PBL Simplified for Administrators by Magnify Learning

By Magnify LearningEducation Self-Improvement Courses

PBL Simplified for Administrators by Magnify Learning episodes

December 23, 2025What Great Leaders Do When School Is Quiet | E254
When the building is quiet but the work isn’t done, what should leaders actually be doing? In this episode, Ryan Steuer breaks down how top-tier school leaders use those “in-between” days—when students and teachers are gone, but administrators are still on contract—to create clarity, momentum, and renewal.
Rather than reacting to email or busywork, high-performing leaders use this rare space to plan long-term, reconnect with key relationships, and rest in ways that genuinely refuel them. This episode is a practical guide to using quiet seasons to strengthen leadership impact and prepare for what’s next.
Key Topics Covered
1. Long-Term Planning Over Short-Term Noise
Top leaders use quiet days to focus on deep, strategic work—not inbox cleanup. Ryan challenges administrators to identify the one thing that would move their work forward 5x or 10x, rather than reacting to urgency.
How to find the “signal” in the middle of constant noise
Why long-range planning gets pushed aside—and why that’s a mistake
Aligning district strategic plans with real, day-to-day work
Using coaching or consulting conversations to gain clarity and direction
2. Rebuilding and Strengthening Relationships
Leadership can unintentionally sideline important professional relationships. These quieter days offer rare opportunities to reconnect with trusted peers, mentors, and thought partners.
Why meaningful relationships often get canceled during busy school weeks
How to intentionally reconnect with other high-capacity leaders
Using these conversations to test bold ideas and innovative thinking
Creating space for both personal and professional reflection
3. Redefining Rest for High-Capacity Leaders
Rest looks different for driven leaders. Ryan reframes rest as something intentional and personal—not just doing nothing.
Why “doing nothing” isn’t always restorative
Defining what actually refills your energy
Examples of active, reflective, and creative rest
How clarity and purpose reduce stress more effectively than downtime alone
Big Takeaways
Quiet days are leadership opportunities, not leftovers
Clarity reduces stress more than productivity hacks
Relationships fuel long-term leadership success
Rest must be defined personally to be effective
Action Steps for School Leaders
Identify one strategic priority that deserves deep focus
Schedule at least one meaningful leadership conversation
Define what true rest looks like for you—and plan for it intentionally
Use quiet seasons to prepare for the demands of the year ahead
Resources Mentioned
PBL Readiness Scorecard™: Assess your school or district’s readiness for Project Based Learning and get targeted next steps at pblscore.com
11 min
December 16, 2025 How to Plan a PBL Movement | E253
In this episode of PBL Simplified for Administrators, Ryan Steuer breaks down how school and district leaders can intentionally plan and sustain a Project Based Learning (PBL) movement—without waiting for the “perfect time” or burning out their staff. This is a practical, leadership-focused roadmap for turning PBL from a few isolated classrooms into a lasting system-wide shift.
🔑 Key Topics Covered
1. Don’t Wait for Summer
PBL momentum doesn’t have to wait for summer professional development. Ryan makes the case for moving during the school year—especially in the second semester—when leadership teams can see PBL in action, experience the culture, and begin shaping a real plan instead of talking in theory.
2. See the Work Before You Lead the Work
The fastest way to understand PBL is to experience it live in a model school. Ryan explains why bringing a leadership team—not just one administrator—creates shared understanding, shared language, and long-term alignment. This isn’t a “dog and pony show”; it’s real classrooms, real students, real questions.
3. Innovators First
Not everyone needs to be on board on day one. Ryan walks through the innovation curve and explains why PBL work should start with innovators and early adopters—then spread through visible success in your own building. Laggards aren’t the problem; they’re just not first.
4. Mission, Vision, and Values That Actually Get Used
A PBL movement requires more than a framed mission statement. Leaders must collaboratively define and live their mission, vision, and values—along with openly naming hopes and fears. When teams feel heard, resistance drops and trust increases.
5. Teacher Voice Is Non-Negotiable
Teachers talk to teachers first. That’s reality. Ryan explains why teacher representation on leadership teams accelerates buy-in, builds credibility, and creates early classroom wins that convince the early majority far more effectively than mandates ever could.
6. The Power of a Clear, Written Three-Year Plan
Short-term initiatives fail. A transparent, written three-year plan signals commitment, stability, and seriousness. Ryan shares why teachers rightfully wait out initiatives—and how a long-term plan with coaching, training, and internal capacity building changes that dynamic completely.
7. Leadership Teams Over Lone Heroes
Top-performing schools don’t rely on one visionary leader. They build leadership teams—and teams within teams—to handle innovation, coaching, community partnerships, and reflection. Sustainable PBL requires distributed leadership, not superhuman administrators.
🧭 Ready to See Where You Stand?
Ryan introduces the PBL Readiness Scorecard™, a free interactive tool that helps leaders identify strengths, growth areas, and next steps across vision, leadership capacity, and student outcomes.
👉 Take the assessment at pblscore.com
19 min
December 09, 2025How to Be a Top 10% School | E252
What separates a top 10% school from the other 90%? In this episode, Ryan lays out the habits, systems, and mindsets that high-performing, innovative schools share—and the traps they refuse to touch. You’ll hear why visiting model PBL schools is a game-changer, what visionary principals actually do differently, and how you can start moving your school into that top tier without waiting for summer PD.
Key Topics Covered
Why You Shouldn’t Wait Until Summer to Start PBL
Leaders get stuck thinking they should “start PBL next year.” Ryan breaks down why the second semester is the smartest launchpad and how to get your leadership team trained now so teacher PD in the summer actually sticks.
What You Experience at a Top 10% School
Ryan explains why stepping into a top-tier PBL school feels different—teachers talk differently, students use real-world vocabulary like collaboration and conflict resolution, and the culture is unmistakably student-centered.
Lessons from Model Schools
From solar-powered Babcock Ranch in Florida to standout campuses across Missouri, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, and beyond, Ryan highlights what visiting high-performing PBL schools will teach you about culture, process, and leadership clarity.
The Mindset of a Top 10% Principal
What do innovative leaders fear most? Hint: it’s not test scores.
Ryan shares an interview with principal Cynthia Bruno, who says her biggest fear is students having ordinary school days—an unacceptable outcome for a true top-tier leader.
What Top 10% Schools Do
✔ Build a strong leadership team
Assistant principals, coaches, and teachers collaborate to shape and spread the vision.
✔ Use instructional coaches intentionally
Not data clerks—actual co-teachers and PD leaders.
✔ Create a written 3-year vision
If it’s not written, it’s not real.
✔ Protect their calendar with fierce precision
Deep work blocks. Limited weekend labor. No white-space for chaos.
✔ Develop systems that outlive the leader
So the school thrives even when leadership changes.
What Top 10% Schools Don’t Do
✘ Sit-and-get faculty meetings
Logistical items go in the newsletter—meetings are for collaboration and learning.
✘ Fixed mindset thinking
Problems are solvable. Kids can grow. Systems can improve. Period.
✘ Hide in the office
High-level leaders are visible, affirming, and vision-casting in classrooms daily.
Practical Takeaways for Leaders
If you want a top 10% school, you can’t behave like the 90%.

