The Empowered Educator Show | Building Systems That Create Success for School Principals

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As a new leader, the temptation is to prove yourself quickly by fixing problems. But lasting leadership isn’t about rushing to solutions—it’s about listening first.  Listening builds trust, respect, and credibility. By pausing to understand your school’s story, you earn the relational capital to lead change effectively later.

Key Points:

• Host early listening sessions with staff, students, parents, and partners.
• Ask meaningful questions: What’s working? What’s our biggest opportunity? What do you hope never changes?
• Reflect back what you hear so people know their voice matters.
• Resist the urge to fix right away—sometimes problems are symptoms of deeper issues.

Power Quote:
“I will listen before I lead, because understanding comes before action.”

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Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

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In this episode, Dr. Mel sits down with TEDx speaker, author, and Telly Award Gold Winner Robin Nathaniel for a real conversation about leadership that starts—and stays—with authenticity. From his days as a musician to his pivot into nonprofit leadership and marketing, Robin shares how human connection has shaped every stage of his journey.

They dive into practical ways new leaders can establish trust, how to navigate (and change) a toxic culture, and why “Do what you are” might be the most freeing leadership advice you’ll ever hear. Whether you’re stepping into your first leadership role or trying to reclaim your authenticity in a seasoned one, this episode is packed with insight you can use tomorrow.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• How to build genuine relationships from day one as a leader
• The power of observation, listening, and working alongside your team
• Real-world lessons on shifting a negative organizational culture
• Why “Do what you are” can transform the way you lead
• The importance of aligning leadership with your unique gifts and strengths

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This episode includes a referral for Upside—a free app that gives you cash back on gas, groceries, and dining. I use it myself and have been saving that extra cash for a vacation. If you want to try it, download Upside and use promo code MELINDA35278 to earn and extra $17 on your first purchase.

Support the show

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Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

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Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

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The moment you step into your school as a new leader, the clock starts ticking. Those first 90 feet—from the front door to your office—can quietly shape how you’re perceived for months to come. This episode is all about making those first impressions intentional, strategic, and grounded in curiosity rather than assumption.

In these crucial first days, your role isn’t to fix everything—it’s to show up, connect, and learn. By being visible in high-traffic spaces, asking thoughtful questions, and resisting the urge to jump to conclusions, you lay the groundwork for trust, credibility, and clarity.

This is your opportunity to see your school with fresh eyes—before the weight of routines and assumptions sets in.

Power Quote

💬 I will lead with visibility, curiosity, and openness so I can see my school clearly before making decisions.

Call to Action

Spend at least 30 minutes a day this week in high-traffic areas—arrival, dismissal, hallways. Talk to people. Ask questions. Write down what you notice. Let learning, not assumption, lead your first steps.

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Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

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In this powerful episode of The Empowered Educator, Dr. Mel chats with David Richards—founder of ChangemakerEDU and passionate advocate for micro schools. Together, they dig into the why, what, and how of this growing movement that's redefining what learning can look like when you strip it down to relationships, purpose, and personalization.

Whether you're an educator burnt out by the bureaucracy or a leader dreaming of starting your own school-within-a-school, this conversation will open your eyes to a bold new future in education.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• What defines a micro school—and why size really does matter
• Why 80% of micro schools are privately funded (and how the other 20% make it work)
• How ChangemakerEDU supports educators in launching and sustaining their own micro school through coaching, cohort learning, and business planning
• The biggest challenges micro schools face—and how connection and community help overcome them
• Real talk on flexibility, burnout, funding, and the deep impact of personalizing education

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• The structure and spirit behind micro schools
• The different types of micro schools and how they're growing across the country
• David's insights into building a school that truly reflects your vision and values
• The ChangemakerEDU model—and why it just might be your next move

This episode includes a referral for Upside—a free app that gives you cash back on gas, groceries, and dining. I use it myself and have been saving that extra cash for a vacation. If you want to try it, download Upside and use promo code MELINDA35278 to earn and extra $17 on your first purchase.

Support the show

Loaded Tea Shop

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Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

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Back-to-school season isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you show up. In this Power Surge, Dr. Mel unpacks how school leaders can deliver powerful pre-service messages and opening PD sessions by leading with presence, not just position. You’ll learn how to use body language, tone, and mindset to inspire trust, shift culture, and set the tone for the school year.

🔥 Power Quote:

“Your presence can shift a room before you even speak. Make it intentional.”

