Transformative Principal

Dealing with Difficult People with William Parker Transformative Principal 076


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This is my second interview with Will Parker. Will wrote a book called Principal Matters: the motivation, courage, action, and teamwork needed for school leadership, and so we talk about his wisdom that is contained therein. Go ahead and buy it.

I interviewed Will in Episode 24 of Transformative Principal.

  • A little discussion about technology.
  • Some information on his book.
  • How to make decisions.
  • Write things down when they are still fresh so you know how to do it next time.
  • Write processes down now so that you have them next time.
  • Make a list and prioritize.
  • How to delegate effectively.
  • Importance of taking time off to recharge.
  • The power of good mentors.
  • Writing a letter of resignation.
  • How to live without putting out fires all the time!
  • Give instruction on the front end to make expectations more effective.
  • Great teachers teach with both sides of their brains at once.
  • More about KRAs (which we spoke about in Episode 24).
  • Part 2
    • Dealing with difficult people.
      • Make sure you are not the difficult person.
      • Seek to understand before being understood.
      • Be firm but friendly.
      • Change your posture or use humor when appropriate.
      • Agree to disagree.
      • Consider bringing all parties to the table.
      • What can I do to help you?
      • Sometimes it is inevitable to have difficult conversations.
      • Communicate privately with staff members when there is a difficulty.
      • Big fan of just being honest.
      • Talk straight with each other.
      • Relationships are so important for every teacher and staff member.
      • “It’s not an issue of me and you, it’s an issue of you and you.”
      • Buy his book!
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        Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL, and Renaissance Learning:

        As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

        We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.


        If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 


        These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

        We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL


        IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

        • Simplify and streamline technology
        • Save teachers’ time
        • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
        • Improve student performance on state assessments


        🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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        Transformative PrincipalBy Jethro Jones

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