School counselors do it all—academic guidance, mental health support, crisis intervention, college and career planning, and somehow, they still have time to be the heart of a school. In this special episode of The Principal School Podcast, Dr. Michael Meechin dives into the vital role of school counselors and why they deserve more recognition and support.

In this episode, we cover:

If you want to celebrate and advocate for the counselors in your school, this episode is a must-listen. Let’s give these unsung heroes the recognition they deserve!

Like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow school leaders! 🎧

Hear some great strategies to impact the work in your #school or district.

Show Notes

⁠American School Counselor Association

Downloads to Celebration National School Counselors Week

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Leading change in schools is tough—teachers have seen it all, and skepticism is real. If you’ve ever rolled out an initiative only to be met with resistance (or worse, complete disengagement), this episode is for you. Dr. Michael Meechin breaks down the strategies that make change actually stick—without exhausting your staff or yourself.

In this episode, we cover:
✅ Why ‘initiative fatigue’ kills momentum (and how to avoid it)
✅ The right way to build staff buy-in and trust
✅ How to roll out change in phases without overwhelming your team
✅ Handling resistance—from skeptics to full-blown cynics
✅ The importance of early wins and ongoing feedback

Plus, Mike shares one of the hardest changes he ever led—shifting to standards-based grading—and what it taught me about leadership, persistence, and getting people on board.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start leading change that lasts, this episode is for you.

Like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow school leaders! 🎧

Hear some great strategies to impact the work in your #school or district.

Show Notes

📩 ⁠Download The Progress Report Email Newsletter⁠ - it's FREE!

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Are you a school leader struggling to keep up with endless emails, surprise 'got-a-minute' interruptions, and back-to-back meetings?

In this episode of The Principal School Podcast, we’re tackling the biggest time management challenges principals face and sharing actionable solutions.

Discover how to take back control of your day, eliminate time-wasting tasks, and leverage AI tools to save hours each week. Whether you’re a new principal or a seasoned leader, this episode is packed with tips to help you lead more effectively.

Like, subscribe, and share this episode with fellow school leaders! 🎧

Hear some great strategies to impact the work in your #school or district.

Show Notes

Episode 3 - How Does a Systems Leader Lead?

Example of an Eisenhower Matrix

Trello

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Discover the essential elements principals and school leaders can leverage to help teachers do their best work. In this episode, we break down:

1️⃣ Leadership that Listens: Practical strategies to gather and act on teacher feedback to build trust.
2️⃣ Collaboration that Matters: Tips for making collaboration time meaningful and productive, fostering teamwork and innovation.
3️⃣ Resource Alignment: How to provide tools and training that teachers actually need.
4️⃣ Building a Thriving Culture: Insights into creating an environment where positivity and trust pave the way for success.

Packed with actionable tips, humor, and real-world examples, this episode will inspire you to make small changes with big impacts in your school community.

Tune in now to transform your leadership and help your teachers thrive! 🎧

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Buckle up because in this episode, Dr. Michael Meechin is taking you on a wild ride through the world of grading practices that have completely lost the plot. From grade categories that don’t add up (seriously, why is this still happening?!) to single tests that make or break a student’s entire semester, Mike exposes the chaos lurking in our grade books.

Is school too boring? Where has the wonder in education gone? Mike explores this topic after his recent visit to his kid's middle school. This is an important listen as we kick off the new school year.

"I've got your back." If you are a school #principal, do your #teachers know that? What are you doing to show that you support your people? Mike talks about three things school leaders can do to support their teachers and grow their culture.

It's a new one for the MTP Podcast - our first time with special guests! Check out Mike's conversation about distributed leadership with special guests Dr. Drew Olson and Michael Bobo - two incredible educational leaders doing the work!

What'd you do at school today? Why are our #students answering the same way they did years ago? Listen to Mike talking about how #schoolleaders can tackle the #future - which is here - in our #schools - now!

When it comes down to it, #educationalleaders have to build teachers up - it is one of the biggest leadership strategies they are charged with. Mike discusses how he built his #teachers up in this episode.