Build leadership capacity before summer.

Visit innovative schools—they’ll change your vision instantly.

Anchor everything in a clear, simple, repeatable vision.

Protect your time so you can do the meaningful work.

Call to Action
If you're ready to launch PBL with clarity and momentum, check out the on-demand and in-person webinars at pblwebinar.com. And if you want to visit a model PBL school, we can help you connect with one in your region.
19 min
December 02, 20255 Reasons People Don't Do PBL | E251
In this episode, Ryan shares the honest, often-overlooked reasons school leaders struggle to launch Project Based Learning—even when everyone knows it works. Whether you’re wrestling with teacher buy-in, traditional systems, or shifting school culture, this episode breaks down the five biggest barriers and gives you practical ways to overcome them.
What We Cover
1. Wrong pitch, wrong audience
Most PBL rollouts fail at hello. Innovators, early adopters, and the early majority need different invitations. You can’t pitch the same way to everyone and expect momentum.
2. Traditional education inertia is real
We’ve operated in a traditional learning model for over a century. It’s comfortable, predictable, and familiar. PBL requires pushing a giant cultural boulder—but there is a way to move it.
3. Teachers are trained, but leaders aren’t ready
When instructional practices evolve but evaluation, systems, and PD don’t, teachers eventually retreat back to what’s safe. PBL collapses when leadership isn’t aligned and trained.
4. Leaders are trained, but teachers aren’t equipped
Top-down mandates always fail. Ryan explains how to build a “grassroots movement” where teachers ask for PBL—without forcing it.
5. They don’t know how awesome PBL really is
When educators visit authentic PBL schools, witness the culture shift, talk to students, and see the engagement—everything changes. Most resistance is lack of exposure.
Key Takeaways
Buy-in isn’t about convincing—it’s about invitations.

