Transformative Principal

In this episode, Jethro Jones speaks with Bobby Canosa-Carr, a leadership coach, author, and former principal. They discuss various educational topics, including the power dynamics in schools, the importance of permission-seeking culture, and strategies for creating dialogue and addressing systemic issues.

• Why do we even ask to go to the bathroom? 
• American schools have built a culture of permission seeking
• Charter schools are not the magic bullet! 
• Is that what we’re here for? 
• What are we here in school for? 
• If you really audit what schools do, it doesn’t align to what we say it does.
• The system trains us to point fingers at each other. 
• Create more opportunities for dialog. 
• Can you prove it will improve test scores? 
• How to be a transformative principal? Start a conversation with the person who is the most at odds with you. 

About Bobby Canosa-Carr

Bobby Canosa-Carr is a leadership coach, an author, a mindfulness teacher, a former teacher and principal, and a senior public education executive. He is the founder/CEO of Enlighten Leadership Coaching and the Senior Managing Director of Schools at Equitas Academy Charter Schools.

As a school principal, Bobby led the turnaround of a large public high school in Los Angeles and subsequently founded a charter school in his hometown of San Pedro, California. He is a pioneer in personalized & project-based learning, restorative practices, and mentoring in schools. Bobby recently published his first book, Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School. It's an exploration of the dysfunctional power dynamics that leave almost everyone feeling disempowered in American schools.

Bobby is most fulfilled when doing anything that brings him to the present moment and reminds him to breathe on purpose. You might find him climbing boulders in Joshua Tree, swimming in the waves of the Pacific Ocean, or riding his Harley Davidson up a winding coastal road.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode,  Jethro Jones interviews Samantha Hamilton, an award-winning principal, national education consultant, speaker, and author. Samantha shares insights from her career, discusses her book 'Brave On Purpose,' and emphasizes the importance of courageous, empathetic leadership in education. The episode also touches upon the challenges of leadership, the role of faith in leadership, and tips for preventing burnout among educators.

• Brave on Purpose means choosing courage
• Intentional leadership when it’s easier to not have that. 
• LISA Academy - be seen
• Leaders can’t rely on titles to have trust.
• Help people feel seen, safe, and valued.
• Don’t have access to what happens day-to-day in schools
• Leadership on paper is different than leadership in real life.
• Can’t assume we know what happened right before.
• People first paper second. More info from Erika Garcia-Niles
• Power of delegation & perfectionism - sign up for Jethro’s email list.
• Interweaving faith into leadership.
• How to help principals who feel burnt out or stuck.
• What defines success today? 
• How to be a transformative principal? Give yourself permission to be human, pick one thing that you want to get better at tomorrow. Progress over perfection. 

About Samantha Hamilton

Samantha Hamilton (BarefootPrincipal.com) is an award-winning school principal, national education consultant, speaker, and author of non-fiction leadership books that inspire courage, connection, and culture change. With over two decades of experience in early childhood education and K-12 school leadership, she’s known for transforming vision into action and heart into strategy.

Born in Joplin, Missouri to two lifelong educators, Samantha began “teaching” both real and imaginary students by the age of five. That early calling grew into a career defined by faith, humor, and an unshakable belief that relationships—not rigid rules—are the foundation of lasting success. Whether she's leading a school community, coaching new leaders, or navigating chaos with compassion, Samantha brings grit, grace, and just the right amount of sparkle to shift the atmosphere.

She has served in both public and charter schools, taught multiple grade levels, and led schools through tornado recovery, staffing crises, major cultural transformations, and systemwide change initiatives. Her leadership philosophy is simple: people first, always. Her impact? Anything but simple.

Beyond the school walls, Samantha mentors aspiring leaders, develops curriculum, and trains educators nationwide on topics such as leadership resilience, school culture transformation, data-driven decision-making, and sustainable servant leadership. She is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Leadership and a proud wife, mom of three, and Christmas enthusiast who blends fun and focus into everything she leads.

