The Assistant Principal Podcast

Outline and Show Notes

Helping People Thrive with CJ Arthur

Teaser:

Recognize that every individual has a story — a set of unique circumstances that has shaped how they've grown up and how they navigate this world. In the end, if we want to best serve all individuals, we need to learn about the stories that inform their lives. That's the theme of this episode, and that's the biggest takeaway.
One of the ways we get to this theme in the episode is by talking about kids and adults from diverse backgrounds, including cultural, gender, sexuality, and identity. As I recorded this episode, I was mindful that our listening audience is worldwide — we get downloads from over 100 different countries and all 50 of the United States, which tells me the diversity of this audience is probably pretty high. So, I thought a lot about how people with a wide variety of viewpoints on issues, especially around gender, might experience today's show.
If you hold political or religious views that predispose you to oppose non-traditional ideas around sex and gender, there may be some things in this show you disagree with. I have friends and relatives who I know will not be aligned with parts of the conversation. That's okay. It would be pretty disingenuous of me, in a show that centers diversity, to suggest that your thoughts and experiences were invalid. And – back to the most important takeaway from today’s show: we need to understand individuals’ stories and experiences in order to support and grow them.

Show Intro

Sponsor Spot 1:If you love travel, but your student trips are starting to feel a little… copy-and-paste, it might be time to level up.That’s why I recommend Kaleidoscope Adventures.They’ve been planning educational travel for more than 30 years. And the best part? No cookie-cutter itineraries. Every trip is built around your program, your budget, and your goals.Whether you’re dreaming of a trip to Universal’s EPIC Universe, a history-filled journey to Washington, D.C., or even an international adventure, Kaleidoscope Adventures can help you plan a trip your students will never forget.Get inspired today at mykatrip.com. Kaleidoscope Adventures - Travel Beyond Expectations

Guest Bio:

CJ Arthur (they/them), MAE, is the owner of WordHaven BookHouse; WordHaven Ignites, and an author/writer. They are the 2025 Bookseller of the Year - named by the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association (MIBA), the 2018/2019 Minnesota State Teacher of the Year, the 2018 Honoree for Minnesotans Breaking Barriers, the 2019 Minnesota Lynx Women’s Spotlight Selection for Leader and Innovator in Arts and Education, the 2019 Minnesota Women’s Press Favorite Leader in Education, and one of Sheboygan County’s 2022 People of the Year.
Arthur’s TED-Ed Talk: Educators Must Be More Than Allies was released in January of 2020 and their co-written chapter, “Impact of Trauma on Our Youth," is published in the book, Flip the System: How Teachers Can Transform Education and Save Democracy.Arthur has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Massachusetts, a Communication Arts and Literature teaching license from Augsburg University, and a Master of Arts in Education from Augsburg University.

The team at digiCOACH wants to know: How are your classroom walkthroughs going this school year?

Are they leading to meaningful feedback and coaching, or are they becoming one more thing on an already full plate?

digiCOACH helps school leaders make walkthroughs faster, more focused, and more meaningful. Capture what you see to identify trends, provide timely feedback, and align your walkthroughs and coaching to the instructional priorities that matter most at your campus.

Ready to make more out of the time you spend in classrooms?
Visit digiCOACH.com.

And tell them you heard about digiCOACH on The Assistant Principal Podcast to take advantage of an exclusive offer.

Warmup questions:

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

Questions/Topics/Prompts

• I think one of the great challenges we have in education, especially now, is living in a society that puts people in boxes or groups based on social, cultural, and gender categorizations. And since we all live in this society, we are all subject to these boxed messages. Additionally, how we define people in these boxes is often distorted, lacks understanding, and, too often, empathy.
• My story of Jerry “this is the first place I could be myself.”
• CJ’s story
• The mindset shift for school leaders
• Redefining equity (what kids need to thrive) also ally to advocate
• Supporting the adults

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

Close

• Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.
• You can find links t...