PBL fails when leadership, teachers, and systems aren’t aligned.

Traditional learning inertia is strong, but it can be redirected.

The best way to grow PBL isn’t mandates—it’s movement-building.

When educators see PBL done well, they want in.

Real-World Examples Mentioned
Building internal PBL systems in Missouri and Ohio

Site visits to PBL model schools like Rise Elementary and Columbus, Indiana

How schools see immediate improvements in:
Engagement

Attendance

Discipline

Test scores
Connect With Ryan:
[email protected]
21 min
November 25, 2025Innovations Within Education With Simon Holzapfel | E250
Simon Holzapfel, the CFO and Co-founder of Leaf Lab, joins the podcast to share his experience in education, leadership, and business, describing himself as a "PBL fanboy". Simon asserts that PBL was the heart of education because it caused the learning to bond to something other than just the head, such as the body or heart, making the subject matter truly matter. He clarifies the crucial distinction between progressive education—which offers specific forms of scaffolding and flexible structure—and the dangerous lack of structure found in permissive education. Simon offers insights on avoiding leadership mistakes, managing burnout, and the sustainable implementation of Project-Based Learning (PBL). He details how Leaf Lab partners with schools to use real-world problems from local companies to provide students with a digital portfolio and two professional certifications.
Main Points
PBL is Foundational Learning: Simon has been a PBL supporter since watching his dad teach project-based inservices in the eighties. He states that PBL was the thing and that PBL is actually how humans just learn best because it lets the "full spectrum bulb" of humanness be necessary to the learning.
Defining Progressive Education: Simon notes that the progressive ed movement in America now is still not totally clear on the difference between progressive and permissive. Progressive education involves building young people for the future by providing specific forms of scaffolding targets and a structure that's flexible. PBL, in contrast to the permissive fear that it means "whatever, man," requires structures, processes, and instructional models.
The Leaf Lab Model: Leaf Lab is a highly structured but flexibly scaffolded environment. The lab's PBL model is designed specifically for local companies to bring small back burner problems to their school's lab. This directly helps capacity-constrained companies by having smart college students work with young entrepreneurs in their twenties or thirties.
Student Outcomes and Professional Life: The lab rejects the idea that an outdated standard of care should affect any kid's path to a professional life. Each kid exits the lab with precisely that digital portfolio and two professional certifications to show employers they solved a project using specific tools.
PBL Sustainability and Vision: Leaf Lab partners with public schools, high schools, and college universities globally to bring PBL to life. For sustainability, the partnership model focuses on building up the school's own people and systems. The work is how educators have "always wanted to lead". Simon believes there is a very specific wellness case to be made for PBL, as it stops school from "sucking" for kids and makes it relatable.
Takeaways
Leadership Team is Non-Negotiable: A school leader must understand how much a good leadership team is the only thing that's going to make it work. It's about the team. The mistake is thinking you can be the only leadership team.
Avoid Key Implementation Mistakes: Simon lists mistakes he made that are common: going too fast, and not building the team first (or not aligning the team). If you don't have a team when trying to do something different, "you're toast".
Measure Success by Community Values: Innovation efforts should be measured using metrics dependent upon what the community values. A specific metric is asking parents, "Has your kids smiled yet in going to school?" and taking pictures of the child smiling as evidence that something is working.
Lead with Service and Integrity: If you are going to be an authentic service leader, serve your opponents harder than your fans. Additionally, do not allow other people's feelings and comfort to be the bottleneck to your student's future.
Communicate Change Effectively: When speaking to the board, leaders should anchor their arguments in local economic development and should prioritize speaking about child well-being to overcome antiquated mindsets.
21 min
November 18, 2025CTE and PBL: Real-World Learning at Its Best | E249
In this episode, Ryan shares his firsthand experience visiting Calvert County’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, where Project-Based Learning (PBL) and hands-on technical education intersect to create incredible outcomes for students. The visit highlights how authentic projects, structured pedagogy, and real-world experiences are transforming student engagement and post-graduation success.
Ryan explores how CTE teachers—often experts from the professional world—are empowered through PBL frameworks to deliver deeper learning and stronger instructional design, creating classrooms that mirror real workplaces.
🧠 Key Takeaways
PBL + CTE = Powerful Synergy:
CTE programs are naturally authentic, but PBL provides the structure and pedagogy to turn projects into powerful learning experiences.
“You’re surrounded by authentic projects—PBL just gives you the structure to make them run smoother.”

