The Assistant Principal Podcast

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

Assistant Principal Podcast Content Episode Outline

311: Power!

Teaser:

The leadership guru John Maxwell said, “Leadership is influence, nothing less, nothing more.” Now I don’t agree with the statement 100%. As my friend and mentor, Dr. Jacque Jacobs would point out, just because you’re driving 35 mph in the fast lane and have 15 cars behind you does not make you a leader. Leadership also requires an intentional effort towards a specific outcome. The important to take away from Maxwell’s statement is that if we want to lead, we need to be able to influence people. So, how do we influence people? The answer is simple: through the use of power. Now, power is not a dirty word, but it’ it’s not a simple one either. When I just said “power”, you probably thought about a boss, or someone that had clear hierarchical authority, but hierarchical power is only one of six different forms of power! Today we’re going to dig into all six but before we do that, I’d like to thank my friends at Kaleidoscope adventures for sponsoring today’s episode.

Sponsor Spot 1:When it comes to student travel, I get why it can feel like a big lift. That’s why I always point people toward Kaleidoscope Adventures. They’ve been doing this for more than 30 years, and they understand what schools actually need - clear communication, strong organization, and a plan that works. They handle the details, so you’re not left piecing it all together yourself. If you’ve been on the fence about planning a trip, now is the time to reach out to my friends at Kaleidoscope Adventures. Visit mykatrip.com today and get your free quote today. Kaleidoscope Adventures – Travel Beyond Expectations

Show Intro

Celebrations:

Key Points Part 1

 The forms:

• Legitimate – Social Contract
• Informational – has answers
• Expert – knows how to do things
• Reward – provide things
• Coercive – take things away
• Referent – respected and cared for

Teaching points:

• In a workshop, what forms of power do I hold?
• What forms of power do you hold?
• Only one form of power is dependent on a position!
• Everyone, including students, can wield the other forms of power
• Best, worst, you (email me for the worksheet)

Questions:

• Is it good/bad to dress for power?
• How do you repair if you use power in the wrong way?
• How little experience or knowledge is too little?
• Should coercive power be used with higher-ups? 
• Will some people just never like or respect you?
• Do some likeable" people get leadership roles .... despite lack of expert power.
• What of a leader is unresponsive?

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 http://ixl.com/assistant to get started.

Key Points Part 2

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.

Summarizing (The big takeaway)

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!

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedi...

Assistant Principal Podcast Content Episode Outline

Show Title: Our Morning Routines

Links:

Insight Timer App 

Down Dog App

Mara’s checklist
Episode 310: My 11 Morning Affirmations

Episode 276: SWOT and Stop Start Continue Consider

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

Celebrations:

Key Points Part 1

• What we are trying to achieve — Why do a morning routine?
• Our ideal morning
• The ideal mornings that listeners shared with us
• Reality of what our morning routines often look like 
• Barriers and what to do about them the 
• 15-minute morning routine:
  • five minutes of movement 
  • 3 minutes of stillness 
  • six minutes of reading or affirming 
  • one minute to set your attention

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 http://ixl.com/assistant to get started.

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. Your walkthroughs focus on the instructional priorities that matter most. Teachers are receiving timely, meaningful feedback. And what you learn from every visit helps guide your next coaching conversation.

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.

Summarizing (The big takeaway)

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/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/

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!

Mara's Links:
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Website: https://marabuskey.com/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mara-almond-98321218b

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_77...

Outline and Show Notes

Show Title: AI Beyond the Talk with Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth

Power Quote: “We don’t need to be the expert”

Teaser:

I recorded today’s interview on July 8 and it’s just a week since I was at the ISTE-ASCD national conference in Orlando and ISTE is a very tech focused, educational organization and as you can imagine so much of the talk at the conference was about AI to be honest I’m feel like I’m a bit over AI I’m getting deluge with AI generated emails in my business and seeing stuff on LinkedIn that is clearly AI generated and it just feels like it’s making part of my world of more fake was less authentic and less human centered and yet AI is a useful tool and it’s not going away so I wanted to have someone on the show who could help us navigate AI and look at it specifically for the role of the assistant principal.

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. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. Rachelle has a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law and a Doctorate in Instructional Technology. Rachelle specializes in Artificial Intelligence, AI and the Law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, and STEM. She has more than 8 years of experience teaching and presenting on AI in her classroom, as well as working with educators worldwide. Rachelle is currently serving as the Grant Coach for an initiative through ISTE and Pinterest. Rachelle works with a Task Force from 12 districts in the United States and assists with policy revision, professional development, and the design of digital wellness resources for students, educators, and families. She also provides professional development related to AI policy and implementation to school districts, universities, and organizations and is a keynote speaker. Rachelle is an ISTE-certified educator and recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen Award and several Presidential Awards for volunteer service to education. Rachelle received the EdTech Trendsetter Award from EdTech Digest in 2024 and 2026. She is the author of ten books, including "What the Tech? An Educator's Guide to AI, AR/VR, the Metaverse and More!” She has written curricula and courses on AI for all levels and is the host of the ThriveinEDU podcast, ISTE's Learning Unleashed podcast, and The Lift by Amazon on BAM Radio Network. Learn more about Rachelle's work via ThriveinEDU LLC at www.Rdene915.com or on LinkedIn.

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

• Can we begin with clarifying the difference between AI in education and AI Education?
• In a May 28th blog post, you wrote, “What I have learned from working with school Task Forces across the country is that they have had many conversations around AI, screen time, and tech use. They have explored the possibilities and understand the urgency with these topics, but they also have a similar question. What do we do now? And this is where I believe that leadership matters most.”
• I’d like to begin there. Actually, not with the what but with the why – why do we need to act and why do we need to act now? What’s the danger of not getting this right?
• You advocate for a systems approach. Please take us through that.

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

• Don’t be an expert, just move forward
• Leverage interest into teacher-led PD
• Support early career teachers

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/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/

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 ...

Outline and Show Notes

Stop, Drop, and Get Organized with Jeffrey Bradbury

Teaser:

Today’s show is a bit different. My guest has a depth of knowledge on technology that is inspiring and honestly a bit intimidating at the same time. If you are tech savvy, you will probably get a lot out of today’s show. If that’s not the case, there are still some really important takeaways to help you organize your thinking, and consider a more productive approach to leveraging technology in your work.

Sponsor Spot 1:- I talk to a lot of Assistant Principals, and one thing that comes up all the time is the question - how do we create experiences students will remember forever? That’s where travel can really make a difference, and my friends at Kaleidoscope Adventures help schools create trips that go beyond just checking a box. They create adventures that build confidence, create connection, and give students something to carry with them long after they leave the classroom. If you’re looking to create those kinds of moments for your students, Kaleidoscope Adventures is a great place to start. Visit their website, mykatrip.com, and start planning your next school trip today.

Show Intro

Guest Bio:

Jeffrey D. Bradbury is an ISTE+ASCD award-winning digital learning strategist, public speaker, educational broadcaster, and the creator of the TeacherCast Educational Network. He has served K–12 students as an orchestra director, instructional coach, and Director of Digital Learning, and currently teaches Digital Media in New Milford, Connecticut. Jeff is a Google Certified Innovator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, TEDx Speaker, ISTE Community Leader, and a proud triplet dad. For more information, visit JeffreyBradbury.com.

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?

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

• Leadership is a conversation between what is and what could be
• A clear inbox is a happy inbox
• Stop drop get organized

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/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/

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:

https://www.jeffreybradbury.com 

https://www.teachercast.net

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