Leaning into Leadership

In this episode, Darrin sits down with longtime education leader and author Todd Nesloney for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture, and hiring. Todd shares his journey from instructional aide to principal, and now as the Director of Culture and Strategic Leadership for TEPSA. They discuss actionable insights into how schools can improve hiring processes, retain great staff, and onboard new hires in ways that reflect school values. Todd also shares lessons from his writing career, the importance of amplifying others' voices, and why leaning into discomfort is essential for leadership growth.

If you’re looking to improve your hiring systems, strengthen your culture, or simply need inspiration to keep growing as a leader—this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Todd: www.toddnesloney.com

📘 Check out Todd’s books, including Kids Deserve It and Building Authenticity

📷 Follow Todd @TechNinjaTodd on all social media

🎧 Learn more about Darrin’s leadership work at www.roadtoawesome.net

In this special joint episode of Leaning Into Leadership and The Assistant Principal Podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard teams up with Dr. Frederick Buskey to explore how school leaders can take a more strategic, sustainable approach to planning for the year ahead.

Together, they walk through a four-phase leadership cycle — Prepare, Perform, Refine, and Renew — with clear examples and strategies for turning vision into actionable leadership habits. From setting a focused instructional plan and building relational momentum to addressing systemic barriers and reflecting on growth, this episode is packed with practical tools leaders can use immediately.

They also share insights into their new collaborative initiative, Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network, a cohort-based leadership experience in partnership with the North Carolina Middle Level Educators Association (NCMLE). This program is designed to provide wraparound support for middle school principals through coaching, workshops, and peer connection throughout the school year.

Key Topics:

• How to create daily leadership practices tied to big goals
• Using clarity to drive instructional priorities
• Leveraging team alignment and inter-rater reliability
• The power of intentional culture-building
• Systems that free up time — like tiered behavior and email strategies
• Tools like SWOT and Start-Stop-Continue-Consider for reflection and renewal
• The launch of the Middle Ground cohort for North Carolina middle school leaders

Resources & Links:

• Get Darrin’s Principal Planning Tool 
• Learn more about Frederick at frederickbuskey.com
• Join the NCMLE Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network -   If you are super interested but don’t live in NC, drop me a line and we’ll figure out a way to support you.
• Subscribe to the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast
• Sign up for Darrin’s weekly leadership email at roadtoawesome.net
• Frederick's Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting
• Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a
• The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

What if the real cause of educator burnout isn’t a lack of resilience or self-care—but the workplace itself?

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Darrin is joined by longtime friend and national thought leader Nathan Eklund, founder of Vital Network, to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as vibrant, sustainable workplaces for educators. With over 20 years in education, including a decade in the classroom and a career dedicated to improving adult work culture in schools, Nate brings deep insight into what truly moves the needle when it comes to retention, satisfaction, and sustainable leadership.

This is not another episode about bubble baths and yoga. Nate and Darrin dive deep into systemic solutions—why burnout is often misunderstood, how leadership isolation contributes to turnover, and what schools and systems can do to create cultures where teachers and leaders actually want to stay.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why burnout is a systems issue, not an individual weakness

✅ How workplace conditions—not perks—determine retention

✅ The power of rethinking daily routines like staff meetings to improve morale

✅ How to support multiple generations of educators under one roof

✅ The overlooked burnout crisis among principals and school leaders

✅ What it means to lead with the phrase: “I don’t know—what do you think?”

✅ How Vital Network partners with states and districts to make long-term, scalable change

✅ Why the best recruitment strategy is being a place people want to work

One Big Takeaway:

Listening isn’t soft leadership—it’s the strategic superpower of leaders who want to build trust, engagement, and longevity in their schools.

Connect with Nate Eklund:

🌐 Website: vitalnetwork.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📘 Nate's book: How was your day at school?

About the Show:

Leaning Into Leadership is the podcast for school and district leaders who are ready to rise above the daily grind and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact. Hosted by Dr. Darrin Peppard—leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of Road to Awesome—each episode brings practical strategies, authentic conversations, and powerful stories from education changemakers across the country.

Episode 210 – Schools That Give an F: Clarity, Culture, and Contribution with Rob McLeod

In this episode, Darrin is joined by international educator and podcast host Rob McLeod to explore a critical leadership conversation: school alignment. Drawing from his own career across three countries and multiple school systems, Rob shares how he rediscovered his passion by finding alignment between his personal values and the work his school was doing.

