IASP Podcast

🎙️ IASP Leadership Podcast

Season 7, Episode 245: From the AP Lens – Leadership Lessons Through the Interim Principalship

Leadership growth rarely happens under perfect conditions. More often, it unfolds through unexpected opportunities, shifting responsibilities, and the courage to step into roles before feeling fully ready.

In this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett welcomes Kristen Peterson, Associate Principal at Chesterton High School and IASP Assistant Principal Liaison, alongside Kortney Golden, who recently served as Interim Principal at Clinton Central Elementary.

Through the metaphor of Olympic endurance, adaptability, and teamwork, Kristen and Kortney share authentic reflections on the transition from assistant principal to principal leadership. Listeners will hear powerful insights about becoming the final decision maker, leading through visibility and vulnerability, and supporting staff through intentional leadership actions that often happen behind the scenes.

Kortney highlights how leadership is rarely about grand gestures. Instead, it is built through trust, difficult conversations, mentorship, and removing barriers that allow students and staff to thrive. Kristen provides encouragement for assistant principals across Indiana, emphasizing the importance of seeking leadership opportunities, learning through experience, and building confidence through growth.

This episode is especially meaningful for assistant principals, aspiring leaders, and building administrators seeking practical and human-centered leadership insights aligned with the realities of today's schools.

🎧 Tune in to explore:

• Mindset shifts when stepping into principal leadership • How small leadership actions create meaningful culture shifts • The role of vulnerability, trust, and recovery in leadership growth • Strategies for balancing endurance, wellness, and sustainability • Encouragement for assistant principals preparing for future leadership opportunities

To continue your leadership reflection, we encourage listeners to read Kortney's full article in the February issue of the IASP Indianagram.

Thank you for listening and for your continued commitment to leading schools, supporting staff, and serving students across Indiana.

This week's Legislative Update Podcast takes a slightly different approach. Instead of a full bill-by-bill recap, the episode highlights something just as important—school leaders using their voices at the Statehouse.

Two Indiana principals testified this week on Senate Bill 78, sharing practical, real-world perspectives on implementation and reminding us that when principals speak, policymakers listen. I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen to this week's episode.

Thank you for continuing to stay engaged in the legislative process. Your voice and perspective matter—especially as these bills continue to move forward.

Sincerely, Cindy Long

IASP Leadership Podcast | Episode Description

In this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett is joined by Dr. Todd Bess for a timely and meaningful conversation about the launch of the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute (IPLI) in partnership with the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP).

Together, they unpack the purpose behind IPLI, the vision for its future, and how this partnership strengthens leadership development for Indiana's school leaders. The conversation highlights how IPLI aligns with the School Leader Paradigm, supports leaders at different stages of their journey, and creates a cohesive, growth-focused pathway for principals across the state.

Whether you are a current IPLI participant, a seasoned principal, or a leader considering your next step, this episode offers insight into how intentional leadership development, collaboration, and reflection can elevate practice and impact schools.

🎧 Tune in to learn how IPLI and IASP are working together to invest in Indiana's principals—today and into the future.

The Indiana General Assembly has reached the halfway point of the 2026 session, and bills are moving quickly as lawmakers head into the next round of hearings and amendments.

This week's IASP Legislative Update Podcast recaps the biggest bills crossing over, along with key themes emerging around technology, workforce flexibility, and compliance issues impacting schools.

As always, thank you for everything you do for Indiana's students and school communities.

Stay informed. Keep leading, Indiana.

This week's IASP Legislative Update Podcast reflects just how quickly Indiana's short session is moving.

In this episode, we walk through key activity from both the House and Senate education committees—including bills focused on workforce flexibility, governance, behavioral services, and higher education partnerships. We also spend time revisiting Indiana's proposed A–F accountability system and the continued delays surrounding that work.

Before we close the episode, we return to Senate Bill 78, which passed out of the full Senate this week and would mandate sweeping changes to how schools manage student use of personal wireless communication devices. This bill raises important practical and philosophical questions for school leaders, and we are continuing to engage legislators as it moves to the House.

Thank you, as always, for the work you do on behalf of Indiana's students—and for engaging in this important advocacy conversation.

In this special solo episode, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett shares the heart behind the WE Conference and why this experience was intentionally created for women in education across Indiana.

This conversation is personal, energizing, and designed to speak directly to women who lead, support, serve, and carry so much every day. Dr. Barrett highlights what makes the WE Conference different, what attendees can expect, and why now is the time to say yes to connection, reflection, and leadership growth.

If you are a woman in education looking to be inspired, encouraged, and surrounded by a powerful community, this episode is for you.

