Annie sits down with Dr. James Lane to unpack what really happens behind the scenes in education leadership—from navigating complex decision-making to staying connected to the teachers and students at the heart of every school.

To connect with Dr. James Lane, check out his website here: https://leadingwithlaserfocus.com

(00:00) Inside Education Leadership
(02:55) Why Decisions Are So Hard
(06:15) Staying Connected to Classrooms
(09:18) How Federal Policy Really Works
(12:07) How Teachers Influence Decisions
(15:15) Fixing the Teacher Pipeline
(23:56) The Future of Assessment
(30:28) Building Strong School Communities
(36:30) Leadership Lessons That Stick

What You’ll Learn:
✅ Understand how educational decisions are made—and who’s really involved
✅ Learn why teacher voices are essential in shaping policy and practice
✅ Discover how federal education systems impact classrooms
✅ Gain insight into innovative teacher and student assessment practices
✅ Explore how strong leadership and community support drive student success

Packed with wisdom, transparency, and years of leadership experience, this episode shows how thoughtful, people-centered leadership can empower teachers, elevate student outcomes, and create systems where everyone can thrive.

#EducationalLeadership #TeacherVoice #EducationPolicy #StudentSuccess #TeacherAdvocacy #FederalEducation #SchoolLeadership #EducationalInnovation #Assessment #JamesLane