What does it take to lead well and stay well?

Dr. Chelsea Malouf—Director of Language Arts & Alternative Language Services for Salt Lake City School District and former principal—joins This American Principal to talk candidly about burnout, boundaries, and rebuilding balance. We unpack the principalship’s unpredictable stress, what burnout looks and feels like, and practical shifts that help: Removing email notifications, using official channels instead of texts, scheduling life after work, and modeling healthy limits for staff.

Chelsea shares joy and impact—from pandemic porch-pizza celebrations to a kindergartner’s daily wins—and makes the case that choosing yourself makes you a clearer, kinder, more effective leader. If you’re an admin, teacher leader, or aspiring principal, this episode is your reset.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Share this podcast with a colleague, mentor, or friend who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at⁠⁠ www.leading4learning.com⁠⁠.

Mr. Steve Hirt was more than an educator—he was the heart of North Monterey County High School (NMCHS) in Castroville, CA. In this episode of This American Principal, Joan Schumann (your host and former NMCHS ASB President) revisits the traditions, mentorship, and quiet courage that made Mr. Hirt a legend to generations of Condors.

From “Make it Big, Do it Right, Give it Class” to inspiring student leaders to watch out for the “invisible kids,” this conversation explores how a principal’s belief can change a school—and a life. If you walked the Condor campus during Hirt's era, you’ll recognize the story. And if you didn’t, you’ll learn what it means, as a school leader, to truly leave behind a legacy.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Share this podcast with a colleague, mentor, or friend who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at⁠ www.leading4learning.com⁠.

In this week’s episode of This American Principal, Joan sits down with Tracy Vandeventer — the mentor who first nudged her toward leadership. With 35 years of experience, Tracy has led schools across every level — elementary, middle, and high school — in both challenging and thriving contexts. Together, they unpack what it means to lead with authenticity, build trust in divided communities, and carry the emotional weight of leadership without burning out.

From quick wins that build credibility, to hard conversations with veteran staff, to the unseen burden principals carry when tragedy strikes a community — this episode is both honest and deeply inspiring. Whether you’re a principal, educator, or community member curious about what it really takes to lead a school, Tracy’s wisdom is a reminder that courage and compassion must always go hand in hand.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Share this podcast with a colleague, mentor, or friend who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at www.leading4learning.com.

Alex went from sleeping on his laptop as a first-year admin to leading a small California district with clarity and heart. In this episode, he shares simple moves that work: Align curriculum, run daily check-ins to catch kids in crisis, keep discipline both restorative and consequential, and pace change so staff can buy in.

We also talk about surviving a bus-driver shortage, modeling “all hands on deck” leadership, and why leading with heart is non-negotiable. Keep it simple. Stay flexible. Lead with heart—because it’s for the kids.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Share this podcast with a colleague, mentor, or friend who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at⁠ www.leading4learning.com⁠.

When a new principal inherits a high-performing school with silent staff meetings and veteran teachers ready to test her, how does she lead?

In this episode, Mele Benz shares how authenticity, courage, and tough-but-compassionate conversations helped her build trust, uncover inequities, and strengthen her school community. It’s a lesson in why true leadership means showing up as your whole self—especially when the work is hard.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Share this podcast with a colleague, mentor, or friend who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at⁠ www.leading4learning.com⁠.

Welcome to Season 1 of This American Principal—a podcast dedicated to the real, unfiltered stories of school leadership in America.

From small towns to big cities, elementary to secondary, this season brings you voices of current and former principals at every stage of their careers. Together, we explore themes of trust, community perception, resilience, and the heavy weight principals carry as they navigate one of the hardest and most important jobs in America today.

These are stories of struggle, hope, humor, and transformation—told by leaders who have lived them. Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or simply curious about what it takes to run a school, Season 1 will leave you with a deeper understanding of the people behind the principal’s desk—and why their work matters now more than ever.

👉 New episodes every week. Don’t forget to subscribe, share with colleagues, and join the community to lift up the leaders who make schools work. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at⁠ www.leading4learning.com⁠.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Stepping into school leadership is never easy—but what happens when you inherit a building in crisis, a community weighed down by poverty and opioids, and a culture defined by mistrust?

In this first episode, Dr. Keith Collins shares his journey from reluctant administrator to principal of a struggling middle school in Appalachia. With honesty and heart, Keith reflects on navigating community challenges, rebuilding trust, and shifting a school culture from survival to hope.

This is more than a story about one school—it’s a window into the real weight principals carry and the resilience it takes to lead. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to turn a school around, this conversation is for you.

Keywords: Trust in schools; American education; school leadership; leadership in education; principal voices; principal; American leadership stories

Share this podcast with a colleague, mentor, or friend who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got a story of your own, submit it at⁠ www.leading4learning.com⁠.