Leaning into Leadership

Mid-Month Edition with Todd Bloomer & Dominic Armano

This month, the Three Amigos—Darrin Peppard, Todd Bloomer, and Dominic Armano—are back with an episode that dives headfirst into one of the most common questions they get:

“How do I land that principal job?”

From the nerves of the interview to that surreal moment when you finally kick your feet up in the principal’s chair (even if it only lasts 10 minutes), this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and plenty of laughs.

Whether you're just starting to think about school leadership or are gearing up for your third-round interview, this is the episode for you.

• How to prepare for interviews (and what not to say)
• The fine line between confidence and cockiness
• Doing your homework on the school, superintendent, and district
• Making a strong impression with school colors, mission alignment, and personal touches
• Internal vs. external candidates: how to stand out
• What to do when you don’t get the job
• The importance of being your authentic self—and including your family in your story

Plus, Todd drops some killer one-liners (as always), Dom gets nostalgic, and Darrin makes peace with the Rockies' rough start to the season.

• Be humble, but don’t undersell your leadership experience
• Research isn’t just about the school—it’s about the people
• Scenario-based interview questions are your friend
• Rejection isn’t the end—it’s a chance to reflect and grow
• Your personality and values matter just as much as your resume

• Wear the school colors
• Use the school’s hashtag or mission language
• Bring a notebook and call interviewers by name
• Answer with “I did,” not “I would”

Subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode, and connect with us on social to keep the leadership conversation going.

🛣️ Until next time, have a Road to Awesome week.

Dr. Frank Rudnesky is a professional speaker, author, and educational leader known for his contagious energy and passion for leadership. He has penned several books, including Fired Up Leadership, Fired Up Student Leadership, and 50 Great Things Leaders Do: Let’s Get Fired Up. Dr. Rudnesky draws on his extensive experience as a teacher and award-winning middle school principal to deliver transformative keynotes, workshops, and presentations.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard welcomes his long-time friend and leadership expert, Dr. Frank Rudnesky. Together, they explore the critical role of student leadership in schools and how empowering students can profoundly impact school culture. Dr. Rudnesky shares personal stories, practical strategies, and lessons from his latest book, Igniting Students’ Passions: Empowering Lifelong Leaders. The conversation touches on creating leadership opportunities for all students, fostering trust, and igniting passions that inspire lifelong leadership skills.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is not confined to titles; it’s a choice and a mindset.
• Creating intentional leadership opportunities for students helps them discover their potential and sets them on a path of lifelong leadership.
• Empowering students to step out of their comfort zones and take ownership of their learning fosters a positive and inclusive school culture.
• Practical strategies like leadership academies, service projects, and mentorship programs can help schools cultivate student leaders.
• Amplifying the voices of students and educators builds strong, connected communities and reinforces the importance of servant leadership.

Connect with Dr. Rudnesky at FiredUpLeadership.org, via email at [email protected], or on X, Instagram, and TikTok @DrFrankRud.

On this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin welcomes Chris Dormer, Superintendent of Norristown Area School District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Chris brings nearly three decades of educational experience from diverse settings, including roles as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent.

Chris shares powerful insights into shifting school leadership from crisis mode—something many leaders have felt stuck in since the pandemic—to a more proactive, intentional leadership approach. He emphasizes the importance of serving each and every student, rather than focusing broadly on “all students,” and how this subtle yet powerful shift in mission can transform school culture.

Throughout the conversation, Chris offers practical strategies leaders can immediately implement, including prioritizing classroom visits, giving actionable and meaningful feedback, and ensuring leadership teams stay focused on what truly matters most—teaching and learning.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Why proactive leadership is crucial in moving beyond crisis-driven schools.
• How shifting from “all” students to “each and every” student can profoundly impact your school’s culture.
• Practical ways to protect your calendar and prioritize instructional leadership.
• Strategies for developing and empowering leadership teams through intentional professional growth.

This episode is packed with leadership wisdom and practical insights that will help you and your team refocus, reenergize, and recommit to the most important work in education.

Connect with Chris Dormer:

• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn: Christopher Dormer
• Website: Norristown Area School District

Book Darrin for your next event!

Darrin Peppard is currently booking keynotes and workshops for opening convocations, teacher and principal conferences, and leadership development events. If you want to set the stage for an unforgettable school year or inspire meaningful growth at your next conference, reach out to Darrin today!

