IASP Podcast

Join us for this episode of the IASP Leadership podcast. A weekly podcast production containing short, sweet, nuggets of Wednesday wisdom for our leadership growth. In this episode, we hear from Mrs. Kristen Peterson, Associate Principal at Chesterton High School and IASP Assistant Principal Liaison, along with Mr. Craig Bruns and Mrs. Robyn Witty, both Assistant Principals at Greenwood Community High School. Together, they co-authored this month's Through the AP Lens article, Looking Ahead: Transforming Obligations into Opportunities Amidst Change and we are excited to explore it together today.

Good morning, School Leaders,

This week's IASP Advocacy Podcast recaps important takeaways from the September 9th State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting. Here are some highlights:

• Draft 1 of the new accountability rule is complete.

• Draft 2 will be released in October, followed by another 30-day comment period.

• SBOE is on track to vote in December, with first school letter grades issued in Fall 2026.

• Indiana is preparing to send a waiver to the U.S. Department of Education this month.

• Goal: maximize flexibility and allow educators to focus on reading, STEM access, and high school opportunities—rather than just compliance.

• Absenteeism has improved since its peak (21.1% in 2022).

• Still, nearly 1 in 3 seniors are chronically absent.

• Data shows significant gaps in proficiency for chronically absent students:

  • ELA: 23.5% proficiency vs. 43% for regular attenders.

  • Math: 19.5% proficiency vs. 45.3%.

• Education prep programs reviewed for alignment with the Science of Reading.

• Results: 70% of Cohort 1 programs rated Good or Strong; others must improve within one year or risk losing accreditation.

• Next step: review of secondary literacy programs.

• New urgency around grades 6–8, where 42% of students are not reading at grade level.

• IDOE will pilot outcomes-based contracts with vetted vendors, ensuring schools only pay for interventions that deliver results.

• Supports include: ILEARN checkpoints, Lexile data, curricular advisory lists, summer learning labs, and Indiana Learning Lab resources.

As the first major IASP academic competition of the year, Spell Bowl sets the tone for the season - and few know it better than longtime coach Peggy Grabowski. With over 20 years at the helm of Terre Haute South Vigo High School's Spell Bowl team, Peggy led her students to the state finals more than twenty times and earned five state championships along the way.

In this episode, Annie sits down with Peggy to talk about what it takes to build a thriving academic team - from practice routines and team culture to the joy of language and "embracing the quirk." Whether you're a seasoned coach, a new competitor, or just a word nerd at heart, this episode is full of insight, inspiration, and a lot of love for learning.

Hello IASP Members,

This week on the IASP Advocacy Podcast, we're looking at advocacy through a different lens. As school leaders, advocacy isn't just about legislation — it's also about telling the story of your school. Whether it's culture, attendance, or programming, we are always sharing what makes our schools unique.

In this episode, I'm joined by IASP's new intern, who shares her work-based learning experience and talks about her role in launching Reel Impact — a brand new digital media competition from IASP Student Programs.

You'll hear about:

• The power of work-based learning opportunities

• What it takes to create a short, high-impact video

• How her school community reacted to her project

• Why Reel Impact videos can be powerful tools for advocacy — not only with students and parents, but also with local officials and state legislators.

Consider how you and your students could use Reel Impact to showcase your school's story while also engaging your community and decision-makers.

Thanks for all you do to advocate for your schools and your students!

Warm regards, Cindy Long Assistant Executive Director Indiana Association of School Principals

Join us for this episode of the IASP Leadership podcast. A weekly podcast production containing short, sweet, nuggets of Wednesday wisdom for our leadership growth. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Jen Schawnke, upcoming IASP Assistant Principals Opening Keynote Speaker.

Leading with heart. Handling conflict with confidence. Protecting our joy in the middle of constant demands. If that sounds like exactly what you need, you'll love this preview of our opening keynote with Dr. Jen Schwanke at the IASP Assistant Principals Conference on November 20, 2025, at the JW Marriott, Indianapolis. We highlight takeaways from her keynote, "Leading with Heart,"—school climate, authentic support, work–life integration, and self-care—and her breakout, "Conflict Management for Assistant Principals," featuring the practical anticipate–analyze–act approach. Tune in for inspiration and ready-to-use strategies, then make plans to join us on November 20.

Click to register!

It's Friday, and that means it's time for the IASP Advocacy Podcast — your go-to for education policy, leadership insight, and what's next in Indiana and beyond.

This week's special guest is none other than The Retired Guy himself — Steve Baker. With his trademark humor and wisdom, Steve dives into how school leaders can successfully implement new changes—whether those changes come from the Indiana General Assembly, district-level policy shifts, or even federal mandates.

With Soil, Ships, and Successful Leaders, Steve shares a fresh perspective on navigating the sometimes turbulent waters of leadership. Expect a few good laughs along the way, but also plenty of practical advice you can take back to your schools right now.

Join us for this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast—a weekly production bringing you short, sweet nuggets of Wednesday wisdom for your leadership growth.

In this episode, we hear from Damon West, author of The Coffee Bean and an incredible voice on resilience, transformation, and leadership.

And here's the exciting part—Damon will be joining us live as the keynote speaker at the IASP Fall Professionals Conference, closing us out on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. Registration is now open, and you don't want to miss him!

Now, let's dive into this powerful conversation with Damon West.

Click to register for the conference!

Dear IASP Members,

It's Friday, and that means it's time for the IASP Advocacy Podcast — your go-to for education policy, leadership insight, and what's next in Indiana and beyond.

This week, I sat down with Denise Funston, Director of Exceptional Needs for Community Schools of Frankfort, to talk all things special education. We dive into:

• Indiana's new IEP process and PowerSchool implementation

• The biggest challenges in rollout and how schools are adapting

• Strategies for addressing special education staffing shortages

• Tips for school leaders on working most effectively with special education staff

• Denise's perspective on what she'd change if she had a "magic wand" to remove barriers for students and educators

This conversation offers practical insights for principals and a deeper understanding of what's happening in special education across Indiana.

What do fast buzzers, obscure facts, and lifelong learning have in common? For Adriana Harmeyer, the answer starts with Quiz Bowl and leads all the way to the Jeopardy! Masters stage.

In this episode, Director of Student Programs Jill Slinker sits down with Adriana Harmeyer - 15-time Jeopardy! champion, Tournament of Champions runner-up, Masters competitor, and current Purdue University archivist - to talk about where it all began: high school Quiz Bowl.

They explore how early experiences in academic competition can shape a lifelong love of learning, the importance of keeping students excited and engaged, and how the skills sharpened in Quiz Bowl (lightning-fast recall, wide-ranging knowledge, and buzzer strategy) translate seamlessly to one of television's most challenging quiz shows.

Whether you've played, coached, or just love learning for the sake of it, this one's worth a listen.

Join us for this episode of the IASP Leadership podcast. A weekly podcast production containing short, sweet, nuggets of Wednesday wisdom for our leadership growth. In this episode, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett shares a few of her favorite time management tips and tricks to help start your year off strong.