High Certification Success:
Calvert County’s CTE students boast a 92–96% certification pass rate across 600+ students, with state funding helping all learners access these career-ready credentials.

Real-World Learning Environments:
From medical labs with responsive mannequins that simulate symptoms to full-scale welding and automotive shops, students gain real-world experience while still in high school.

Career Confidence Before Graduation:
Students discover early whether a career path fits them—saving years of college and debt. Many graduates step directly into six-figure careers in welding, HVAC, and other skilled trades.

Changing the Narrative Around CTE:
Ryan challenges districts to celebrate CTE achievements the same way they celebrate college signings.
“Why aren’t we parading these success stories around districts?”

Cross-Disciplinary Excellence:
Calvert County proves that CTE isn’t a “second track.” Students can take AP English while mastering welding, HVAC, or electrical systems—bridging academics and real-world application.

Sustainability Through Customization:
Magnify Learning customizes every workshop to fit each program, ensuring sustainable growth and internal innovation within districts.

🧰 Resources Mentioned
CTE + PBL Webinar: pbwebinar.com Learn how PBL structures elevate CTE teaching and learning.

Schedule a Partnership Call: callmagnify.com Explore customized PBL training for your CTE program.

🎯 Call to Action
If you’re a school leader ready to:
Blend PBL into your CTE program

Increase student engagement and certification success

Build real-world, sustainable learning models

➡️ Visit pbwebinar.com or callmagnify.com to get started.
And if you’re proud of your CTE program—reach out to be a podcast guest and share your success story!
17 min
November 11, 2025Finding Joy in Leadership with Amy Balsbaugh | E248
In this inspiring leadership episode, Ryan Steuer talks with Amy Balsbaugh, principal and researcher on joy and well-being in school leadership. Together, they unpack practical ways school leaders can protect their joy, model balance, and lead with gratitude—even in high-demand environments.
Amy shares her research on the 10 strategies that help principals sustain joy despite the challenges of modern education, and she dives into her favorites—gratitude, relationships, and strength-based leadership. Whether you’re a veteran administrator or just starting out, this conversation reminds you that joy isn’t optional—it’s essential to long-term impact.
🧭 Key Topics
Why joy is essential in education, not optional

The connection between well-being and leadership longevity

Top 3 practices from Amy’s dissertation:
Gratitude — daily reflection or notes of appreciation

Relationships — surrounding yourself with uplifting peers

Strength-based leadership — leaning into your natural gifts

How to establish healthy boundaries that fit your lifestyle

Creating a culture of celebration with ideas like “Bonnie the Bee”

The power of micro-steps to shift mindset and reclaim joy

Protecting joy during tough seasons—without toxic positivity

Ideas for embedding joy and wellness into principal preparation programs

🛠️ Practical Takeaways
✅ Write down 3–5 things you’re grateful for daily
✅ Schedule “no work” zones (like no emails after 8 PM)
✅ Start team meetings with a quick celebration
✅ Identify your top strengths and use them intentionally
✅ Find your “people” — mentors or peer leaders who understand the work
✅ Create joy rituals that fit your school culture (bells, notes, mascots, etc.)
📚 Resources Mentioned
Amy’s Instagram: @joyfulprincipalship
Website: amybalsbaugh.com
25 min
November 04, 2025Why 21st Century Skills Matter More Than Ever | E247
In this episode, Ryan Steuer breaks down why employability skills—communication, collaboration, problem solving, and agency—are what truly prepare students for life beyond school. Drawing from his business background and classroom experience, Ryan connects how PBL builds the exact skills employers and communities say they need.
He challenges school leaders to move beyond test prep and toward preparing learners for the real world—where teamwork and adaptability win every time.
💡 Key Takeaways
Engagement drives achievement: Schools like Dixie Elementary moved from a D to an A after implementing PBL—engaged learners perform better.

Employability skills > rote learning: No one is hiring for “filling in bubbles.” Employers want communicators and collaborators.

Real world > theoretical world: Ryan shares his own story from corporate life, where technical knowledge mattered less than people skills.

PBL as the structure: Instead of trying to “add” soft skills, PBL is the framework that develops them.

Examples that stick: From designing community gardens to creating murals that tell local stories, learners in PBL find authentic purpose in their work.

