Two for the Price of One (!) with Frederick and Darrin

Link to the NCMLE Leadership Excellence Network: https://ncmle.org/cohort-home

Description:

Today’s show is actually two shows in one. I recorded it with my good friend Darrin Peppard at Road to Awesome and we are releasing this episode on his show, Lean Into Leadership, in addition to releasing it here on The Assistant Principal Podcast. Darrin and I are collaborating on a project we reference in the show and thought this would be a fun way to let people know what’s going on. That doesn’t mean the show is an infomercial. We really want you to think about the coming year and how your strategic plan can be as meaningful in March as it was in August.

Sponsor Spot 1:As a loyal listener to this show, you know I am a big advocate for short, targeted observations, so I’m excited about DigiCoach sponsoring this podcast. DigiCoach makes it easier to follow up on observations with meaningful feedback. I love that you can focus on specific elements and that there is a ready-made bank of items to use for telling teachers what they are doing well! You can learn more about DigiCoach at digicoach.com or click the link in the show notes.

Guest Bio:

Darrin Peppard is an author, publisher, speaker, and consultant focused on what matters most in leadership. Darrin’s an expert in school culture and climate as well as coaching and growing emerging leaders. He is known for his keen insight, culture-first leadership style, and dynamic personality.

In 2016, Darrin was named Wyoming Secondary School Principal of the Year by WASSP/NASSP and was the 2015 Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year. In 2017, Darrin earned his Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wyoming. This past summer, Darrin was inducted into the Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame. 

Darrin shares his experiences from over 25 years in education, specifically those learned as an education leader during the past 13 years. As a ‘recovering’ high school principal, Darrin talks about lessons learned and effective strategies to help leaders of all experience levels become more effective at their craft. 

 
Key points:

• Middle school focus, frame the work from the start
  • Share the NCMLE work, focus on middle but applicable to all
    • Elem want and need you
    • HS don’t want and don’t need
    • MS: don’t want but need
• Purposeful planning that brings you back to the plan throughout the year
• Elements of the cycle of the work
  • Prepare
    • Clarity - DP
    • Strategies - FB
• What can we do each day?
• Can’t be once a week or once a month
• Example - 
• Speaking/presenting
• Instructional leader
• Relationships - DP
• Perform 
  • Manage priorities - FB
• Block (schedule) your priorities
• Leverage help (ref SAM)
• Create focus time
• People are our priority! Take advantage of opportunities
• Leading for instruction - DP
• Culture building - DP
• Refine
  • Barriers - FB
• Ask why?
• Look at systems, not effort
• What can only you do? (support and grow teachers)
• Reflection - DP
• Check in with stakeholders - FB
• Our super power should be asking questions, not developing answers
• Renew
  • Evaluation - FB (swot)
  • Reorienting the plan - DP (start, stop, etc)
•  
• Maintaining the plan, keeping the focus
  • Use NCMLE work as an example 
  • Be intentional with this work

Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast… Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions.  And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.

Sponsor Spot 3:Before we wrap, I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

Summary/wrap up

·      There’s one thing that ties everything in this podcast together. We mentioned it a couple times, but probably not enough: collaboration.

·      Your likely an AP, but maybe you’re a principal, IC, or district leader, regardless of the position you hold, leading schools is a collaborative endeavor.

·      When we lose sight of that, we forfeit our greatest strengths and misplace our purpose.

·      That’s what I love about what we are doing with MS leaders in NC: we’re magnifying the collaboration. If you are in NC and would like to join us, please go to https://ncmle.org/cohort-home

·      If you are super interested but don’t live in NC, drop me a line and we’ll figure out a way to support you.

Thank you to our sponsors!

·      IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant

·      Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/

·      digiCOACH: https://digicoach.com/

Darrin’s links:

website: https://roadtoawesome.net/

Linktree: