November 12, 2025

PMP474: Radically Excellent School Improvement with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley

46 minutes

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is:

How do we balance the expectations and challenges of system-wide leadership vs. site-specific leadership?

Listen in to hear their response!

Meet Kate Anderson Foley, Ph.D.

Kate Anderson Foley, Founder & CEO of the Education Policy & Practice Group and McLean Affiliate of Harvard Medical School Institute of Coaching Fellow, is a renowned transformational leader, author, and international keynote speaker. With a career spanning from pioneering inclusive practices as a special education teacher to senior leadership roles in state education, Kate has consistently championed equitable and integrated services for all learners, particularly those historically marginalized. Her expertise lies in leading organizational change through strategic frameworks, advocating for comprehensive reform, and developing asset-based education policies. Through her consulting firm, she partners with diverse organizations, offering guidance on school improvement, professional learning, strategic planning, and executive coaching, all while authoring influential books like Ida Finds Her Voice, Fearless Coaching, and Radically Excellent School Improvement.

“Don’t hand off your power to someone else.” This piece of advice is one of many provided for principals during this podcast episode. In this engaging conversation, Dr. Jen Schwanke welcomes Dr. Kate Anderson Foley, founder and CEO of the Education Policy and Practice Group and author of Radically Excellent School Improvement.

Dr. Anderson Foley shares insights from her extensive career, which began in special education and has spanned state and federal policy, always championing equitable and inclusive practices for all learners. The discussion centers on her book’s core premise: a comprehensive system of support that prioritizes students, particularly those historically marginalized, and integrates all services to replace disparate initiatives often juggled by school leaders. She emphasizes the vital role of principals in leading this transformation.

Here are some key takeaways from their discussion:

Radically Excellent School Improvement: This framework, detailed in Dr. Anderson Foley’s book, advocates for ambitious improvement and a tireless focus on ensuring every student grows, thrives, and achieves their fullest potential.

Integrating Special Education: A core tenet is the belief that special education should not be siloed but fully integrated into the school improvement process, moving beyond mere compliance to focus on growth and achievement for all students.

Principals as Inclusive Leaders: Principals foster inclusive environments by setting unrelenting high expectations, engaging families as partners (even through difficult conversations), and building strength-based support systems.

Using these takeaways as a foundation, there are a few ideas for principals to consider:

Re-evaluate schedules: Principals should take control of their schedules to ensure time for comprehensive, connected collaboration.

Inclusive collaborative teams: Ensure all educators, including special education teachers and specialists (music, art, etc.), are part of grade-level or subject-area collaborative teams.

Focus on adult collaboration: Design opportunities for teachers to co-design and co-deliver instruction, strategically baking in support for diverse learners.

Identify interventions, not students: Shift from labeling students (e.g., “RTI kid”) to identifying and implementing interventions within the classroom, tracking their impact, and being prepared to stop what isn’t working.

Kate believes that in order to lead effectively, principals must actively transition from day-to-day management to strategic leadership, focusing on coaching staff to achieve collective goals. Coaching is essential for building nimble, student-centered systems that respond in real-time to needs, addressing everything from social justice issues to ensuring equitable outcomes for students with IEPs, recognizing special education as a service, not a place. Ultimately, principals are advised not to undertake this complex work alone, but to form alliances and seek external support to navigate challenges and drive meaningful school improvement.

Dr. Kate Anderson Foley’s passion for ensuring equitable and excellent education for all students shines through, offering practical strategies and profound insights for principals striving to create truly inclusive and high-achieving school communities. Her work emphasizes that with strategic planning, collaborative effort, and a relentless focus on student growth, radical improvement is not just possible, but essential.

Staying Connected:

You can stay connected with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley via the following channels:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-anderson-foley-phd-6803b856/

EPPG: https://www.edpolicyconsulting.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/edpolicyconsulting

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkateaf/

The post PMP474: Radically Excellent School Improvement with Dr. Kate Anderson Foley appeared first on Principal Matters.

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