Moving from Slogans to Culture with Tom Walls

Power Quotes:

• Culture is a system, not a slogan
• Culture is built by the small things

Show Notes

Defining Culture

• Alignment Model: Frederick defines culture as a reflection of an organization's alignment across six dimensions: people, purpose, structures, and resources 56.
• Systemic View: Tom views culture as a process rather than an announcement; without a deliberate system, an organization simply inherits whatever culture the existing system creates on its own 7.
• The "Slogan" Trap: Both agreed that creating a "cool slogan" or poster without a supporting system is ineffective and does not address underlying culture problems 1.

The Four-Step Culture Process

Tom outlined a systematic approach to initiating culture change 89:

1. Identify the Pain Point: Determine the core issue (e.g., discipline, tardiness, or lack of buy-in) that needs to change 8.
2. Market It: Create a memorable slogan or visual to communicate the goal 9.
3. Create a Systematic Plan: Define the specific, observable actions required to solve the problem 9.
4. Habit Stack: Embed these actions into existing daily routines (e.g., greeting faculty with a handshake) so they do not become additional burdens on a busy schedule 910.

Practical Applications and Insights

• Micro-Inclusions: Small, consistent gestures—such as handshakes—establish trust, making difficult conversations easier to navigate without damaging relationships 23.
• Belonging vs. Symptoms: Addressing symptoms like poor attendance requires a culture of belonging and connection rather than a plan focused solely on attendance metrics 11.
• The Danger of Over-Estimation: Tom shared a lesson from coaching in Colombia, noting that he initially targeted a technical pain point (turnovers) when he should have started with a more basic culture of individual accountability and team impact 1213.

Big Takeaways

• Intentionally building trust and connection is the foundation of culture
• It’s the small, daily things we do

Guest Bio

Tom Walls is an American educator, coach, writer, and culture-building consultant with more than three decades of experience in education and athletics. His work has included teaching, school leadership, and coaching in the United States, Canada, Ireland, South Korea, and Colombia. Alongside his wife, Shandy, Tom has helped found three American football organizations and has spent much of his career studying how strong cultures are intentionally built and sustained. Today, his work focuses on helping educators, coaches, and organizational leaders move beyond slogans and isolated initiatives to create practical systems that build connection, trust, accountability, and belonging.

Guest Links:

Website: https://thomasbwalls.com 

Walls on Culture (Substack): https://thomaswalls.substack.com 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tom-wallsleadership

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Closing Points

• 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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

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

Sponsor Messages and Links

Kaleidoscope AdventuresI’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

IXLEveryone 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...

Outline and Show Notes

Engaging Teachers and Students with Dr. Deirdra Preis

Teaser:

Are you an engagement specialist? What I mean by that question and how we get to the space of being an engagement specialist is the topic of today’s show but before jumping in…

Sponsor Spot 1:Travel can positively impact students in a big way - but if your first thought is, “who is going to plan all of this?”, don’t worry because that’s where Kaleidoscope Adventures comes in.The KA team has been planning student group travel for more than 30 years! They handle the logistics from start to finish, so you can focus on your job in the classroom.Whenever you’re ready to plan a trip, Kaleidoscope Adventures can’t wait to help your group travel beyond expectations. Visit mykatrip.com today.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

Deirdra Preis, Ed.D, is a former Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in CT and a retired public school educator. During three decades serving in various CT districts, she served as a high school house principal, classroom teacher, curriculum leader, and a dean of students. She was awarded an Inclusive Excellence fellowship in 2023 by her University and is a trained equity coach and consultant who develops and presents unique professional development aimed at supporting P-12 leaders and teachers in replacing systemic causes of opportunity gaps with equitable practices. Dr. Preis earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Northeastern University, and regularly presents her work nationally and internationally. 

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?