🎟️ The WE Conference | February 24–25 | Ritz Charles, Carmel Registration is open now @www.iasp.org

Dear IASP Members,

The 2026 legislative session continues to move at a rapid pace, and this week was a perfect example of just how quickly things can change.

In this week's IASP Legislative Update Podcast, we walk through a busy slate of activity covering accountability, literacy funding, student device use, social media restrictions, teacher licensure, charter school policy, and more. It was a full week, with multiple committee meetings and several bills advancing on tight timelines.

One important real-time update to note: between recording the podcast Thursday afternoon and publishing it Thursday evening, Senator Rogers withdrew SB 248, the bill that would have established a new process for selecting the South Bend School Board. That development underscores exactly why we work to keep you informed as close to real time as possible — things truly can change in a matter of hours during session.

We'll continue to track all of these bills closely, monitor amendments as they emerge, and share updates as legislation moves through the process.

From the AP Lens: Building Learning That Matters – Community Engagement

In this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett welcomes Josiah Parker, Assistant Principal at Penn High School and the 2025 Indiana Assistant Principal of the Year, along with Kristen Peterson, Associate Principal at Chesterton High School and IASP's Assistant Principal Liaison.

This conversation expands on the January From the AP Lens Indianagram article and explores how intentional community engagement creates authentic, relevant, and life-shaping learning experiences for students. Josiah shares the story behind projects like Hand of Grace, leadership moves that helped embed this work into school culture, and the impact he has seen on both students and staff. Kristen reflects on statewide trends among assistant principals and the importance of elevating AP voices across Indiana.

This brief episode offers inspiration and practical takeaways for principals and assistant principals looking to build learning that truly matters.

Dear IASP Members,

Welcome back — and happy new year.

As you reopen buildings, welcome students back from winter break, and re-establish routines, we hope the start of the spring semester is off to a smooth and steady beginning. A new year brings renewed energy in our schools — and in Indiana, it also brings a fast-moving legislative session.

I'm pleased to share the first episode of the IASP Legislative Update Podcast for the 2026 legislative session. Throughout the session, this weekly update is designed to keep Indiana's school leaders at the center of the conversation — tracking the bills, the debates, and the decisions that directly impact your schools, your staff, and your students.

🎧 In this week's episode:

• Why lawmakers started early — and what December's activity means for schools

• House Bill 1137 (Healthy School Lunch legislation) and its phased approach

• House Bill 1176 and changes to charter and innovation network flexibility

• House Bill 1266, a broad framework bill focused on flexibility, staffing, curriculum clarity, and workforce pipelines

• Key movement in Senate Education, including:

  • SB 78 (bell-to-bell limits on personal devices)

  • SB 159 (parental control of school-issued devices at home)

  • SB 199, which takes a direct look at social media providers and child protections

• The bigger picture: how Indiana lawmakers are taking a coordinated, multi-layered approach to technology, student well-being, and responsibility

As always, our focus remains on practical implementation, clear timelines, and maintaining flexibility for schools — while ensuring school leaders are not left navigating these changes alone.

IASP Members,

This week, we're sharing a special Fireside Chat featuring Dr. Todd Bess and attorney Seamus Boyce. This conversation provides a timely, comprehensive look at what school leaders need to know as we close out 2025 and prepare for the 2026 legislative session.

1. A Look Back: Key Mandates Shaping This School Year

Seamus begins by reviewing the major mandates and statutory changes that took effect at the start of the 2025–26 school year. This section is an excellent refresher on the requirements that continue to influence leadership decisions, planning, and compliance.

For those who want a deeper review, here is the slide deck Seamus shared at the recent IASP Conferences. 👉 https://www.dropbox.com/t/02IJicMsLifFqVU1 *Please remember that this slide deck is a benefit of YOUR membership. You do not have permission to share it outside of your organization without written permission from KGR.

2. What's Happening Now: Early Activity at the Statehouse

Listen in for insight into the early start of the 2026 legislative session, driven primarily by redistricting work. They outlines what this means for education stakeholders and how these early conversations may set the tone for the session ahead.

3. What's Ahead: Anticipated Legislation & Accountability Updates

The conversation concludes with a forward-looking discussion of bills we expect to see introduced when the 2026 General Assembly convenes in January. In this section, the timeline for Indiana's new School Accountability rule is updated.

🔗 Click here to listen to the Fireside Chat (Insert audio link) 🔗 Click here to view the Fireside Chat https://iplayerhd.com/player/video/5115a093-1190-4b21-8870-7f4221cbf546/share

Thank you for staying engaged and informed—and for everything you do to support Indiana's students and educators.