Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Principal JL is an educational leader who explores various topics facing educational leaders today! The Mission of this podcast is to inform and inspire other Educational Leaders on how to be their best for their Schools by honing their skills and talents so they may impact their teachers, staff members, students, parents/guardians, and community members positively for their School District! Come with a Growth Mindset as we journey through Educational Leadership!
Episodes
A single question changed the way we lead: what do we know now that we wish we knew then? From the emotional roller coaster of a school year to the small habits that keep us grounded, we unpack practical moves that help educators stay energized, avoid the disillusionment dip, and create momentum that lasts.
We start by mapping the phases many teachers and leaders feel from high August anticipation to the late...
Doors closed, minds open or the other way around? Our conversation with NASSP’s 2025 National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, pulls back the curtain on how a large high school built a culture where teachers learn from teachers every single day. Tony walks us through the exact system that turned isolation into collective efficacy: a strengths inventory across four core areas, 25-minute targeted classroom visits, c...
A single question from a group of students rerouted a career—and sparked a movement. That’s how Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, widely known as Principal EL, went from TV production to a life in education, using chess to teach math, identity, and grit while building a school culture where kids line up to get in. We talk about the early days in Philadelphia, why engagement must precede information, and how a chessboard became in...
The principal’s chair looks different from the inside. We pull back the curtain on the quiet costs of leadership—why accountability requires real boundaries, why the job can feel isolating even in a busy building, and how to replace that isolation with a resilient network that actually gets it. Through candid stories and concrete examples, we map out the habits that keep leaders steady: clear communication, consistent...
What if the strongest leadership move is to listen first, decide second, and never micromanage? That’s the tought line of our conversation with Principal Shannon Seale, who went from high school social studies to leading a pre-K–2 campus, without losing her sense of humor, her humility, or her focus on what matters most.
We explore the origin of Shannon’s calling to teach, how watching weak leadership shaped ...
What if the best instructional leadership doesn’t start with a rubric but with people? We sit down with Dr. Donovan Smalls II to unpack how a former PE teacher and college professor became an assistant principal known for calm under pressure, disciplined time management, and a people-first approach that lifts instruction across a building.
We dig into the pivotal COVID moment that rerouted his career and why ...
Ever feel like the weight of the world lands squarely on your school's doorstep? You're not alone. Principal JL takes a rare solo moment to speak candidly about the reality educational leaders face when national events and societal tensions inevitably filter into school hallways.
The truth about public education often gets lost in inflammatory headlines. Drawing from experiences in both small rural ...
Ever wonder what makes a truly exceptional school leader? Bill Curry, recently named Nebraska's 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year, offers a refreshing perspective that might surprise you.
Curry's journey into education began unexpectedly when a high school crush asked for help with algebra. That simple tutoring session revealed his natural teaching ability and set him on a path through classr...
What if the most powerful leadership quality isn't perfection, but authentic vulnerability? Jayme Braida, Iowa's Elementary Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal, demonstrates how embracing imperfection revolutionized her approach to educational leadership.
Jayme's journey didn't follow a straight path. She "stumbled upon education" after changing majors mult...
Episode 41: Creating Bull Elephants with 2025 Nebraska High School Principal of the Year: Jerry Mack
When a rural Nebraska principal discovered a behavioral problem with freshmen students, he turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: African bull elephants. Jerry Mack, the 2025 Nebraska State High School Principal of the Year, shares how this wildlife management concept transformed his school's culture by empowering seniors as leaders and mentors.
Growing up poor in small-town Nebraska, Jerry initial...
What does it take to truly connect with students who struggle? For Erin Jones, Assistant Principal at Sunrise Middle School, the answer lies in her own past. "I wasn't your picture-perfect student," she reveals, explaining how her personal challenges help her relate to behaviorally struggling students today.
This fascinating conversation explores Jones' unconventional path from school psyc...
What happens when a Norwegian tour guide discovers her passion for educational leadership? In this revealing conversation, Dr. Dana Goodier shares her remarkable 25-year journey through the educational landscape, from teaching world languages to navigating the complex terrain of school administration.
Dr. Goodier's story isn't one of overnight success but rather persistent determination. Despite com...
That moment when you've built a solid foundation, but find yourself staring at the ceiling wondering, "What's next?" This summer, after three years of transformative work as building principal at Hastings High, I hit that wall.
We'd successfully tackled culture, transforming our school from "welcome to the jungle" into a place where students and staff felt valued. We'd...
What does it take to transform a struggling school? Josh Tovar knows firsthand. Born in Juarez, Mexico, and growing up with learning disabilities and family challenges, Josh's journey from troubled teen to transformational principal offers powerful lessons for any educational leader.
Josh's personal story gives him authentic "street cred" with students facing similar struggles today. "...
What happens when talented, dedicated educators feel stuck despite their best efforts? According to Casey Watts, the answer isn't about working harder—it's about seeing clearer.
After two decades in education as a teacher, coach, and district leader, Casey discovered that the persistent gap between administrators and classroom teachers wasn't due to lack of commitment or expertise. The missing ...
What makes a school leader decide to step away when they still love what they do? Former high school principal Todd Bloomer opens up about his nearly three-decade journey through education and the wisdom he gained along the way.
Todd's story begins as a New Yorker who packed everything into a Geo Prism and moved 1,800 miles to teach in Texas without ever having visited the state. His leadership philosoph...
Have you ever wondered what happens when a teacher steps into the administrator's office for the first time? Josh Rowan, Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Schuyler Middle School, pulls back the curtain on his journey from broadcaster to classroom teacher to educational leader in this revealing conversation.
Josh's path wasn't the traditional straight line into education—he discover...
What separates exceptional educational leaders from the merely competent? According to Dr. Frank Buck, it might be as simple and as challenging as reliable organization systems. His journey from band director to productivity expert reveals a crucial truth: educators aren't typically fired because students performed poorly at a concert, but because they forgot to order the buses to get there.
Dr. Buck&apo...
Imagine walking into a school where a principal tells a fart joke, and within seconds, students take deep breaths and self-regulate back to attention. Sound impossible? For Leroy Slanzi, this is everyday reality in schools that have embraced his emotional intelligence framework.
With over 25 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school leadership, Slanzi brings a unique perspective to the ed...
Dr. Darrin Peppard's educational leadership journey began when his college roommate asked for help coaching fifth-grade basketball. That simple moment sparked a passion that would guide him from classroom teacher to award-winning principal, superintendent, and eventually to becoming one of education's most respected leadership voices.
The turning point in Darrin's leadership philosophy came dur...
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