Together, they discuss:

• The three distinct types of schools: Expert, Coach, and Counselor
• How to identify your school’s default leadership style
• Why many schools unintentionally pull in different directions
• How leaders can use a values-based framework to bring their school into alignment
• The importance of understanding staff priorities: Responsibility, Achievement, or Meaning

Rob’s upcoming book, Schools That Give an F, offers practical tools for school leaders to create environments where every educator contributes meaningfully.

🎧 Learn more and connect with Rob here: https://linktr.ee/reinventingeducationpodcast

Check out Rob's kickstarter for his forthcoming book here

In this special midweek crossover episode with the Teach Better Podcast, Darrin sits down with Teach Better CEO and Co-founder Chad Ostrowski to dive deep into one of the most important leadership tasks schools face: planning professional development that actually moves the needle.

Darrin and Chad unpack the mistakes too many schools make—like treating PD as a day, not a movement—and offer a practical, strategic approach to make learning stick all year long. You'll hear about:

• How to build clarity into every phase of your PD plan
• The power of tiered professional development
• Why leaders must model differentiated support
• How to avoid turning your PD initiative into “the villain”
• Planning walkthroughs, building internal capacity, and protecting your time as a leader
• And how Teach Better + Road to Awesome are partnering to offer aligned leadership and instructional growth

Whether you’re a new principal or a veteran leader, this episode is packed with practical steps to help you develop PD that actually leads to instructional improvement.

👉 Learn more and schedule a conversation at www.roadtoawesome.net

👉 Connect with Chad and the Teach Better Team at www.teachbetter.com

What if your biggest mistakes became the very stories that helped others succeed? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Kevin Mecchella — former class clown turned classical musician, educator, and nationally recognized student speaker — to talk about the power of decision-making and how schools can equip students with tools to choose better every day.

Kevin shares his personal journey from chasing laughs to chasing success, including a pivotal life moment that redefined how he views choices and consequences. Drawing on his experiences as a K–12 teacher and professional musician, Kevin now fuses music, humor, and vulnerability to deliver unforgettable mental health and leadership programming for schools across the country.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Kevin’s transformation from educator to keynote speaker
• The importance of teaching students a process for decision-making
• Why motivational talks fall short — and how his “Visionary Values” program creates lasting change
• His favorite stories and questions from students (including one involving a flugelhorn!)
• How he’s leaning into leadership by leaning back into his own self-care

Whether you’re a principal seeking meaningful programming for your students or a leader reflecting on the power of our own past, this episode will inspire you to show up more intentionally — for yourself and for those you serve.

📍 Learn more about Kevin’s work and book him to speak: www.kevinmecchella.com

In this inspiring episode, Darrin sits down with Ronn Nozoe, lifelong educator and Chief Executive Officer of NASSP (National Association of Secondary School Principals). Together, they explore the current landscape of school leadership, the importance of supporting new leaders, and how educators can take ownership of their professional growth.

Ronn shares reflections from his journey — from a classroom in Hawaii to national leadership — and discusses how listening, connection, and collaboration are reshaping the future of educational leadership. You'll also hear about the value of NASSP’s Principal of the Year program and the upcoming United Conference in Seattle.

Key Takeaways:

• Why school leaders today are true heroes and must be seen as professionals
• The impact of rapid turnover in leadership roles and how to navigate it
• How NASSP fosters deep, authentic professional learning
• Why listening is one of the most powerful leadership moves
• The value of peer networks and nationwide connection through the United Conference

About Ronn Nozoe:

Ronn Nozoe is a lifelong educator and the Chief Executive Officer of NASSP. He has held leadership roles at ASCD, the U.S. Department of Education, and across Hawaii’s Department of Education. A former principal and teacher, Ronn brings decades of wisdom and a deep commitment to transforming education through school leadership.

