The NAESP Principal Podcast

Uniting Leaders

This July in Nashville, NAESP is excited to be hosting its annual conference jointly with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) for UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership. Host Andy Jacks is joined by NAESP President-Elect Kevin Armstrong and Associate Executive Director of Professional Learning Gracie Branch, to discuss what to expect and how school leaders and educators from all grade levels can learn and grow this summer.

Kevin Armstrong, Ed.D. is principal of DuPont Hadley Middle School in Old Hickory, Tennessee, and president-elect of NAESP.

Gracie Branch, Ph.D., is associate executive director of professional learning at NAESP.

Andy Jacks, Ed.D. is principal at The Nokesville School in Nokesville, Virginia, and senior fellow at the NAESP Centers for Advancing Leadership.

Learn more and register today at theunitedconference.org.

Transformative School Culture

School transformation is about more than just a change in name, or even a change in leadership. For Eric Chagala, principal of San Diego's VIDA Academy, culture is key. Chagala shares his story with Center for Innovative Leadership fellows Liz Garden and Scott Mcleod, and talks about the real reasons for VIDA Academy's successes.

Eric Chagala, Ed.D. is is the founding principal of the Vista Innovation & Design Academy (VIDA) in San Diego, California.

Liz Garden is principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary school in Mendon Massachusetts, and serves as fellow at the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership.

Scott McLeod is professor of educational leadership at the University of Colorado, Denver, and a fellow at the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership.

Transitioning into the Principalship

Should I stay, or should I go? That's the question many assistant or aspiring principals are asking themselves when considering whether to transition fully into the principalship. We sit down with two APs to discuss their advice on the when, how, and why of becoming a principal.

Shay Lewis is assistant principal at CREC Academy of Aerospace and Engineering Elementary School in Rocky Hills, Connecticut.

Delaney Rosenberg is assistant principal at a pre-K–8 school in Fremont, New Hampshire.

Donna McGuire is assistant principal at The Park Terrace School in New York City, a 2023 NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal, and moderates the NAESP Assistant Principal Community of Practice.

Assisting With Math Instruction

School leaders play a crucial role in guiding their teachers' math instruction. Donna McGuire, moderator of the NAESP Assistant Principal Community of Practice, is joined by two educators to share strategies specifically for APs that can help teachers conquer math anxiety, improve their pedagogy, and ultimately give math meaning at their schools.

Sabrina Antonelli is principal of Norwood Elementary School in Warwick, Rhode Island, and a 2023 NAESP National Distinguished Principal.

Sherry Knight is director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Equity in the Burlington (New Jersey) City School District.

Donna McGuire is assistant principal at The Park Terrace School in New York City, a 2023 NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal, and moderates the NAESP Assistant Principal Community of Practice.

Fostering Inclusive Partnerships

One of a school leader's most important roles is to build connections with their entire school community. In particular, it's essential to ensure that engagement is culturally responsive and includes all students, families, and stakeholders. In this episode, we discuss strategies for fostering inclusive partnerships, and how crucial it is for students' holistic development, success, and well-being.

Dr. Ryan Daniel is principal of Fort Foote Elementary School in Fort Washington, Maryland, and serves as fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

Xavier Reed is principal of Central Middle School in Wayzata, Minnesota, and also serves as a fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

Embedding Belongingness & Inclusion

When a lack of belonging is felt, it can have a huge impact on our personal lives. Today's episode centers on how a culture of belongingness and inclusion can be fostered at their schools. We discuss why it is important to create a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity, and what it means to allow students, staff, and families to come to school as their authentic selves.

Dr. Ryan Daniel is principal of Fort Foote Elementary School in Fort Washington, Maryland, and serves as fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

Xavier Reed is principal of Central Middle School in Wayzata, Minnesota, and also serves as a fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

What Makes a Great Principal?

We know that a great school leader can have a powerful impact on the success of a school and its students. But how exactly do we get great principals? We sat down with Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond to discuss the latest research on developing effective principals, and how policymakers, districts, and educators can ensure school leaders have what they need to grow and thrive.

Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond is President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute. She is also the Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University where she founded the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education and served as the faculty sponsor of the Stanford Teacher Education Program, which she helped to redesign.

Liz Garden is principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary school in Mendon Massachusetts, and serves as fellow at the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership.

Dr. Scott McLeod is professor of educational leadership at the University of Colorado, Denver, and a fellow at the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership.

 

Fighting For Equity

Principals have an ethical obligation to ensure their students are provided an equitable education. But that's easier said than done, especially in the midst of charged conversations surrounding school communities. Mark Anthony Gooden joins us to discuss how principals can effectively discuss and implement plans to improve equity at their schools, and why it's so important that they do so.

Mark Anthony Gooden is Christian A. Johnson Endeavor Professor in Education Leadership, director of the Endeavor Antiracist & Restorative Leadership Initiative, and chair of the Department of Organization & Leadership at the Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City.

Liz Garden is principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary school in Mendon Massachusetts, and serves as fellow at the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership.

Scott McLeod is professor of educational leadership at the University of Colorado, Denver, and a fellow at the NAESP Center for Innovative Leadership.

Want to learn more? Check out Gooden's Principal magazine article, "When the Fight for Equity Becomes an Ethical Dilemma." – https://bit.ly/3QZlWuJ

Creating a Shared Voice

By creating a shared voice, you can gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of your school communities’ different cultural, economic, and geographic circumstances to ultimately better serve your school. In their first episode together, Center for Diversity leadership fellows Dr. Ryan Daniel and Xavier Reed team up to discuss what shared voice means to them, and how they implement it through their leadership.

Dr. Ryan Daniel is principal of Fort Foote Elementary School in Fort Washington, Maryland, and serves as fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

Xavier Reed is principal of Central Middle School in Wayzata, Minnesota, and also serves as a fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

The Principal as Advocate

Although policies made at the local, state, and federal level can profoundly impact schools, it doesn't have to be a one-way street. School leaders are perfectly positioned to both know what educators need, and to effectively communicate with policy-makers. We sat down with two principals to discuss how they stay engaged with lawmakers, and what steps school leaders can take to embrace the role of principal advocate.

Joshua Gill is principal of Ayaprun Elitnaurvik Elementary School in Bethel, Alaska, and a 2023 National Distinguished Principal.

Samantha Walder is principal of Tea Area Legacy Elementary School in Tea, South Dakota, and a 2023 National Distinguished Principal.

David Griffith is associate executive director of policy and advocacy at NAESP.