I talk a lot on this show about using 5-minute coaching to help your teachers reflect when you can’t get into classrooms, but what about those times you do get into classrooms? Do you have a system and tools to make the most of each visit?Imagine the perfect classroom walkthrough process. You are focused on instructional priorities and provide meaningful feedback that leads to coaching conversations.

digiCOACH has been making that walkthrough process a reality for more than a decade. Every year, digiCOACH supports thousands of classroom walkthroughs with tools that save school leaders time, strengthen feedback, and connect classroom visits to next steps.

Learn more at digiCOACH.com and mention The Assistant Principal Podcast to receive an exclusive offer.

Questions/Topics/Prompts

• Begin with clarifying what equality and equity mean (people hold different definitions)
• APs as engagement specialists 
• Recognize barriers to equitable access and intervene effectively within their spheres of influence 
• The habit of reflexiveness, or criticality, developing and understanding of how their personal lenses have been shaped by their own lived experiences (positionality).
• Spheres of influence

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

• Spheres of influence (influence is power)
  • Decision
  • Guidance
  • Input
  • Aura
• Connect with leaders outside your organization

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Guest Links:

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]...

Outline and Show Notes

Show Title: Resilience with Craig Woodall

Power Quote: “I carry it, but it doesn’t define me”

Teaser:

What’s the difference between resilience and self-care?

Sponsor Spot 1:Travel can positively impact students in a big way - but if your first thought is, “who is going to plan all of this?”, don’t worry because that’s where Kaleidoscope Adventures comes in.The KA team has been planning student group travel for more than 30 years! They handle the logistics from start to finish, so you can focus on your job in the classroom.Whenever you’re ready to plan a trip, Kaleidoscope Adventures can’t wait to help your group travel beyond expectations. Visit mykatrip.com today.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

Craig Woodall brings 30 years in education — including 12 as principal of Rocky Mountain High School — to his work as a speaker, leadership coach, and author. He speaks with organizations and leaders on resilience, perseverance, and cultivating hope through adversity. His book, Overcome: Rebuilding Hope After Losing My Brother on 9/11, released August 2026.

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

• A lot of what we will talk about today is in your book, so can you give listeners a brief summary or elevator pitch about the book?
• In our pre-show meeting we discussed resilience versus self-care. Maybe there is no real difference, but for me, resilience sounds more realistic than self-care. I’m curious how you view these two concepts.
• We are both morning-driven people. I want to dig into our mornings first as I’m interested to see where we are similar and different. After this, let’s talk about how we got to where we are with our mornings – what did that journey look like for you?

The team at digiCOACH wants to know: How are your classroom walkthroughs going this school year?

Are they leading to meaningful feedback and coaching, or are they becoming one more thing on an already full plate?

digiCOACH helps school leaders make walkthroughs faster, more focused, and more meaningful. Capture what you see to identify trends, provide timely feedback, and align your walkthroughs and coaching to the instructional priorities that matter most at your campus.

Ready to make more out of the time you spend in classrooms?
Visit digiCOACH.com.

And tell them you heard about digiCOACH on The Assistant Principal Podcast to take advantage of an exclusive offer.

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

• “I carry it, but it doesn’t define me.”
• So many people are carrying things – you can’t always tell. And that’s why we should listen more
• Negative thoughts (doubts and imposter syndrome) are designed to keep you safe at the expense of growth!

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Guest Links:

Book - Overcome: Rebuilding Hope After Losing My Brother on 9/11

Frederick’s Links:

Email:

Show Title: The Invisible Paycheck with Josh Tovar

Power Quote: As teachers, we get an invisible paycheck that others don’t get

Show Notes

Key Outcomes

Josh Tovar and Frederick discuss the intersection of personal trauma and professional leadership in education. Tovar emphasizes the importance of empathy over sympathy, the value of "invisible paychecks" (emotional impact on students), and the necessity of maintaining high energy and self-care to support marginalized students.

