wait to have her back on the show. Y...2019-10-3042 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E8: Critical Feedback and Difficult ConversationsJenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about critical feedback and difficult conversations. Our conversation is based on a chapter in a new book by Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall - The Best of the Marshall Memo Book One: Ideas and Action Steps to Energize Leadership, Teaching, and Learning. This is a wide-ranging discussion about strategies for having crucial conversations with students, colleagues, staff, and parents. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your...2019-10-2531 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E7: Kim Marshall and the Book You Can’t Live WithoutIn this episode educator and author Kim Marshall (www.marshallmemo.com) and I talk about his new book co-authored with Jenn David Lang (www.themainidea.net) - The Best of the Marshall Memo Book One: Ideas and Action Steps to Energize Leadership, Teaching, and Learning. We talk about the structure of the book and how it will help busy school leaders grow and develop. Kim has offered listeners of this podcast a free copy of, “Chapter Two: Managing Time for Impact.” Kim also mentioned a cool book that he is currently reading - Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Percept...2019-10-1732 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E6: Interviewing and HiringJenn David-Lang of The Main Idea and I talk about interviewing and hiring teachers. Our conversation is based on a chapter in a new book by Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall - The Best of the Marshall Memo Book One: Ideas and Action Steps to Energize Leadership, Teaching, and Learning. Specifically we discuss strategies for spotting candidates, reviewing and updating hiring processes, and developing interview questions. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If y...2019-09-2324 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E5: A Conversation with Elena AguilarGuest host Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea interviews author and consultant Elena Aguilar. Elena’s books - The Art of Coaching, The Art of Coaching Teams, and Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators - are must-reads for all school leaders. Jenn and Elena focus their deep and wide-ranging conversation on Onward. You can learn more about Elena and her work at her website (https://brightmorningteam.com/), on Instagram (elena_aguilar_writer, bright_morning_team), and on Twitter (@brightmorningtm). Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iT...2019-09-1635 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E3: Transforming Education one Lever at a TimeJenn David-Lang of The Main Idea returns to the show, and we talk with Grant Lichtman about his new book Moving the Rock: Seven Levers WE Can Press to Transform Education. This is an amazingly thought-provoking conversation about where we ought to be heading in education. The best way to reach Grant is at his website: http://www.grantlichtman.com/. You can reach Jenn through her website for The Main Idea (www.themainidea.net). She’s offered to send listeners of this episode a free summary of Moving the Rock if you send her an email...2019-01-1142 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E4: Nerding out on Math InstructionJenn David-Lang of The Main Idea returns to the show and we nerd out on the book Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You’d Had: Ideas and Strategies for Vibrant Classrooms by Tracy Johnston Zager. As two former math teachers this conversation is wide ranging and fun. Here’s a link to the companion website to the book that has a ton of resources. You can reach Jenn through her website for The Main Idea (www.themainidea.net). She’s offered to send listeners of this episode a free summary of Becoming the Math Teacher You Wish You...2019-01-1035 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E2: Transforming the Curriculum Through Art In this episode I sit down with Nicola Giardina, a museum educator, consultant, and founder of Inspiring Learners through Art. She has also recently published The More We Look, the Deeper it Gets: Transforming the Curriculum Through Art. Nicola and I talk about her approach to engaging students in higher level thinking through art using a framework that she developed called the Pyramid of Inquiry. You can learn more about Nicola and her work and find her book at her website: https://nicolagiardina.com/. Please enjoy this conversation with Nicola Giardina. Send your comments, questions, and sh...2018-11-1131 minThe School Leadership ShowS2 E1: Education Policy - Where are we and where are we headed?In this episode I sit down with Mike Petrilli, the president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and wildly prolific writer about education and education policy. We also talk about how policy can and and ought to policy into practice at the local level. I wanted to share a little more about Mike’s background from the Thomas B. Fordam Institute’s website because it is so impressive: [Mike is also a] research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, executive editor of Education Next, and a Distinguished Senior Fellow for Education Commission of the States. An award-winning writer...2018-10-0630 minThe School Leadership ShowThe Best Movies About SchoolThis episode is a departure from our usual fare on the School Leadership Show. Today I sit down with Jack, a high school junior with an uncanny knowledge of film and pop culture. Jack is the co-host of The Everything Geek podcast (available in iTunes and @EveryGeekPod on Twitter), and he and I argue about the best movies where high school plays a central role in the story. Jack is one of the smartest and funniest humans I know. I hope you enjoy this back to school episode and that you have a great start to your school year....2018-09-0337 minThe School Leadership ShowDan Rockwell - The Leadership Freak: Becoming a Better Leader 300 Words at a TimeI found Dan Rockwell’s blog Leadership Freak (www.leadershipfreak.blog) through The Marshall Memo. And now I’m hooked. His short but powerful blog posts have become part of my daily routine. During this conversation, Dan and I talk about the origin of the blog and his ongoing work with leaders through workshops, seminars, and individual coaching sessions. Here are a couple of notes from his website just to reinforce what a big deal he is: Inc Magazine Top Fifty Leadership and Management Expert and Top 100 Great Leadership Speakers. American Management Association Top 30 Leader in Business...2018-08-2731 minThe School Leadership ShowTeamwork Makes the Dream Work: A conversation about building effective leadership teamsIn this episode sometimes co-host Dan White and I get into all things teams - how to build them, how to think about the larger context, and much more. Send your comments, questions, and show ideas to mike@schoolleadershipshow.com. Consider rating the podcast in iTunes and leaving a comment. And please pass the show along to your colleagues. If you or someone you know would like to sponsor the show, send me an email at mike@schoolleadershipshow.com.2018-08-2034 minThe School Leadership ShowHigh-Performance Instructional Leadership in 21 DaysA conversation with The Main Idea’s Jenn David-Lang and Justin Baeder, the author of Now We’re Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership Jenn David-Lang of The Main Idea returns to the show and we talk with Justin Baeder, the author of Now We’re Talking! 21 Days to High-Performance Instructional Leadership. Justin discusses his model for turning daily classroom visits into a powerful habit for instructional improvement. He offers a practical approach to mastering this high-leverage technique for helping teachers reflect on their practice and grow as professionals. Now We’re Talking! is available everywhere...2018-07-2647 minThe School Leadership ShowThe Listening Leader - Why We Need a Whole Book About ListeningDuring this conversation, Jenn and I talk about Shane Safir’s 2017 book Listening Leader: Creating the Conditions for Equitable School Transformation. At the intersection of neuroscience, mindfulness, and equity is the need to be a listening leader. Safir creates a framework and makes a case for the transformative power of listening. As with all of the books that Jenn selects for The Main Idea, The Listening Leader has the perfect balance of the theoretical and the practical. You can reach Jenn through her website for The Main Idea (www.themainidea.net). I’m a happy subscriber of The Mai...2018-06-1036 minThe School Leadership ShowWhy we need to help our kids get friendly with failure?During this conversation, Jenn and I talk with teacher and author Jessica Lahey about her 2016 book The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So their Children Can Succeed. This is a wide-ranging discussion where we talk about so many topics like motivation and executive functioning, the critical time that is middle school, implications for teacher training, what school administrators can do to change mindsets about failure, the power of school culture, and so much more. The best way to find Jess is to start at her website: http://www.jessicalahey.com/. You can...2018-05-1344 minThe School Leadership ShowAre your teams as effective as they could be?A conversation with Jenn David-Lang about The Art of Coaching Teams: Building Resilient Communities That Transform Schools, a book by Elena Aguilar. During this conversation, Jenn and I talk about her summary of the book The Art of Coaching Teams: Building Resilient Communities That Transform Schools, a book by Elena Aguilar. This book is packed with practical strategies for helping all of the teams you work with improve their effectiveness. It’s a great conversation, and as always, I’m smarter for having talked with Jenn. You can reach Jenn at her website for The Main Ide...2018-02-0643 minThe School Leadership ShowMindfulness Matters - Especially for School LeadersDuring this conversation, Jenn and I talk about her summary of the book The Mindful School Leader: Practices to Transform Your Leadership and School, a book by Valerie Brown and Kirsten Olson. We both make a case for the need for school administrators to develop their own mindfulness practices. Science, stories, and strategies. It’s all here. And if you don’t think you have time for mindfulness practices, then you need them more than anyone. You can reach Jenn at her website for The Main Idea (www.themainidea.net). I’m a happy subscriber of The Main Idea an...2017-12-2341 minThe School Leadership ShowIt’s Time to be More Productive and Get Things DoneJenn David-Lang makes her fifth appearance on the show. She still holds the record. And there’s a reason I keep talking to Jenn - I always learn so much. Jenn produces The Main Idea (http://www.themainidea.net/), a monthly summary of a current education book. Jenn has over 30,000 subscribers and has an incredible perspective on all things education. We talk about David Allen’s updated edition of his classic Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity. We get into Allen’s organizational system to help “people with too much to do and too little time,” Jenn’s words. Yo...2017-11-2741 minThe School Leadership ShowStop wasting your time on ineffective coaching practices - strategies for making the most of your work with teachersJenn David-Lang makes her fourth appearance on the show. She now holds the record. And there’s a reason I keep talking to Jenn - I always learn so much. Jenn produces The Main Idea (http://www.themainidea.net/), a monthly summary of a current education book. Jenn has over 30,000 subscribers and has an incredible perspective on all things education. We talk about Paul Bambrick-Santoyo’s new book Get Better Faster: A 90-Day Plan for Coaching New Teachers. We get into Paul’s model for coaching and how he recommends setting up an entire system. The part about real-time, in-the-moment...2017-03-2044 minThe School Leadership ShowEnough with the Eye-Rolling - Educating and Parenting Teenage GirlsParenting and educating teenagers can be challenging. Teenage girls can take that challenge to a whole new level. In this episode Jenn David-Lang and her Husband Tim David-Lang and I discuss Lisa Damour’s 2016 book Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood. Not many books have had the impact on my thinking, my work, and my parenting that this one has had. Jenn, Tim, and I have a lively conversation about what we learned from the book and our own experiences putting the information into practice at work and at home. You’ll remember Jenn from two prev...2016-08-1345 minThe School Leadership ShowThe Productivityist Talks Directly to School LeadersMike Vardy is the host of the wildly popular Productivityist Podcast (http://productivityist.com/). He is also a writer, speaker, and productivity strategist. He’s also great to talk to. Mike and I have a lively discussion about all things productivity. What’s cool is that we start with the big picture: task centric vs. time centric thinking, mode-based theming for your days, and Mike’s own NOW Year Method. Then we move into specific skill and techniques including approaches to scheduling and setting up anchors. Mike generously provided a link for School Leadership Show listeners to download his NOW Year Me...2016-03-2635 minThe School Leadership ShowWhy are we all so bad at giving and receiving feedback?In this episode I interview Doug Stone, one of the authors (along with Sheila Heen) of the book Thanks for the Feedback and Jenn David-Lang who summarized the book for her Main Idea publication. We have a spirited discussion about the different types of feedback, why giving and receiving feedback can be so difficult, and how to get better at both sides of the process. You can reach Jenn at her website for The Main Idea (www.themainidea.net) or on Twitter @The_Mainidea. I’m a happy subscriber of The Main Idea, and a big fan of Jenn’s work...2016-02-0636 min