Her debut book, Brave on Purpose: How Courage, Culture, and Connection Create Lasting Impact, is a love letter to educators and leaders navigating the real trenches of change. It invites readers to lead with clarity, courage, heart, and a little sparkle.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Ranney shares her journey from instructional coach to executive director of Lafayette Preparatory Academy. She and Jethro dive into the powerful—and sometimes delicate—dynamics of instructional coaches evaluating teachers. Dr. Ranney discusses how LPA has built a culture of continuous improvement, the role of academic rigor, and how leadership vision shapes school success.

• Lafayette Preparatory Academy, started k-2 and added a grade each year, K-8
• The reason schools exist is to educate kids. 
• Strong academic program 
• Inner core of St. Louis City
• Diverse by design - socio-economic status and race and religious diversity
• What three words would you use to define our school? 
• It really does take a village to raise a child
• Parent experience
• Intake conference - teachers asking parents to build relationships
• Families are our students’ first teachers. Teachers are spending many hours with our kids. 
• Students grew academically over the pandemic because of the relationships with parents. 
• Designing school. 
• Data personalizes and depersonalizes all at the same time
• Teaching is a very personal project. 
• If you think you don’t have anywhere to grow, you probably should get out of the field you’re in. 
• Why their coaches do evaluations instead of the principal.
• How to be a transformative principal? Ask for feedback and be willing to be vulnerable to respond to that feedback.

About Dr. Sarah Ranney  

Dr. Sarah Ranney has been with Lafayette Preparatory Academy (LPA) since 2014 and is a proud parent to an LPA 8th grader. She believes that every child has an inalienable right to attain an excellent education no matter their economic status, residential location, or background. Sarah joined LPA after four years working as an instructional coach with Teach For America where she focused on developing Early Childhood and Elementary teachers across the metropolitan area. She supported more than 300 teachers in more than 40 schools during her tenure there. Prior to Teach For America, Sarah spent several years in the classroom in the St. Louis Public Schools and an Independent, Private School. Sarah has an Ed.D in School Administration as well as an Education Specialist and Masters in School Administration from the University of Missouri- St. Louis, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Webster University, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a certified Teacher, Principal, and Superintendent. Sarah is also a Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor. She is also an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 362 and loves helping youth develop leadership skills in the great outdoors. When not at school, you might find her playing strategic games like War Chest or Settlers of Catan or hanging out in Tower Grove park with her family.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, Jethro Jones and guest Danny Bauer delve into the evolution of their collaboration on the 'Reject the Premise' book idea, discussing its transformation into a podcast series and the subsequent book writing process. They share valuable leadership lessons on knowing when to push forward and when to step back, highlight the drawbacks of feedback sandwiches, and emphasize the importance of not writing off people prematurely. 

They reject traditional premises such as 'operate in isolation,' advocating for a supportive network, and 'give feedback sandwiches,' encouraging honest, inquisitive communication. A poignant discussion on finding the right place for staff members underlines the episode's focus on empathetic and effective leadership.

00:00 Introduction and Host Welcome
00:49 The Book That Almost Wasn't
01:07 Resurrecting the Idea as a Podcast
02:08 Leadership Lessons from Letting Go
03:06 The Importance of Being in Flow
04:05 If You Don't Like Someone, Move Them Out
10:43 The Custodian Story
14:38 Feedback Sandwiches Don't Work
19:29 Effective Feedback Strategies
20:18 Challenging and Supporting Superstars
22:12 The Importance of a Support Network
25:27 Personal Experiences and Insights
34:18 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, Jethro D. Jones welcomes back Craig Randall to discuss the evolution of trust-based observations and its impact on improving teaching and learning. Craig shares insights from his podcast '20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations)' and delves into the challenges and strategies for writing and implementing effective educational practices.

• Nerding about the writing process. 
• When the idea comes, you’ve got to take it. 
• How Trust-Based Observations has evolved. 
• You learn something new every single week. 
• Coaching model vs. Trust-Based Observations
• We have blind spots, if we leave it to that model, we may not have the solution they need. 
• Cumulatively add the activities to the lesson to show the most learning. 
• Intensive training, really goes deep. 
• Don’t offer suggestions until the fourth visit because we haven’t built enough trust. 
• Asking permission to offer a suggestion. 
• Observation form available on the web site. 
• 9 areas of pedagogy hasn’t changed. 
• Relational trust hasn’t changed. 
• TBO is collective teacher efficacy in action
• How we lower vulnerability to get people to take risks is by building trust. 

Craig’s podcast - 20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations)

Craig was last on my podcast in 2021! Here’s his podcast episode. And someone even did a dissertation on TBO.

About Craig Randall

Craig Randall is developing relational trust between principals and teachers, leading to risk-taking and growth. Author of Trust-Based Observations

Trust-Based Observations, a book about a transformative method of doing teacher observations. In a nutshell the book and model are designed to help show administrators how to build trusting differentiated relationships with each of their teachers such that teachers are willing to work through uncomfortable feelings of vulnerability and embrace taking big risks to grow their practice. The model also directly connects the observation process to annual action research goals and schoolwide professional development through the creation of professional development communities tied directly to TBO areas of pedagogy. 

In this episode of Transformative Principal, Jethro Jones interviews Linda Berberich, a behavioral scientist, about her extensive experience in machine learning before it became a buzzword. They discuss the practical applications of artificial intelligence in education, the pros and cons of using technology like GPT models in learning environments, and the importance of integrating technology thoughtfully based on the specific needs and culture of a school.

• AI is such a buzzword but it’s really just machine learning
• Built many solutions to virtual learning
• What technology is really good at is computing
• Cycle motor learning - good form
• Too much memorizing 
• Far transfer vs. Near-transfer (Ruth Clark) and organic vs. mechanistic skills
• Standardizable tasks are mechanistic. The way you perform is how you train. 
• Complex and Simple tasks.
• Skewed responses. 
• How to know when to use a computer (AI, Machine Learning) for learning. 
• Attempts to make the machine more empathetic
• Jethro’s example of writing using two different GPTs to write
• Narrow the field and expand the field. 
• Grades have a massive impact on peoples’ lives, so we can’t ditch that.
• Ideas around what school looks like. 
• Use the time for kids to be together pro-socially. 
• Generative Instruction
• Teachers know this stuff! 
• Using Technology to get kids interested in 
• Don’t be afraid of technology or of letting kids lead. 

About Linda Berberich, PhD.

Behavioral scientist specializing in innovative, impactful, and immersive learning and intelligent, intuitive technology product design. Extensive background in data analysis, technical training, behavior analysis, learning science, neuroscience, behavior-based performance improvement, and sport psychology/performance enhancement.

Passionate lifelong learner who is constantly up-skilling, most recently in the areas of:

solopreneurship, technology-based networking, writing business cases for corporate-wide initiatives, design thinking, agile/scrum methodology, data science, deep learning, machine learning, and other areas of artificial intelligence, particularly as they intersect with human learning and performance.

Follow her newsletter at Linda Be Learning.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, Jethro Jones discusses the nuances of education journalism with Charles Sosnik. Together, they explore the differences between news reporting and education journalism, the impact of political agendas on education, the role of blogs and podcasts in the industry, and the importance of including diverse voices in education media. They also delve into the responsibilities of parents versus educators, the necessity to inspire a love for learning, and how to effectively share wisdom and experiences through various media platforms.

• Education journalism is about talking about big ideas
• It’s about voices, but so many
• Distraction vs. actually educating our kids
• Drop your kids off and 13 years later you 
• Education is the responsibility of the parents, but the state steps
• Our kids aren’t digging what we’re giving them. 
• Why people are in education. 
• Teaching vs. learning
• Relevance. 
• We have the opportunity to change the world, 
• You have a responsibility to get your voice out there. 
• Publications to be a part of: 
  • https://thelearningcounsel.com/
  • https://et-mag.com/
  • https://edu-ai.org/
  • https://www.ednewsdaily.com/ 
• Southeast education network magazine
• You can make a big impact
• Your voice matters, get it out there. 

