IASP Podcast

IASP Members,

The start of a new school year always brings challenges—and this year, Mother Nature has certainly added a few of her own. In this week's IASP Advocacy Podcast, IASP Executive Director Dr. Todd Bess joins me to welcome school leaders back and, more importantly, to recognize the leadership you continue to demonstrate as you navigate whatever comes your way.

From there, we turn our attention beyond Indiana to talk about IASP's new national affiliation with the National Principals Association (NPA).

What does having one national association representing PreK–12 school leaders mean for Indiana principals? Todd shares the story behind the formation of NPA, why IASP chose to become a founding state affiliate, and how this partnership can strengthen professional learning, connection, and—especially—advocacy for school leaders at the national level.

Want to learn more about the benefits of bringing school leaders together under one national association? Watch this short video.

And, of course, no conversation with Todd would be complete without a shameless plug!

This week's plug is for IASP's Aspiring Leader Institute. As you begin the year, think about the rising stars in your building or corporation. Who has leadership potential? Who is ready for an opportunity to grow? Sometimes all it takes is a school leader tapping someone on the shoulder and saying, "I think you'd be good at this."

We'd love for you to make that tap and encourage a future school leader to take the next step.

Click here to learn more about the IASP Aspiring Leader Institute.

Thank you for your leadership—and welcome back!

Welcome back! The 2026-27 school year is underway, and so is a new season of the IASP Advocacy Podcast.

This week, we're talking about what's happening in Indiana schools right now—from implementing new cell phone policies to celebrating another year of strong IREAD growth. And we're taking a closer look at something that needs your attention now: the 2025-26 Accountable School Audit.

IDOE has opened a brief window for schools to review their 162-Day Eligible Student Rosters, which will be used in accountability calculations. Audit requests are due Friday, August 21, with supporting evidence due Friday, August 28.

🎙️ This week's guest is Jared Leiker, Principal of Lawrenceburg High School.

Jared joins me to talk through the audit from a high school principal's perspective—what he's looking for in the dashboard, where school leaders may want to take a closer look, and why this isn't something to leave on next week's to-do list.

Also in this episode:

• 📵 How are the new cell phone restrictions going in your school? We want to hear your stories, challenges, and unexpected situations.
• 📚 A huge congratulations to Indiana educators and school leaders as statewide IREAD proficiency reaches 88.7%, marking the fifth consecutive year of improvement.

As you settle into another school year, we'll continue using the Advocacy Podcast to keep you informed about the issues affecting Indiana schools—and to bring school leaders into the conversation.

Have a great start to the year!

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In this special "Best Of" episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett sits down with IASP President Dr. Brett Bailey to reflect on the past school year, celebrate leadership growth across Indiana, and look ahead to the future of education and school leadership.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Bailey shares powerful insights on career exploration opportunities for students, the evolving role of school leaders, the importance of building strong school culture, and the impact of intentional leadership in today's educational landscape. Together, Tiffany and Brett discuss lessons learned, meaningful moments from the year, and the continued work of supporting principals and school leaders across Indiana.

This reflective and inspiring episode highlights the dedication, resilience, and innovation happening in schools throughout the state while encouraging leaders to continue growing through connection, purpose, and service.

Tune in for a meaningful conversation filled with leadership reflections, practical insight, and encouragement as we celebrate another impactful year with IASP.

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In this special episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jan Bitting, IASP President-Elect, as she reflects on the moments that have made this year truly meaningful.

Dr. Bitting shares the highlights that have brought her the greatest joy in her leadership journey, from celebrating student success in her school to serving alongside dedicated leaders across Indiana through IASP. Her reflections offer a powerful reminder of the impact of intentional leadership, the importance of connection, and the joy found in serving others.

This conversation captures the heart of leadership-celebrating growth, honoring the journey, and recognizing the incredible work happening in our schools each day.

IASP Leadership Podcast | Best of AP Lens: Building Trust, Collaboration, and a Culture of Learning with Anthony Sanchez

As the 2025-2026 school year comes to a close, Dr. Tiffany Barrett welcomes Anthony Sanchez, Assistant Principal at Frank H. Hammond Elementary School, along with AP Lens Editor Kristen Peterson, for a conversation focused on one of the most powerful aspects of school leadership: creating a culture where trust, collaboration, and continuous learning thrive.

Drawing from Anthony's featured "Best of AP Lens" article in the June issue of the Indianagram, this episode explores how intentional leadership practices can transform schools from environments of compliance to communities driven by curiosity, shared expertise, and collective growth.

Anthony shares practical strategies for building trust over time, creating meaningful opportunities for teacher collaboration, leveraging the strengths of staff members, and developing a culture where educators learn from one another. Listeners will also hear how classroom visits, teacher leadership, and authentic professional learning can strengthen instructional practice while building stronger relationships across a school community.