💡 In this Episode:

• Why presence matters more than your PowerPoint
• 3 simple ways to command the room with authenticity
• How body language, tone, and mindset impact trust
• A back-to-school affirmation to ground you in your leadership
• A quick pre-speech ritual to center yourself before you lead

Subscribe to the Empowered Educator Podcast for weekly Power Surges & leadership wisdom.

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Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

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Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

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Welcome to the Empowered Educator podcast! In today’s Power Surge, we’re tackling the back-to-school stress head-on. As a leader, your mind is already spinning with tasks, responsibilities, and expectations—and it’s easy to fall into reactive mode. But here’s the truth: starting strong doesn’t mean starting busy. It means starting clear.

This mini-episode is your invitation to slow down just enough to recalibrate. We’ll talk about managing stress and anxiety, protecting your mental space, and leading with intention before the first bell even rings.

🎧 In this episode:

• Why reactive leadership leads to burnout—and what to do instead
• How to manage anxiety and stress in the critical weeks before school starts
• The difference between productive planning and panic planning
• A simple mindset shift that brings calm, clarity, and control
• This week’s Power Surge Affirmation and Call to Action

💥 Power Surge Affirmation:
 “I begin this year with a sound mind, a steady spirit, and a clear vision. I release the urge to react and choose to respond with wisdom, peace, and power.”

🎯 Call to Action:
 Block off one hour this week for distraction-free planning. No emails. No meetings. Just you, your planner, and your thoughts. Ask: What do I need to put in place now to make room for peace, not panic, in the first 30 days?

✅ Subscribe, share, and leave a review if this episode helped shift your mindset!

Support the show

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Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

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Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

In this quick Power Surge episode, Dr. Mel shares a personal reflection on how spiritual gifts can unexpectedly lead us into new roles and responsibilities—just like her new journey as a superintendent. Even when you’re not looking, God is always positioning you when you're walking in alignment with your purpose. Get ready to explore how your gifts are making room for your next assignment.

💡 What You'll Hear:

• How God can open doors you never expected
• The difference between striving and aligning
• A personal testimony of stepping into a superintendent role
• Encouragement to recognize and steward your spiritual gifts
• A powerful affirmation to carry into your week

Support the show

Loaded Tea Shop

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Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

This episode includes a referral for Upside—a free app that gives you cash back on gas, groceries, and dining. I use it myself and have been saving that extra cash for a vacation. If you want to try it, download Upside and use promo code MELINDA35278 to earn and extra $17 on your first purchase.

Support the show

Loaded Tea Shop

Million Podcasts List

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

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This episode is the first in a two-part series, a workshop-style discussion on organizing schools for success. My guests, Erica Glenn and Kim Bradley draw from the research of Larry Lezotte, focusing on his work on the seven correlates of effective schools.

Seven Correlates of Effective Schools 

• Strong Instructional Leadership: Emphasize the importance of effective leadership styles that empower and support staff. 
• Clear & Focused Mission: Ensure the school's vision and values are well-defined, understood, and aligned with community expectations. 
• Safe & Orderly Environment: Create a positive, welcoming, and secure school climate. 
• Climate of High Expectations: Encourage a culture that fosters ambition, inclusivity, and achievable goals for all students. 
• Frequent Monitoring of Student Progress: Highlight the significance of regular assessments and feedback to support student growth. 
• Opportunity to Learn & Time on Task: Maximize learning time, minimize disruptions, and provide varied learning experiences. 
• Home-School Relations: Stress the vital role of family and community engagement in school success. 

Youtube Video

Workbook

Summer Checklist

Website

www.linkedin.com/in/erica-glenn-76116b126 

IG @literacyleadershipcoach

This episode includes a referral for Upside—a free app that gives you cash back on gas, groceries, and dining. I use it myself and have been saving that extra cash for a vacation. If you want to try it, download Upside and use promo code MELINDA35278 to earn and extra $17 on your first purchase.

Support the show

Loaded Tea Shop

Million Podcasts List

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]

Send us Fan Mail

Too often, fear of failure keeps leaders stuck in comfort zones. But what if your greatest success is on the other side of one bold move? In this Power Surge, we’re reframing fear and helping you step into possibility with courage.

This episode will empower you to:

• Recognize the hidden cost of playing it safe
• Challenge worst-case thinking with best-case vision
• Take one brave step toward your next level of leadership

This is your invitation to try—even if it’s uncomfortable. Because what if you succeed?

Power Surge Affirmation:  I’m not afraid to try. I believe in what’s possible. What if I succeed? 

Support the show

Loaded Tea Shop

Million Podcasts List

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators! 

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

email: [email protected]