The NAESP Principal Podcast

Addressing Negative Thinking

No matter how confident you are as a leader, self-doubt, anxiety, and generally negative thoughts always have a way of creeping up. Though often unavoidable, there are ways principals can address negative thinking. Andrea Thompson and Jessica Gomez are joined by Florida principal Tiffany Emanuel-Wright to talk successful strategies. In this episode, we discuss:

• Recognizing when and how negativity arises
• Finding help through networks
• The impact of negative thoughts on confidence
• Staying focused on the work

Tiffany Emanuel-Wright is principal of Love Grove Elementary in Jacksonville, Florida.

Leadership Longevity

The first few years of a principalship can often be the hardest, but great leaders work hard every day no matter how long they've been in their role. We sit down with Missouri principal Bryan Campbell who has been leading his school for 15 years to learn. We discuss:

• Developing relationships with staff
• Maintaining a strong school culture
• Setting and achieving goals
• Continuing to grow professionally

Bryan Campbell has been a principal for over 15 years at Maplecrest elementary school in Lebanon, Missouri. You can find him on Twitter at @bcampbell70.

Owning Our Stories

Every leader has an important story to tell, but too often women are expected to share their successes quietly—if at all. Center for Women in Leadership fellows Jessica Gomez and Andrea Thompson sit down with Michigan principal Allyson Apsey to discuss how women can take ownership of their own stories. In this episode, we discuss:

• Getting comfortable highlighting successes
• Ways to tell your own story
• Overcoming barriers to sharing

Allyson Apsey is an author, conference presenter, and principal of Quincey Elementary in Zeeland, Michigan.

Lessons in Leadership From an Award-Winning Assistant Principal

The contributions of assistant principals at their schools can never be understated. Carise Echols should know: Her stellar service as an AP landed her an NAESP National Outstanding Assistant Principal award. Adam and Rachel sit down with her to talk leadership as an AP, and to discuss:

• Finding balance
• Staying connected to the classroom
• Taking the leap from AP to principal

Carise Echols currently serves an assistant principal for Carolyn Lewis Elementary in Conway, Arkansas, but will be stepping into the role of principal this summer. Echols is a member of NAESP's 2022 class of National Outstanding Assistant Principals.

Taking Hold of Our Work-Life Balance

Juggling work and family life can feel overwhelming at times, especially for women. Center for Women in Leadership fellows Jessica Gomez and Andrea Thompson sit down with speaker and former principal Pam Gildersleeve-Hernandez to discuss how principals can strike the right balance between their personal and professional lives. In this episode we discuss:

• Unique challenges faced by women leaders
• The importance of creating and maintaining boundaries
• Modeling/setting expectations for staff

Pam Gildersleeve-Hernandez is an experienced educator and former principal, as well as a renowned speaker, author, and coach. You can find her on Twitter at @pgilders.

Book Recommendations

Reading is just as important to a principals learning as it is to the students they serve. Whether it offers practical advice for educators or thoughtful tips for personal growth, a good book can have a huge impact. In this episode Adam and Rachael sit down to talk about some of their recent favorites, and recommend some good reads for school leaders.

Building Powerful Networks of Support and Sisterhoods

Women leaders can often face unique challenges, but one strength they can draw upon should never be ignored: each other. Center for Women in Leadership fellows Jessica Gomez and Andrea Thompson sit down with Massachusetts principal Liz Garden to talk about how crucial this support can be. In this episode, we discuss:

• The impact of strong sisterhoods
• Believing in yourself
• How to start and sustain strong connections
• How to help other women rise and shine

Liz Garden is principal of Leroy E. Mayo elementary, vice president of the Massachusetts School Administrators' Association, and a regular contributor to Principal magazine where she serves as an editorial adviser.

Leadership Tips

Join Adam Welcome and Rachael George as they talk simple leadership tips that can make principals lives easier and their practice stronger. In this episode we discuss:

• When to treat something as urgent
• Keeping things simple
• How to manage relationships
• Engaging with criticism productively

Nurturing Our Emotional, Mental, and Physical Well-Being

Self-care can be a frequently overlooked aspect of leadership, especially for women. Jessica Gomez and Andrea Thompson, fellows at the NAESP Center for Women in Leadership, sit down with Principal Sarah Harrington to discuss:

• Tips for practicing self-care
• The value in finding a sisterhood
• Incorporating mindfulness into daily routines
• The importance of physical wellbeing

Sarah Harrington is principal of Lake Ridge Elementary School, Woodbridge, Virginia.

The NAESP Center for Women in Leadership is dedicated to the strategic study of women administrators and the unique challenges that they face as educational leaders because of their gender. The work of the center is multifaceted, focusing on identifying strategies to elevate women as they pursue career opportunities, creating a strong network of women leaders, and eliminating gender bias. You can find out more about NAESP and the Center for Women in Leadership at naesp.org.

Human Resources

No matter what equipment or resources you have at your disposal, there's nothing more important to school success than the people working there. We sit down with Ryan Sheehy, a district-level director of human resources, to learn the best ways to find and keep great staff. In this episode we discuss:

• How to recruit and advertise openings
• How to support and retain teachers
• How to work within limitations at the building-level

Ryan Sheehy is a former elementary school principal, high school assistant principal, and in addition to being a published author currently serves as director of human resources at Mt. Diablo Unified School District in California.