→ What does it mean to lead with curiosity over expertise?

→ How can we make our schools places where the adults like to come to work?

→ How can school leaders build a presence that feels more supportive, less policing?

Welcome back to another episode of the Teachers on Fire Podcast, airing live on YouTube most Saturday mornings at 8am Pacific, 11am Eastern. My name is Tim Cavey, and my mission here is to warm your heart, spark your thinking, and ignite your professional practice.

About This Guest, Dr. Danny Steele

Danny is a former award winning principal who speaks to educators around the country about the difference they make for kids. He’s also the author of several best-selling books for educators, including The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader, Essential Truths for Principals, and The Total Teacher: Understanding the Three Dimensions that Define Effective Educators.

Connect with Danny

on LinkedIn, 

on X @SteeleThoughts,

on Instagram @SteeleThoughts,

on his blog at https://www.steelethoughts.com/

In This Conversation

1:50 - Passion drift for school leaders

4:09 - Leading with curiosity over expertise

6:48 - Creating cultural conditions to overcome stagnancy

7:53 - Staff come first, students second

8:57 - Admitting vulnerability as a building leader

10:31 - Observing the student experience instead of teacher performance

12:09 - When an expert teacher struggles to integrate into the community

13:15 - Being a supportive resource instead of a policing presence

15:11 - Shouting out teachers for their great work

16:49 - Building fun and meaningful traditions in your school

19:14 - Danny raps about the power of good choices

21:06 - Danny Steele's six education books

22:19 - Danny Steele's speaking services and other resources on his website

Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.

Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.