Show Title: O Captain, My Captain with Michael Miller

Power Quote: “Let there be joy!”

Description:

Today’s show is like a voyage. We’ll begin in one port, set a course, examine the voyage, and anchor at our destination. This episode is expansive and there are lots of wonderful insights into leadership. We use the metaphor of being a ship captain, so without further introductions, let’s set sail!

Guest Bio:

Mike (or Michael) Miller has been an educator since 1996 and has held positions in schools from classroom assistant to PE teacher, and from bus driver to principal. He taught second grade and fifth grade students in the classroom as well as elementary PE. He's been an assistant principal in an elementary and intermediate school, and principal in a PK-8th grade school. He's a graduate of UNC and Western Carolina University and is a Tarheel through and through. He is married to his wonderful wife, Kathy and between them they have four children and seven grandchildren. He is now working as an assistant superintendent and cannot wait to support schools from this level.

Warmup questions:

·      We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?

·      Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?

Questions/Topics/Prompts

·      In a previous conversation, you used the analogy of the harbor captain. I’ve structured our discussion around the idea of the principal as a boat captain, but before we dig in, can you explain the analogy and why it resonates with you?

·      One paradigm we can use for thinking about leading a school is as a sea voyage. 

o   Leaving port and taking stock of your ship – checking what’s “ship-shape” and where the problems might be.

o   Sailing into stormy weather (or perhaps transitioning form first mate to captain in the midst of a storm). What does leadership need to focus on in rough times, and how do you do that?

o   After the storm, transitioning to high speed and making progress.

o   The next transition – knowing when it is time to head to port and turn the ship over to a new captain.

Closing questions:

·      What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?

·      If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?

·      Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?

·      Where can people learn more about you and your work…

Sponsorship:

I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…

Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. 

IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. 

And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. 

It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit http://ixl.com/assistant to get started.

Close

·      Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.

·      You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/

·      I love hearing from you so consider email me at [email protected] or connecting with me on LinkedIn.

·      My new book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose, is now available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html

·      Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.

·      Have a great rest of the week, be present for others and, more importantly, take time to reflect and recover so you can continue to live and lead better.

·      Cheers!

Guest links:

Mike Miller’s email: [email protected]

Frederick’s Links:

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