February 12, 2025

Public perception of education, positive role models, and keeping good leaders in schools (featuring Dan Kelley, Dr. Joseph Williams, and Danny Bauer)

1 hour 6 minutes

A good school leader knows how to protect their staff from initiatives and fires they may need to put out on a regular basis. In many cases if you’re unaware of everything your school administrator is dealing with, it means they’re doing their job well.

This lack of awareness of what happens behind-the-scenes may mean little appreciation for everything administrators are dealing with. While negative perceptions exist towards teachers and other school staff members as well, the public tends to be even more unforgiving towards those in leadership positions.

Yet despite all the negativity, I’m optimistic. Part of that is because of the many conversations I’ve had with public sector leaders. When you remove the parts from the whole, and speak with the individuals who are part of the bigger system, it's easier to see past the politics and have an appreciation for the work being done.

That’s why I’m highlighting impactful clips from three past interviews focused on the struggles of school leaders, as well as what’s possible when we put the right supports in place for students, teachers, and the people leading them.

These interviews feature discussions on:

✅The impact of social media on the perception of education, and shedding light on the “behind-the-scenes” challenges of principals.

✅The importance of positive adult role models in shaping kids’ beliefs about what’s

✅The power of K-12 education in creating life opportunities.

✅Using meditation to decrease disciplinary write-ups and increase your own creative problem-solving.

✅How to use the 85% rule to support your mental health and show up for your students.

You can listen to the full interviews here along with guest bios:

EP 114: Do school leaders need coaching? (with Dan Kelley) Link here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-114-do-school-leaders-need-coaching-with-dan-kelley/

EP 128: Using K-12 education to create opportunities and find your calling (with Dr. Joseph Williams) Link here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-128-using-k-12-education-to-create-opportunities-and-find-your-calling-with-dr-joseph-williams-iii/

EP 124: Meditation for educators and the art of giving 85% (with Danny Bauer) Link here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/ep-124-meditation-for-educators-and-the-art-of-giving-85-with-danny-bauer/

In this episode, I mention the School of Clinical Leadership, my program that helps related service providers develop a strategic plan for putting executive functioning support in place in collaboration with their school teams. You can learn more about that program here: https://drkarendudekbrannan.com/clinicalleadership

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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Save teachers’ time
Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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By Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan

4.8

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