Educational Philosophy and Impact

• Student Connection: Tovar focuses on supporting "broken kids," including immigrants and students with severe trauma, drawing from his own experience as an immigrant and a former alcoholic.
• Empathy vs. Sympathy: Empathy leads to maintaining high expectations for students, whereas sympathy often leads to lowering them 2.
• The "Invisible Paycheck": The spiritual reward of knowing a teacher's presence fundamentally changed a student's life, which Tovar values over financial gain.
• Instructional Rounds: Tovar's campus achieved nearly 400 instructional rounds in September, following a previous year's record of 4,100 rounds.

Personal Resilience and Wellness

• Daily Routine: Tovar maintains a disciplined morning regimen including workouts 6-7 times per week and listening to professional development podcasts to ensure he brings "A-game" energy to his scholars.
• Stoicism and Positivity: To counteract a naturally "cactus-like" or stoic exterior shaped by past trauma, Tovar intentionally projects over-positivity to avoid appearing unapproachable.
• Mortality and Health: Both Tovar and Frederick reflect on the importance of prioritizing physical and mental health as they age to remain active for their families and professions.

Leadership Strategies

• Thermostat vs. Thermometer: The mindset shift from merely reflecting the room's energy (thermometer) to actively setting the energy level (thermostat).
• "Judo" Approach: Using compassion and connection to redirect a student's negativity rather than meeting it with aggression ("karate").
• Intentional Support: Tovar practices "sending flowers" by sending supportive texts to colleagues and peers to combat the isolation and lack of loyalty often felt in the teaching profession.

Topic Outline

Guest Bio: Josh Tovar is the proud son of Jesus and Virginia Tovar who immigrated from Cd. Juarez, Mexico.  Josh has been in education for 34 years and worked at all grade levels (elementary to college graduate courses). He has been able to support different schools and establish a culture which helped turned around a campus medical program, increased a high school 3 letter grades in 3 years and currently ensures EB students’ from all around the world graduate.

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?

Interview questions:

• Anyone who knows you is inspired in your presence. The energetic positivity you exude is palpable and motivates us to be our best. Yet the reality is, it’s a hard world right now, so I wanted to dig into the ways you stay focused and positive. Let’s look at three elements:
  • What do you do at the beginning of the day to get ready to be Josh Tovar?
  • What things do you do throughout the day to sustain your attitude and energy?
  • At the end of a difficult day, what do you do to lay the foundation for getting up tomorrow and doing it all over again?
• We’ve been together at NCMLE each of the past three years but not really had much conversation together. I think you reached out about something you heard on one of my podcasts and in our interactions, I shared a challenging situation in my personal life, and from that moment on you began checking in on me. Nothing fancy, just, “Hey, how are you doing?” I want you to know how much that has meant to me. My suspicion is that you are very intentional about “touching” people and pouring into them when they are in need. I’d like you to share how you think about this and how you are intentional in supporting others.

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?
• Where can people learn more about you and your work…

Big Takeaways

• The invisible paycheck
• Does it come down to will?

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Closing Points

• 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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

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...

Show Title: Whose Fault Is It If Your Teachers Don’t Have Classroom Procedures?

Show Notes

Topic Outline

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?
  • ALT and Entry Year
  • AP says…

Outline:

• TRIPS
• 6 aspects of teaching a procedure
• Big Five Procedures

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Closing Points

• 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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

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

Sponsor Messages and Links

Kaleidoscope AdventuresI’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

IXLEveryone 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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

digiCOACHThe team at digiCOACH wants to know: How are your classroom walkthroughs going this school year?

Are they leading to meaningful feedback and coaching, or are they becoming one more thing on an already full plate?

digiCOACH helps school leaders make walkthroughs faster, more focused, and more meaningful. Capture what you see to identify trends, provide timely feedback, and align your walkthroughs and coaching to the instructional priorities that matter most at your campus.

Ready to make more out of the time you spend in classrooms?
Visit digiCOACH.com.

And tell them you heard about digiCOACH on The Assistant Principal Podcast to take advantage of an exclusive offer.

