The NAESP Principal Podcast

Creating a Culture of Empathy

School leaders must understand that in order to build a positive school culture they must prioritize understanding the experiences and perspectives of others. Empathetic leadership is an essential component of school leadership. Today, Dr. Ryan Daniel and Dr. Edgardo Castro discuss ways principals can build and sustain a culture of empathy at their schools.

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

Dr. Edgardo Castro is Director of Learning Services at Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools in New Mexico, and fellow at the NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership.

Addressing Implicit Biases

Ensuring a fair and equitable education for students is essential to their success and well-being, which is why it is so important for principals to understand implicit bias. Whether it manifests in students, staff, or importantly themselves, school leaders should be aware of the impact of bias and how to address it. In this episode, Center for Diversity Leadership fellow Dr. Ryan Daniel talks with Dr. William Blake about what implicit bias means to them, and strategies to both acknowledge and address these biases in their work and lives.

Dr. William Blake, a former teacher and principal, currently serves as director of redesign in the District of Columbia Public Schools.

What We’re Reading

For educators seeking new perspectives and ways to grow, it's hard to compete with a good book. And as Adam and Rachael discuss in this special episode, those books don't even have to be education focused to be of value. From vinyards to music venues, principals can read between the lines to find inspiration for their own work. For your reference, here's a list of titles mentioned:

• Living with the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus by Jesse Itzler
• The Winemaker's Wife, by Kristin Harmel
• Big Little Breakthroughs: How Small, Everyday Innovations Drive Oversized Results, by Josh Linkner
• Upstream: How to Solve Problems Before They Happen, by Dan Heath
• The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, by Dave Grohl
• Greenlights, by Matthew McConaughey
• A Principal's Guide to Special Education, by David F. Bateman and C. Fred Bateman

Getting It Done

Being a relatively new principal at your school is hard enough as it is—adding a pandemic on top of that definitely makes it harder. Arizona principal Garth Cupp sits down with us to discuss how despite these challenges, his school managed to get it done and continues to do so.

Garth Cupp is principal of in Kyrene Monte Vista Elementary School in Phoenix, Arizona.

Creating a Common Language of Equity

Every student in my classroom deserves an equal chance despite their differences, what can we do as school leaders to ensure that? Equity in education is the process of reforming practices, policies, and procedures at the school and district levels to support academic fairness and inclusion. This ensures every child has everything they need to be successful, like resources, teachers, and interventions. Today we are pleased to feature NAESP Center for Diversity Leadership fellows Ryan Daniel and Edgardo Castro as they discuss how school leaders can create a common language of what equity looks and feels like.

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

Dr. Edgardo Castro is Director of Learning Services at Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools in New Mexico, and fellow at the Center for Diversity Leadership.

Lifting as We Climb

Personal success as a principal should be applauded, but the true measure of achievement for leaders is how they contribute to the success of those around them. In this episode we sit down with Donna McGuire as she shares how, as a woman in leadership, she embraces the concept of "lifting as we climb"

Donna McGuire is a school administrator in the New York City school system where she has served proudly for over 15 years.

Developing Effective Principals

What does it take to effectively lead a school? There are plenty of skills and strategies to look to, but critical to the success of any principal is effective preparation and development. Adam and Rachael talk to Marjorie Wechsler, a researcher at the Learning Policy Institute, to discuss their recent study, "Developing Effective Principals: What Kind of Learning Matters?" In this episode we cover:

• What makes for high quality preparation and development programs
• How to seek out development opportunities
• The importance of applied learning
• How to address standards

Dr. Marjorie Wechsler is the Principal Research Manager at the Learning Policy Institute, where she leads mixed-methods research studies related to teacher and leader quality and early childhood learning.

Reasons To Be a Principal

Why did you become a principal? What would you tell teachers at your school to get them to actually want to become an administrator? These are just a few questions Maryland principal Ed Cosentino reflected on in today's episode. Join the conversation as we discuss:

• What people don't understand about being a principal
• How to plan your day effectively
• The journey of a school leader
• What you are most proud of at your school

Ed Cosentino is principal of Clemens Crossing Elementary School in Columbia, Maryland, and currently serves on the NAESP Board of Directors as director of Zone 3.

Supervision and Evaluation (From the Archive)

In this popular episode from the NAESP Principal Podcast archive, Oregon educator LaKeyshua Washington joins us to discuss effective supervision and evaluation of teachers and staff, covering:

• The good and bad of evaluations and supervision
• The difference between supervising and coaching
• How to get the most out of the process

LaKeyshua Washington serves as director of teaching and learning-secondary in Gresham-Barlow School District in Gresham, Oregon, supporting middle and high school principals, assistant principals, and teachers in curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Washington most recently served as a middle school principal in Compton, California.

Focusing on Wellness

Principals put in a lot of work towards taking care of the staff, students, and families they serve. But too often they forget to take care of themselves. Adam and Rachael sit down to discuss what wellness means to them and how to practice it every day. Plus, we hear wellness tips and strategies from school leaders Liz Garden, Darryl Diggs, and Ron Poland. In this episode, we cover:

• Why wellness is so critical
• Being intentional and committed to self-care
• Negotiating a proper work-life balance
• Encouraging wellness at your school

Liz Garden is a blogger, author, and serves as principal of Henry P. Clough Elementary School in Menden Massachusetts.

Dr. Darryl Diggs, a former principal, currently serves as Assistant Director of Equity for Teaching and Learning at the Special School District of St. Louis County, Missouri.

Ron Poland serves as NAESP state representative for Nevada, and has been recognized as a 2022 NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal for his leadership at Rose Warren Elementary School in Las Vegas.