If you've been following the saga of Nick's 4 year old daughter on Facebook or Twitter, you know that it's been a crazy night (and morning). In short, Talia's special toy, "Ladytramp," was apprehended and brutally attacked by Thor the Dog. Thor has been actively pursuing Ladytramp for about a year and a half. The surgery was tense, but successful, and all worked out. You can catch up on all the action here:

http://storify.com/RckStrPrincipal/news-updates-ladytramp-in-critical-condition

Of course, some PTSD is to be expected. After Dr. McStuffins Indeglio settled in for such much deserved slumber, he was awakened by Talia Toots at 4:00am. Groggy, but always a podcaster, Nick was able to record most of the conversation on his iPhone. Enjoy Talia's comments on:

• LadyTramp
• Thor
• Santa Claus
• Scarves
• Christmas Ornaments
• Feet
• Kicking
• Mommy
• and more...

The Rock Stars are in “rare form” for their BIG 30th Episode Podcast!!! Don’t miss this one; it’s full of educational advice/awesome-ness and unparalleled RSP humor!

· The Rock Stars Present…How to Present!

o Tips for Presenting and Getting the Most Out of Professional Conferences

o Looking the Part

o What are the Take-Aways?

o The Pro-Wrestling Connection (Going the Extra Step)

o “You don’t know how much you know!”

o Join the Rock Stars as they Present at the @NAESP National Conference this July in Nashville, Tennessee!

· Commercial: Who Are the People In Your Twitter-Hood?

o This week, we feature Rock Stars from our #PAESSPChat

§ @MelissaPatschke – National Principal Mentor Certification Coach, Elementary Principal, Federal Relations Coordinator, Regional Representative for NY, NJ, and PA (@PAESSP, @NAESP)

§ @PrincipalNauman – Elementary Principal in Lewes, Delaware, Extensive Participation in Twitter PLN’s

§ @pmhealey4 – Paul Healey is the Executive Director of @PAESSP

· Research and Article/Book (or Twitter Feed Review) – Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zone” Twitter Feed

o Tips on a Long and Healthy Life from Research in the “Blue Zones!”

§ Consumerism, Hari Hachi Bu, Sardinian Sarcasm, Dogs, and More!

· A Word from Our Fake Sponsors: G.I. Joe Public Service Announcement

o Roadblock raps about talking to strangers!

· Maxwell’s University of Leadership: Irrefutable Law #4

o The Law of Navigation (“Anyone can steer the ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.”)

§ Saving Private Ryan – The complaint chain of command goes up.

§ If you badmouth the boss, it will get back to her.

§ Faith is defines as “belief without empirical knowledge!”

Enjoy all this and more on the 30th Episode Spectacular! Laser, pyros, and flamethrowers abound!!!

Episode 29 of the Rock Star Principals’ Podcast is “bad to the bone!” And that’s “bad” as in “good!” Listen in for:

· “Should Principals Stop Visiting Classrooms” from the Washington Post by Valerie Strauss (@valeriestrauss)

o Daniel Willingham research shows a weak or non-existent relationship between student achievement and the priority a principals puts on Instructional Leadership

o New research (Grissom, Loeb, & Master, 2013) indicates that informal principal classroom walkthroughs are negatively associated with achievement

o What do the Rock Stars think of all this??? Listen!

· A Word From Our Fake Sponsors: 1970’s Devil Dogs

· The Maxwell University of Leadership (@JohnCMaxwell)

o Irrefutable Law #3: The Law of Process: Leadership Develops Daily

o And…Robocop

o And…Franki Valli and the Four Seasons

· “Who Are the People in Your Twitterhood?”

o @ericdaney

o @DrBillZiegler

o @bethhill2829

o All of these people were part of the first ever #PAESSPChat held on Thursdays at 8pm EST (@PAESSP, @NASSP, @NAESP)

o And…falling in love with Siri…

· Rock Star Resolutions

o Fitness via Beachbody’s “Body Beast” Program (@Beachbody, @BodyBeast)

o Xbox Nike+ Kinect (@Nike, @Xbox)

o MyFitnessPal for Calorie and Nutrition Tracking (@MyFitnessPal)

Happy New Year, Rock Star! See you later 2013 and welcome 2014! Today's episode wraps up the year:

• Year End Review for 2013
• Technology Trends from 2013: IOS 7, Vine, Snapchat, and More Social Media!
• "Stressed Out Teens" from CNN.com by Kelly Wallace @kellywallacetv
• "Selfies Aren't All Bad" from CNN.com by Kelly Wallace
• Video Gaming and Parent Responsibility: Grand Theft Auto 5 @RockstarGames
• BYOD
• The Apple Holiday Ad
• A Word from Our Fake Sponsors: AT+T "It's Not Complicated" New Year's Ad @ATT
• "Who Are the People in Our Twitterhood?"
• @Fearless_Teach - Traci Logue
• @micheleborba - Michele Borba (author, psychologist, Today show contributor)
• @ACTAlonStivi - "Nuff Said.

Here's hoping that everyone has an Edu_Awesome year! Stick with RSP as we all grow together (and prepare for world domination)!

As the New Year approaches, the Rock Stars step up their game as well with new segments and emboldened discussion on critical issues facing education...and a whole lot of silliness. Episode 27 features:

• The Maxwell University of Leadership: Law #2 (from @JohnCMaxwell 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership)
• "The true measure of leadership is influence-nothing more, nothing less."
• RSP talks the 5 Myths (management, entrepreneur, knowledge, power, position)
• Titles are meaningless? Both sides of that coin are discussed..in addition to Pro-Wrasslin' titles!
• The Office of U.S. President and Priests have "titles," too.
• Excellent principals don't need titles or suits or polished shoes, but there is a time and place.
• RSP Commercial Time: "Who are the People in Your Twitterhood?"
• @staffloungin - A cool podcast direct from Canada in the real teacher's lounge. RSP will be guests on their show this coming week.
• @JApostol3 - puts out the weekly "Apostol Chronicles" full of great news and edu-stories,
• @ThomasCMurray from Quakertown who was just recognized in "20 Ed-Techs to Follow!"
• The RSP "Long Distance Dedication" Segment (winners of the Twitter FLASH CONTEST)
• @JonHarper70bd asked "What have you changed about the way you lead?"
• RSP talks about "taking the foot of the gas, @IIRPgradschool Restorative Practices, World Domination, and "Touchy-Feely Crap."
• @Fearless_Teacher asked about how to get "on board" with an established staff as a new administrator.
• Meeting and listening are key.
• @TheWeirdTeacher wanted to know about an "off the wall convo with a student."
• Nick talks about an ES Student who used to build caves (nickname Bobby Bin Laden)
• Jon talks about an unnamed music group connection with a student. Nick tries to guess who the group was: hint-not Def Leppard, The Hooters, The Gin Blossoms, Fresh Beat Band, or the Wiggles
• @CrazyJoeClark asks about our personal "Mt. Rushmore" of educational heroes and @khurdhorst asks about CAVE people!

Happy Holidays!!! The Rock Stars give you some hardcore educational talk AND Christmas talk!

• The Church of Whitaker: What Great Principals Do Differently #18
• "Establish clear expectations at the start of the year and follow through consistently."
• Free Advertising: "Who are the People in Your Twitter-Hood?"
• Maxwell University of Leadership: 21 Irrefutable Laws
• As the Church of Whitaker ends, a new legend begins. Jon and Nick begin covering John C. Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership!
• Rule 1: The Law of the Lid
• A Word from Our Fake Sponsors: Hasbro's GI Joe
• John and Nick's Favorite Christmas Presents of All Time
• Ultra Magnus, Rhino from M.A.S.K., Big Wheels, and More!!!
• Musical Epilogue: "Oh, Holy Night" by Mike Indeglio

We are less than a week away from the visit from Santa Claus, but RSP isn't waiting to deliver a bunch of awesome educational presents in the form of Episode 25!!!