Whether you are a new assistant principal, veteran administrator, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers actionable ideas and inspiring reminders about the impact of positive school culture and the importance of celebrating the great work happening in schools every day.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why trust is the foundation of meaningful school improvement • How to shift from compliance-driven leadership to curiosity-driven leadership • Strategies for building authentic teacher collaboration and professional learning communities • Practical ways to identify and leverage the unique strengths of your staff • How small, intentional actions can lead to lasting culture change

Join us as we celebrate leadership, reflect on the school year, and look ahead to the opportunities waiting in the year to come.

Lead on, Indiana.

School leaders,

This week's IASP Advocacy Podcast serves as our season wrap-up episode before we pause for summer and return as the 2026–27 school year begins.

This episode focuses on three reminders—and one challenge—as we close the loop on one school year and begin setting the course for the next.

In this episode, we discuss: • Preparing now for smoother implementation later • Engaging with legislators and community leaders locally • Investing in your own professional growth • And one final challenge: putting yourself on the calendar this summer

As additional implementation guidance and resources are released by the Indiana Department of Education, IASP will continue sharing updates and information with Indiana school leaders throughout the summer.

Have an awesome summer, IASP. Thank you for the incredible work you do for Indiana students and schools!

Cindy Long Assistant Executive Director Indiana Association of School Principals

In this reflective and inspiring episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett sits down with newly elected IASP Vice President, Duke Lines, to celebrate the "best of" moments from the 2025–2026 school year and look ahead to the future of educational leadership in Indiana.

Duke shares honest reflections on leading through one of the most challenging and rewarding years of his career, including overseeing a major high school construction project, expanding innovative programming opportunities for students, and navigating the ongoing changes in education across Indiana.

Throughout the conversation, listeners will hear powerful insights on: • Leading with intentionality during seasons of change • Building meaningful relationships with students and staff • The impact of handwritten gratitude and authentic leadership • Developing future leaders within your school community • Finding joy in the everyday moments of school leadership • The importance of mentorship through organizations like IASP, INALI, and IPLI

Duke also reflects on the mentors who shaped his own leadership journey and shares his excitement for serving Indiana school leaders in his new role with IASP.

This episode is a reminder to pause, reflect, celebrate growth, and remain grounded in the work that matters most: serving students, staff, and communities with purpose and heart.

Thank you for listening to the IASP Leadership Podcast, where we continue unlocking insights and inspiring growth for school leaders across Indiana.

Lead On, Indiana!

As the school year comes to a close, we know many of you are balancing celebrations, awards programs, final responsibilities, summer planning, and everything in between.

This week's IASP Advocacy Podcast is designed to send you into Memorial Day weekend with wise words from Dave Strouse.

This isn't the time for a legislative breakdown or a deep dive into policy. Instead, we're taking time to focus on leadership.

Beginning in July, Dave Strouse will join the IASP team after more than 25 years in education and most recently serving as principal at Batesville Middle School.

If you're wrapping up the school year and need something a little lighter heading into the long weekend, join Dave and me for a reflective, leadership-focused conversation that will leave you feeling positive about the impact you're making with students, staff, and school communities every day.

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In this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett is joined by IASP Assistant Principal Liaison Kristen Peterson and featured guest Kris Warner for a thoughtful and engaging conversation centered on leadership in action.

Together, they explore key insights from Kris's recent work, highlighting practical strategies and real-world applications that school leaders can implement immediately. The discussion connects directly to the School Leader Paradigm, with a focus on intentional leadership, reflective practice, and continuous growth.

Listeners will walk away with meaningful takeaways around leadership mindset, decision-making, and how to lead with clarity and purpose in today's schools. Whether you are an aspiring leader or a seasoned administrator, this episode offers both inspiration and actionable ideas to support your leadership journey.

Tune in and continue unlocking insights and inspiring growth with IASP.

This week's IASP Advocacy Podcast takes a different approach to the 2026 legislative session.

Rather than simply walking through a long list of mandates, this episode focuses on the bigger picture:

👉 What do these legislative changes say about where Indiana education is headed?

From increased parent transparency and technology oversight to literacy expectations, staffing flexibility, and operational accountability, this session revealed some very clear statewide priorities for schools.

To support that conversation, IASP has created a full 2026 Legislative Action Toolkit designed specifically for school leaders.

📎 Included Resources:

• 🔴 Required Action Mandates
• 🟡 Changed Mandates
• ⚪ Repealed Mandates
• 🔵 Contingent Mandates
• 🟢 Optional Action Opportunities

Each resource is organized into a clean, one-page format designed to help leadership teams quickly identify:

• what requires immediate action,
• what systems may need adjustment,
• what opportunities may exist locally,
• and what conversations may be worth having with community partners.