About Charles Sosnik

Charles Sosnik is a writer in American Education with 40 years in media. He is the Editor and Publisher for education publications including ET Magazine and Educate AI Magazine, and an Editor at Learning Counsel. Additionally, he serves as a ghost writer for some of America’s top voices (but that’s a secret, can’t tell you who!)  and sits on the Board of the (soon to be) new Education Media Association.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode, host Jethro Jones welcomes Shenita Perry, an assistant principal from Montgomery Public Schools, Alabama. They discuss the unique challenges of educating gifted students, Shenita's experience with the SchoolX book study, and valuable insights on empathy and perspective in education. Shenita also shares practical advice for transformative leadership.

• Magnet Middle School 
• Academically and artistically gifted children
• Awkwardness of being middle schoolers and gifted can be challenging
• Principal Matters Listeners
• The School Experience vs the Traditional Experience
• Design thinking process
• What does the school look like through the other peoples’ viewpoints. 
• Treating kids as if they’re not human. 
• We forget the humanity of every other part. 
• Day to day work - Looking at things through other peoples’ eye. 
• How to be a transformative principal? Have a listening ear and an open eye to see from different perspectives. Listen to understand instead of listening to respond. 
• Join the book study here.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones welcomes Dr. Melinda Bier, the Theresa M. Fisher Endowed Professor for citizenship education at the University of Missouri St. Louis. They discuss the character education program, the impact of a national cohort, and faculty changes during the pandemic. They also delve into the design of the new cohort at UMSL, the importance of practical learning, and the integration of character education and social emotional learning into school leadership.

• Having a national cohort, online only program
• Really interesting what people learned from each other
• The design of the program
• Adaptive to the needs of students
• Urban university with a history
• Loss of faculty members
• Modeling is an important part of our theoretical basis
• Next cohort - character development, social-emotional learning, and leadership
• Faculty team to walk through this with people. 
• Who You are is More Important with Tom Hoerr Transformative Principal 224
• Formative Five with Tom Hoerr Transformative Principal 225
• Chief Empathy Officer with Dr. Tom Hoerr Transformative Principal 495
• Character Education is a focus on the whole person
• Adults need to model the behaviors they want to see in the kids. 
• Kids need opportunities to experience all the virtues. 
• Use your power for the common good. 
• Kids get gains in academics when you start with character. 
• Schools have changed a lot over the last few years. 
• Dissertation in Practice is a different kind of dissertation
• Retrospective pretest. 

About Mindy Bier

Mindy Bier is currently the Teresa M. Fischer Endowed Professor for Citizenship Education at University of Missouri, St. Louis. Mindy’s expertise spans the fields of Character Education, teacher preparation and professional development, and the design and use of instructional technology for enhanced teaching and learning. She has extensive experience in the adoption of K-12 educational innovations, providing and managing professional development for geographically and culturally diverse teachers, and in the philanthropic sector. Mindy is the principal investigator for a series of cross-disciplinary service learning projects that address the social determinants of health disparities called Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA!)

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

Are your teachers overwhelmed with busywork and disconnected mandates? In this episode of Transformative Principal, Jethro Jones sits down with Emily Makelky, Vice President of the Curriculum Leadership Institute, to tackle the real problem facing schools: how to create a meaningful, locally-developed curriculum that actually improves teaching and learning.

Discover:

• The difference between curriculum, standards, and resources (and why it matters)
• Why local, district-wide curriculum is essential for student and teacher success
• How to involve teachers in meaningful work that energizes them (not just more paperwork)
• The role of principals in supporting—not micromanaging—curriculum development
• How to keep curriculum relevant, flexible, and focused on what students really need

Whether you’re a principal, teacher, or education leader, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to make curriculum work for your school community.

We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.