• Church of Whitaker: What Great Principals' Do Differently #17
• A Word from Our "Free Sponsor"
• Jethro Jones, author of "The Paperless Principal," @JethroJones, won the RSP Free Advertisement Contest! The Rock Stars promote both his book and his website: paperlessprincipal.com! Congrats, Jethro!
• Article Review: Restorative Practices in Minneapolis
• The Rock Stars discuss the city of Minneapolis' recognition that Black and Native American students were being suspended five times more than other students. So they developed a plan to change behaviors based on Restorative Practices (@iirpgradschool).
• Jon and Nick have a lot to say about educators who believe in only applying "shotgun discipline."
• A Word From Our "Free Sponsor"
• Jon and Nick promote their new partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Elementary and Secondary School Principals (@PAESSP) to sponsor a new Twitter Chat for principals and aspiring principals! The first chat will be held on Thursday, January 9th at 8:00pm! The Chat hashtag will be #PAESSPChat - be there!
• A Birthday Surprise from Jon Ross and Elli Ross
• "What is it?" you are wondering. Let's just say it's 31 inches high with 7 points of articulation!

The Rock Star Principals are the proud middle school principals in the Downingtown Area School District (Downingtown Middle School and Lionville Middle School). The Downingtown STEM Academy, a magnet high school, has earned the distinction of being the highest ranked high school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania based on the recently released PA School Performance Profile. Jon and Nick spend some quality RSP time congratulating the STEM Program (students, teachers, and administrators).

Lots to talk about in Episode 23!

• PISA Rankings 2013: Crap or Fact?
• Jon, Nick, Rob Farina, Tina Armenio, and Rachel Immel talk about the latest report and rankings as a result of the international PISA test. Lots of buzz in the media. Is it just hype or the real deal?
• A Word from Our "Free Sponsor"
• Jethro Jones, author of "The Paperless Principal," @JethroJones, won the RSP Free Advertisement Contest! The Rock Stars promote both his book and his website: paperlessprincipal.com! Congrats, Jethro!
• Church of Whitaker: What Great Principals Do Differently #16
• Jon and Nick bring a ton of pragmatism and passion to #16, which discusses helping struggling teachers improve, succeed, or move towards the door. What's best for kids? Check it out!
• A Word From Our "Free Sponsor"
• Jon and Nick promote their new partnership with the Pennsylvania Association for Elementary and Secondary School Principals (@PAESSP) to sponsor a new Twitter Chat for principals and aspiring principals! The first chat will be held on Thursday, January 9th at 8:00pm! The Chat hashtag will be #PAESSPChat - be there!

The Rock Star Principals' Podcast never stops! Episode 22 brings special guests, awesome segments, and RSP to the max! Listen here for:

• The Church of Whitaker: What Great Principals Do Differently #15
• Referenced philosphers include: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Jim Valvano!
• Referenced non-philosphers include: The Hooters, Tina Turner, Mad Max, Jedi
• Special guest is assistant principal, Rob Farina!
• Article Discussion: "Age of Distraction: Why It's Crucial for Students to Learn to Focus" by Katrina Schwartz
• An article based on Daniel Goleman's research and books
• Special guests include 2 special education teachers, Tina Armenio and Rachel Immel
• Bring Your Own Device
• Shutting down technology?
• Medication for students
• Executive Functioning and Cognitive Command
• Pop Culture: Everything TV
• There's a little bit of everything here that's all about television! Including:
• All time most impactful TV death!
• Mash, The Incredible Hulk, ER, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, NYPD Blue, Family Ties, Dragnet, The Goldberg's, The Killing, Switched at Birth, Bar Rescue, and More!
• MAJOR SPOILER ALERT for all shows mentioned!

So get on board and rock out with RSP and episode 22!