🧠 Featured Story
Eliia’s Mural Project — A quiet student discovered her voice through a PBL unit on designing a community space. Her mural idea gained real funding and became a lasting contribution to her city. That’s real impact—learning that leaves a mark.
🏫 Why It Matters for Administrators
PBL turns classrooms into microcosms of the real world.

It develops agency, adaptability, and empathy—skills traditional tests miss.

Leaders who prioritize these experiences shift their school culture toward authentic learning.

🗓 Upcoming Opportunities
Free PD Day: November 19 in Columbus, IN — Visit pblnetworks.com to register for a model school visit and experience live PBL in action.

PBL Webinars: Explore long-term planning, CTE, STEM, and Title I models at pblwebinar.com.
18 min
October 27, 2025Building Changemaker Micro Schools with David Richards | E246
In this leadership episode of the PBL Simplified Podcast for Administrators, host Ryan Steuer sits down with David Richards — founder of Growth Public Schools, Changemaker Micro Schools, and host of the Changemaker EDU podcast. David shares his journey from corporate banking to education entrepreneurship, his “why” rooted in serving students who don’t fit the traditional model, and how micro schools are redefining education for the next decade.
The conversation dives deep into learner-centered design, micro school development, district innovation, and the leadership mindset needed to create transformative change within schools of any size.
🧭 Key Topics
David’s Why: Leaving banking for education to serve students like his family — those who struggled in traditional systems.

Growth Public Schools: How David founded a learner-centered public charter school focused on self-directed and project based learning.

Rise of Micro Schools: The resurgence of small, relational, multi-age learning communities — “a redux of the one-room schoolhouse.”

Public vs. Private Micro Schools: How districts can innovate within existing systems and use micros to reach underserved students.

School Within a School Model: How large districts can pilot small, PBL-driven environments inside comprehensive schools.

Lessons for Traditional Schools: What larger schools can learn from micro schools about relationships, self-direction, and personalization.

Future of Education: A look ten years ahead — micro schools influencing 5–10% of students and reshaping how learning works across the U.S.

Changemaker EDU Network: How David’s team helps educators launch and sustain high-quality micro schools through coaching, resources, and community.

Staying Grounded: David’s reflections on purpose, alignment, and personal balance through meditation and family focus.
Resources and links:
whatispbl.com
Connect with David:
LinkedIn
Growth Public Schools
Changemaker Micro Schools
Changemaker EDU podcast
33 min
October 21, 2025Is PBL Too Hard? | E245
In this episode, Ryan tackles a question that’s been floating around education circles: “Is Project Based Learning too hard?”
Spoiler: No—it’s not too hard when done the right way.
Drawing from over a decade of work in schools across the country, Ryan breaks down why some districts struggle to sustain PBL, how Magnify Learning is helping schools build internal capacity, and what it really takes to make PBL thrive long-term.
🧩 Key Takeaways
The Big Goal: 51 by 51
Magnify Learning’s mission is bold: help 51% of schools implement PBL by 2051. To get there, we’re building sustainable systems—not dependency models. The goal is for schools to lead their own innovation.
Sustainability > One-Time Training
Schools that succeed with PBL train both leaders and teachers simultaneously—and pair that with ongoing coaching. A three-day workshop alone won’t cut it. Without in-year coaching, teachers hit roadblocks and stall out.
Coaching Is the Game-Changer
Just like students need scaffolding, teachers need ongoing support. When teachers have access to a coach, they don’t give up—they push through and grow.
Leadership Mindset Matters
Allowing PBL isn’t the same as supporting it. Effective administrators create structures, adjust schedules, and celebrate success stories. Leadership teams must model reflection, collaboration, and innovation.
PBL Works—Everywhere
Urban, suburban, or rural… public, private, or charter—PBL thrives when leaders commit to mindset and structure shifts. Ryan shares real examples:
A Lexington model school whose 6th graders designed their city flag

Florida schools leading conservation projects

Indiana schools partnering with individuals who have intellectual disabilities
Integration Is Key
PBL isn’t “one more thing.” It’s the framework that brings together SEL, literacy, evaluation systems, and career readiness. The best districts use PBL to connect existing initiatives—not replace them.
💡 Ryan’s Rant (and Reminder)
“Is PBL too hard? If you don’t support it—yes.
But if you train, coach, and structure it right—it’s the most powerful way to engage teachers and learners.”
Jump in here:
Free resources: whatispbl.com
Join a webinar: pblwebinar.com
Schedule a call: callmagnify.com
16 min

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