Links Mentioned:

• Learn more about NASSP: nassp.org
• Explore the United Conference: unitedconference.org

In this powerful episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Brandi Kelly—author, speaker, coach, and founder of Spark Hope EDU—to explore what it truly means to Lead with Hope. Dr. Kelly shares her deeply personal story that led her to develop the HOPE framework: Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence. Through her new book and nationwide work with leaders, Brandi challenges us to lean into self-reflection, build our self-efficacy, and become the encouragers our schools need more than ever. Whether you're leading a classroom or a district, this episode will reignite your purpose and remind you why culture, connection, and hope matter most.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Brandi Kelly is an accomplished author, speaker, podcaster, coach, and consultant with a passion for building thriving organizational culture. With over 20 years of experience, she is dedicated to empowering leaders to inspire growth, create positive change, and cultivate environments where success thrives. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Maxwell Certified Coach, Dr. Kelly is the recipient of numerous leadership honors, including the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award and Middle School Principal of the Year Award. She is also the founder of Spark Hope EDU. Learn more at www.sparkhopeedu.com.

Key Takeaways:

• How personal tragedy inspired Brandi’s journey into education
• The HOPE system and how it builds self-efficacy
• Why reflection isn’t optional for leaders—it’s essential
• The role of optimism, purpose, and habits in resilient leadership
• What it looks like to lead with hope in today’s schools

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Brandi at www.sparkhopeedu.com
• Grab your copy of Lead with Hope (available May 5!)
• Follow Brandi on social media @SparkHopeEDU
• Subscribe to the Lead with Hope Podcast
• Learn more about Darrin’s work and speaking: www.roadtoawesome.net

In this episode, I’m joined by Jimmy Casas—best-selling author, leadership coach, and former award-winning principal. Jimmy and I dive into his incredible journey from bar manager to one of the most recognized school leaders in the country. We unpack the power of origin stories, the traps of superhero leadership, and why leaders must know who they want to be in order to lead effectively.

Jimmy shares how Culturize became the game-changing book it is today, why so many school leaders fall into “fixer” mode, and how coaching has changed the game for him and countless leaders. We also talk about the evolving landscape of school leadership, the importance of building leadership capacity, and his belief that culture is caused—by adults, not students.

Whether you're early in your leadership journey or a seasoned veteran, this conversation is packed with practical insights, authentic reflection, and coaching wisdom that will inspire and equip you to lead with clarity and purpose.

🔗 Connect with Jimmy Casas: https://www.jimmycasas.com

📘 Learn more about Culturize and Words on the Wall

📣 Book Jimmy to speak or coach your team

Jimmy Casas served twenty-two years as a school leader. He is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach who has dedicated his career to building better school culture and stronger school leaders. Under Jimmy’s leadership, Bettendorf High School was named one of the best high schools in the country three times by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. He was the 2012 Iowa Principal of the Year and the runner-up NASSP 2013 National Principal of the Year. In 2014, he was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Pledge, and in 2015, he received the Bammy Award for National Principal of the Year.

Check out Darrin as a guest on Jimmy's podcast The Interview Chair

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with the brilliant William D. Parker—an award-winning former principal, author, speaker, and executive coach. Will is the founder of Principal Matters, LLC and the host of Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast, with over 1.5 million downloads. Through his coaching, books, and virtual leadership academies, Will empowers school leaders to improve culture, communication, and student outcomes.

Together, Darrin and Will dive deep into the real and raw experiences of school leadership. Will shares his journey from teacher to principal, including the moment he almost walked away from education—and the letter of resignation that changed his life. They explore the importance of reflection, well-being, and why leaders must pour into themselves before they can lead others.

They also discuss Will’s latest book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love, and how leaders can take back their autonomy by acting with clarity, curiosity, and intention.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership begins with personal wellness: Will's turning point came through a wake-up call at home, leading him to redefine how he approached leadership.
• The question every educator should ask: Whose permission are you waiting for?
• Leading with curiosity can unlock clarity and drive real school improvement.
• Scaling your influence is not about doing more—it’s about sharing your expertise and elevating others.
• Reflection and coaching provide the safe space leaders need to grow.

Quotes:

Connect with William D. Parker:

• Website: williamdparker.com
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: William D. Parker
• Instagram: @william_d_parker
• Facebook: William Davis Parker

Resources Mentioned:

• Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? by William D. Parker
• Pause. Breathe. Flourish. by William D. Parker
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast hosted by Will Parker

Want more? Visit roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching, professional development, and keynote speaking that inspires and equips school leaders to lean into their purpose and lead with clarity.