• Website: roadtoawesome.net
• Email: [email protected]
• Connect on LinkedIn: Darrin Peppard

Listen, Subscribe, and Share!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network. Your feedback helps us bring you more incredible conversations!

Leaning Into Leadership is available wherever you listen to podcasts—be sure to subscribe today!

In this milestone 200th episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, host Dr. Darrin Peppard reflects deeply on the theme of commitment. Darrin shares personal insights and impactful stories highlighting how his commitment to delivering weekly episodes since January 2022 has shaped the podcast and his journey as a leadership speaker, coach, and author.

He celebrates the community of listeners who have supported the podcast, discusses the evolution of guest selection towards more educational leaders based on audience feedback, and emphasizes how consistency, clarity, and credibility have become foundational values of his leadership philosophy. Throughout the episode, Darrin highlights the profound relationships and opportunities fostered through podcasting, including friendships, collaborations, and impactful professional growth.

• The Value of Commitment:
• Inspiration drawn from a flight attendant’s 30-year service pin story.
• The importance of consistently showing up and following through on commitments.
• Impactful Guests and Relationships:
• Reflecting on meaningful conversations with guests such as Katie Kinder, Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, Greg Bennick, Bradley Skinner, Luis Báez, Lauren Kaufman, Sean Gaillard, and Joshua Stamper.
• How these relationships evolved into friendships, business opportunities, and collaborative projects like co-authoring Culture First Classrooms.
• Listening and Responding to Audience Feedback:
• Observing analytics and listener communication to shift the podcast focus toward more educational leadership topics.
• Renewed commitment to align episodes closely with listeners' interests and needs.
• Personal and Professional Growth:
• The critical lesson learned about consistency driving clarity, trust, and credibility.
• How the podcast has enhanced Darrin’s visibility, leading to speaking engagements, coaching opportunities, and deeper professional connections.

• Darrin’s personal story about missing only one Sunday episode due to emergency gallbladder surgery, highlighting his deep dedication to listeners.
• Revisiting Alex Sheen’s "Because I Said I Would" story, emphasizing the power of promises and follow-through.
• Highlighting listener feedback about recent episodes and their impactful insights, such as Rae Hughart's email productivity tips.

• Darrin invites listeners to make a commitment today that positively impacts their leadership journey, whether personal, professional, or relational. He encourages reflection on empowering others, clarifying visions, and deepening commitment.

• Engage on social media platforms.
• Leave a five-star review to help expand the podcast’s reach and impact.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment!

Get your copy of Culture First Classrooms right here!!

Grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools from your favorite vendor: Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get your autographed copy here.

In this episode, Darrin Peppard sits down with Rae Hughart, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It (TDI) movement. Rae is passionate about empowering educators to reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and amplify their impact in the classroom.

Rae shares the intriguing backstory behind the TDI movement, starting from an unexpected dinner conversation that led to co-authoring the book Teachers Deserve It with Adam Welcome. She emphasizes the importance of practical, sustainable teaching strategies that genuinely give teachers back their time and autonomy.

Key highlights from this episode include:

• Origin Story of "Teachers Deserve It": How a dinner conversation with Adam Welcome sparked the creation of a movement and a bestselling book.
• Practical Tips to Save Time: Rae details a powerful email automation strategy that helped a teacher reclaim five hours of their week. This simple yet effective tip provides immediate value for educators overwhelmed by their inboxes.
• Supporting Paraprofessionals: Rae discusses the crucial role of paraprofessionals in schools and shares how the TDI team responded to community requests by creating dedicated training bundles specifically designed to uplift and support paraprofessional staff.
• Content Creation and Problem-Solving: Rae provides insights for educators interested in creating impactful content online. Her advice: clearly identify problems and offer actionable solutions.
• Leaning into Leadership: Rae reflects on her growth as a leader, specifically emphasizing the importance of active listening, facilitating reflection, and allowing time for solutions to emerge naturally.

Connect with Rae Hughart:

• Website: TeachersDeserveIt.com
• Social Media: @RaeHughart
• TikTok: @RaeHughartEDU

Free Resource:

• Email Automation Download (available via TeachersDeserveIt.com)

Tune in to learn practical strategies to save time, reduce burnout, and re-center your practice on what truly matters—because teachers deserve better.