Outline and Show Notes

Tapping the Power of Gen Z with Robyn Fehrman

Power Quote: Leadership is the secret sauce

Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

 Robyn Fehrman is Executive Director of Teach For America North Carolina and has dedicated her career to scaling impact enterprises and catalyzing systems change toward a vision of an excellent education for all. For the last 15 years, Robyn has worked at the intersection of education and innovation locally, nationally, and globally. Prior roles include Founding Partner of LearnerStudio, President & CEO of Enactus, and Managing Director of Duke University's Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship.  She also served as Executive Director of Teach for America Eastern North Carolina. Robyn is a lifelong North Carolinian who resides in Durham with her husband and two children. She earned her Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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

• I was born in 1963, which technically makes me a boomer. My wife was born in 1965, which makes her Gen X, and I tease her endlessly about this difference. The point is, the generations are not cut and dry. Before we wade into generational differences, what do we need to keep in mind?
• Is the acceleration of technology creating more compressed generations?
• [I think what will make this episode stand out is looking at the generational and hierarchical differences from multiple perspectives] 
• Schools are filled with multiple generations. The most recent generations comprise the student population, but when we think about teachers, building administrators, and district leadership, generational “hierarchies” can quickly break down, so it’s not just boomers supervising millennials, the reverse can also be happening. I’m not sure what the best way is to approach this, but let’s dig in…

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

• Lead with learning about them and creating a sense of belonging
• Risk averse and need for security – frame as assets

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Guest Links:

NC TfA: https://www.teachforamerica.org/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/25076507/admin/dashboard/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tfa_nc/?hl=en 

Show Title: Hugging Porcupines with Mike Anderson

Teaser:

I’ve been looking forward to doing today’s interview for three months and was so excited to bring this to you and it did not disappoint. This is a great episode so Dial up your best listening skills and let’s go!

Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

A public school teacher for 15 years, Mike has also had many other roles in education: preschool aid, high school and age-group swim coach, camp counselor, graduate class instructor, and Responsive Classroom presenter and developer. He now works as a consultant providing professional learning for teachers throughout the US and beyond.As a classroom teacher, Mike was awarded a national Milken Educator Award and was a finalist for NH Teacher of the Year. In 2020, he was awarded the Outstanding Educational Leader Award by NHASCD for his work as a consultant. A best-selling author, Mike has written many books about great teaching and learning. His latest book is Hugging Porcupines: Month-by-Month Strategies to Support Our Most Challenging Students.When not working, Mike can be found hanging with his family, tending his perennial gardens, sorting baseball cards and searching for new running routes around his home in Durham, NH.

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

• As a reminder, we talked about my new book, Hugging Porcupines--especially about the process for how teachers should usually facilitate problem-solving conferences, not administrators.
• How do you define a porcupine?
• What are the common approaches you see that fail to help kids?
• What are your core ideas/practices?
• What advice would you give an AP on running a book study around the book?
• If APs were to help teachers implement just one practice, what would it be?

The team at digiCOACH wants to know: How are your classroom walkthroughs going this school year?

Are they leading to meaningful feedback and coaching, or are they becoming one more thing on an already full plate?

digiCOACH helps school leaders make walkthroughs faster, more focused, and more meaningful. Capture what you see to identify trends, provide timely feedback, and align your walkthroughs and coaching to the instructional priorities that matter most at your campus.

Ready to make more out of the time you spend in classrooms?
Visit digiCOACH.com.

And tell them you heard about digiCOACH on The Assistant Principal Podcast to take advantage of an exclusive offer.

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Outline and Show Notes

Episode 322: Digging Deeper Into Motivation with Dr. Chad Dumas

Power Quote: “Relationships are the universal lubricant.”

Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

Dr. Chad Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter, and award-winning researcher. His primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for self-, team-, and school- improvement. With a quarter century of successful leadership experience, Chad has led significant improvements for both students and staff. He shares his research and knowledge in his three books on PLCs, and his most recent book, the Teacher Team Leader Handbook. Chad’s consulting and training includes research, stories, hands-on tools, useful knowledge, and practical skills. He most recently was the executive director of elementary education in the Ames Community School District, a preschool thru grade 12 district of 5,000 students in central Iowa. Before this he was the director of learning for Hastings Public Schools in south-central Nebraska for nine years.

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

• You incorporated the motivation equation into one of your trainings. What inspired you to use the formula?
• How was it received?
• You mentioned to me that there were some questions from participants and I’d like to dig into those. I think the first one was about relationships, so let’s start there. Before I launch in, I’m curious about how you think relationships might impact the motivation equation…
• We can go from here wherever the discussion takes us

The team at digiCOACH wants to know: How are your classroom walkthroughs going this school year?

Are they leading to meaningful feedback and coaching, or are they becoming one more thing on an already full plate?

digiCOACH helps school leaders make walkthroughs faster, more focused, and more meaningful. Capture what you see to identify trends, provide timely feedback, and align your walkthroughs and coaching to the instructional priorities that matter most at your campus.

Ready to make more out of the time you spend in classrooms?
Visit digiCOACH.com.

And tell them you heard about digiCOACH on The Assistant Principal Podcast to take advantage of an exclusive offer.

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is 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.
• Remember the secret to good leadership:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Guest Links:

www.NextLearningSolutions.com 

Outline and Show Notes

321: Just say “YES” with Ronke Adetolu

Power Quote: "If my future stayed parked in 'someday,' then I did not have to risk failure today”

Teaser:

I love having guests on the show who are coming from outside the field of education I think they can bring fresh perspectives and help us interrogate our own situations through a different lens. In today’s episode, my guest helps us dig into the idea of saying yes, even when your mind wants to say no or maybe later specifically will talk about moving into a job that you don’t quite feel prepared for so if you’re a teacher, listening to this show, looking to move into the assistant principalship, or maybe her assistant principal looking to move into the principal ship I think this will be a great episode for you.

Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

Words shape minds and every voice holds the potential to inspire. I’m here to turn stories into sparks and messages into movements. Ronke Adetolu is a TEDx speaker known for her talk, “The Myth of Someday,” where she exposes how postponing purpose quietly keeps people stuck. Her message is direct, relatable, and action-oriented, helping individuals and organizations move from intention to action with clarity and confidence.  

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

•  Your TEDx Talk was about saying yes and pushing before you are ready, without certainty. In it, you said, “If my future stayed parked in someday, then I did not have to risk failure today” I think this opens up multiple avenues of reflection for listeners:
  • Do I yes to the job (AP or P) even if I’m not ready?
  • Do I say yes to being an instructional leader, even if I’m not ready?
  • How do step into the gap with confidence?
• Addressing imposter syndrome
• Courage Activation “YES method”

I talk a lot on this show about using 5-minute coaching to help your teachers reflect when you can’t get into classrooms, but what about those times you do get into classrooms? Do you have a system and tools to make the most of each visit?Imagine the perfect classroom walkthrough process. You are focused on instructional priorities and provide meaningful feedback that leads to coaching conversations.

digiCOACH has been making that walkthrough process a reality for more than a decade. Every year, digiCOACH supports thousands of classroom walkthroughs with tools that save school leaders time, strengthen feedback, and connect classroom visits to next steps.

Learn more at digiCOACH.com and mention The Assistant Principal Podcast to receive an exclusive offer.

Sponsor Spot 2: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 ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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…

Summary/wrap up

• YES: especially envisioning our future self
• Imposter syndrome is part of the process
• Act before you are ready:
  • You’ll never be ready
  • Opportunities don’t wait
  • Caveat: Consider the leader
• Stack easy wins by leaning into strengths and leveraging presence and listening skills (e.g. 5mc)

Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!

• Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.com
• Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/

Sponsor Links:

IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant 

Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/ 

digiCOACH: digiCOACH.com 

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. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
• If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at