In this special encore presentation, we revisit one of our most inspiring conversations with educator and author Katie Kinder. Katie is the celebrated author of Untold Teaching Truths, Hallway Leadership, and now co-author of Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools. She is an award-winning educator, and a dynamic professional development facilitator who has been bringing joy and practical teaching strategies to educators nationwide since 2006. Tune in to rediscover Katie's vibrant approach to making learning not only impactful but genuinely fun. Whether it's your first time or you're returning to this classic conversation, get ready to find new ways to hook your students from day one and reignite your passion for teaching!

Highlights from the Episode:

• Strategies to captivate students from the first day of school
• Infusing joy and fun into everyday learning experiences
• Practical classroom management tips for lasting student engagement
• Inspiring educators to embrace their authentic teaching style

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Katie's TED Talk
• Episode of Teaching Champions (Referenced in #PepTalk)
• Katie's Website

Connect with Katie Kinder:

• Twitter/X: @KatieKinder1
• Instagram: @untoldteachingtruths

Connect with Darrin:

• Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference
• Explore insightful leadership tips on Darrin’s Blog
• Join the Road to Awesome Email List
• Submit your book idea to Road to Awesome

Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools launches tomorrow, March 17! This book is packed with insights from educators across the country on how to build a thriving school culture. Don’t miss out!

Get it NOW on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get an autographed copy here

• How AI is reshaping education and why schools need to embrace it
• The biggest misconceptions about AI in schools
• Practical ways school leaders and teachers can integrate AI into their daily work
• How Gruvy Education is making AI training accessible and actionable for educators
• AI tools that can save educators time and improve efficiency

• Website: Gruvy Education
• Twitter (X): @gruvyeducation
• Instagram: @gruvyeducation
• Facebook: Gruvy Education
• LinkedIn: William Grube
• YouTube: Gruvy Education

If you found today’s episode valuable, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Leaning Into Leadership podcast. Share this episode with fellow educators and leaders who are looking to harness the power of AI in their schools!

Thanks for tuning in—until next time, keep leading with purpose!

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, host Darrin Peppard welcomes back David James, a 7th-grade social studies teacher at Harold E. Winkler Middle School in Concord, North Carolina. Known for his leadership both in the classroom and through his work with the North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education (NCMLE), David shares powerful insights into what it takes to lead effectively as a teacher. He discusses the importance of building leadership capacity within schools, the impact of teacher-led professional development, and how setting high expectations transforms school culture.

David also offers a sneak peek into his contribution to Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools, the new book by Darrin Peppard and Katie Kinder, launching on March 17th. In his chapter, David explores how establishing clear expectations from day one leads to a positive and sustainable culture, both inside and outside the classroom.

Key Takeaways:

1. Building Capacity: The importance of teacher leadership in maintaining school culture, especially with the frequent turnover of school administrators.
2. Wolfpack Workshop: How this in-house professional development model at Winkler Middle School empowers teachers and drives student achievement.
3. Culture First Classrooms: Insights from David's chapter on setting expectations and building a culture of trust and accountability.
4. NCMLE 2025 Conference: An overview of the upcoming conference and its evolution into a national-level event for middle school educators.
5. Leadership Advice: Practical tips for teachers looking to take on more leadership roles in their schools.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Culture First Classrooms – Launching March 17th!
• The Wolfpack Workshop at Winkler Middle School.
• NCMLE 2025 Conference – March 23rd-25th in Charlotte, NC.
• Book: Culturize by Jimmy Casas.

Connect with David James:

• Twitter/X: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle
• Instagram: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle
• TikTok: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle
• Facebook: @NCMLE
• Website: www.ncmle.org

Connect with Darrin Peppard:

• Twitter/X: @DarrinMPeppard
• LinkedIn: Darrin Peppard
• Website: roadtoawesome.net

Call to Action:

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Make sure to grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms when it launches on March 17th and check out the NCMLE 2025 Conference for more amazing professional learning opportunities.

Thanks for listening, and keep leaning into leadership!

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin sits down with Bobby Canosa-Carr, a leadership coach, former principal, mindfulness teacher, and author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School.

They dive deep into how disempowerment impacts school leaders, teachers, and students—and what we can do about it. Bobby shares his journey from principal to leadership coach, the lessons he learned along the way, and why the behaviors we model as leaders shape school culture more than anything else.

🔹 Before the episode starts, Darrin shares some BIG NEWS!

His new book, Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools, co-authored with Katie Kinder, is coming in March! Stay tuned for sneak peeks, exclusive pre-order bonuses, and powerful insights from 23 amazing educators. 📚✨

✅ The disempowerment many school leaders feel—and how to reclaim authority over your leadership.

✅ Why school culture is built through modeling, not mandates, and how leaders’ behaviors directly impact teachers and students.

✅ The flaws in traditional teacher evaluations and how school leaders can rethink professional learning to empower educators.

✅ How we can shift away from compliance-based leadership and focus on trust, collaboration, and meaningful change.

✅ Practical strategies for showing up as an empowering leader who nurtures talent instead of micromanaging it.

Bobby Canosa-Carr is a leadership coach, mindfulness teacher, and former school principal who has dedicated his career to transforming school culture. As a principal, he led the turnaround of a large high school in Los Angeles and later founded a charter school in San Pedro, California. He has worked in nonprofit organizations supporting hundreds of school leaders across 40 states as they navigate school transformation.

Bobby is the author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School, a book that challenges the power dynamics, rules, and rigid structures in education that often disempower students, teachers, and leaders alike.

📖 Get Bobby’s Book: Available on Amazon

🌐 Connect with Bobby: EnlightenedCoaching.us

⏳ [00:00] – Introduction & Book Announcement: Culture First Classrooms is coming soon! 🚀

⏳ [03:15] – Introducing Bobby Canosa-Carr and the inspiration behind his book.

⏳ [07:30] – Why school leaders feel disempowered—and how Bobby discovered the power of coaching.

⏳ [12:45] – The impact of adult behaviors on school culture and why modeling is everything.

⏳ [17:20] – Rethinking teacher evaluations and professional learning—what’s really effective?

⏳ [24:00] – “What’s for Lunch?”—How sterile curriculum and professional development fail our schools.

⏳ [28:45] – The importance of leading with curiosity rather than always having the answer.

⏳ [31:30] – Bobby’s final insights on leaning into leadership through thoughtful questioning.

📚 Darrin’s New Book! Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools – Coming March 2025! Stay tuned for exclusive updates.

📖 Bobby’s Book: Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School – Get it here

🌍 Connect with Bobby: EnlightenedCoaching.us

📲 Let’s Connect!

✅ Follow Darrin on LinkedIn

✅ Join the conversation on Twitter/X

✅ Subscribe to the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show! Your support helps us bring more powerful conversations to education leaders like you.

🚀 Until next time, keep leaning into leadership!

In this powerful episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with longtime friend and educational thought leader Bradlee W. Skinner to discuss the journey through failure, teacher retention, and the importance of empowering educators. Bradlee opens up about his personal struggles with burnout, stepping away from education, and the pivotal moments that brought him back—stronger and more purpose-driven than ever.

Together, Darrin and Bradlee explore the role of teacher leadership, the dangers of the "just a teacher" mindset, and how school leaders can create environments that encourage collaboration, trust, and professional growth. They also discuss Bradlee’s impactful contribution to the upcoming book Culture First Classrooms, where he challenges the concept of classroom management in favor of classroom leadership.

If you've ever felt the weight of burnout or questioned your path in education, this episode will leave you inspired to own your story, embrace failure as a stepping stone, and create a culture where teachers and students thrive.

✅ Teacher burnout vs. teacher beatdown – Understanding the emotional toll of teaching and what really drives educators to leave the profession.

✅ The power of second chances – Bradlee shares how mentorship, self-reflection, and leadership opportunities helped him rediscover his purpose.

✅ Shifting from classroom management to classroom leadership – Why building relationships and empowering students is more effective than simply managing behavior.

✅ Teacher leadership matters – Practical ways teachers can lead without leaving the classroom, and how administrators can create space for leadership to flourish.

✅ Culture and climate in schools – How small actions from school leaders, such as eliminating the "just a teacher" mentality, can transform staff engagement.

✅ Failing forward – Why embracing failure is crucial for student growth, teacher development, and leadership success.

📲 Follow Bradlee on social media: @BradleeWSkinner on Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, and Facebook.

📩 Reach out to Bradlee for speaking, coaching, or leadership support.

📖 Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools (Coming Soon!)

🎙 Listen to past episodes of Leaning Into Leadership at RoadToAwesome.net