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Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Jeff Linden
50 episodes
2 days ago
Send us a text Doors closed, minds open or the other way around? Our conversation with NASSP’s 2025 National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, pulls back the curtain on how a large high school built a culture where teachers learn from teachers every single day. Tony walks us through the exact system that turned isolation into collective efficacy: a strengths inventory across four core areas, 25-minute targeted classroom visits, collegiality cafes that showcase teacher-designed practices, a...
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Self-Improvement
Education,
Courses
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All content for Educational Leadership with Principal JL is the property of Jeff Linden and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
Send us a text Doors closed, minds open or the other way around? Our conversation with NASSP’s 2025 National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, pulls back the curtain on how a large high school built a culture where teachers learn from teachers every single day. Tony walks us through the exact system that turned isolation into collective efficacy: a strengths inventory across four core areas, 25-minute targeted classroom visits, collegiality cafes that showcase teacher-designed practices, a...
Show more...
Self-Improvement
Education,
Courses
Episodes (20/50)
Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 49: Proud Principal: Tony Cattani's Leadership Journey
Send us a text Doors closed, minds open or the other way around? Our conversation with NASSP’s 2025 National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, pulls back the curtain on how a large high school built a culture where teachers learn from teachers every single day. Tony walks us through the exact system that turned isolation into collective efficacy: a strengths inventory across four core areas, 25-minute targeted classroom visits, collegiality cafes that showcase teacher-designed practices, a...
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2 days ago
1 hour 6 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 48: I Choose to Stay: Dr. Salome Thomas-EL’s Journey from the Chessboard to the Classroom to Leadership!
Send us a text A single question from a group of students rerouted a career—and sparked a movement. That’s how Dr. Salome Thomas-EL, widely known as Principal EL, went from TV production to a life in education, using chess to teach math, identity, and grit while building a school culture where kids line up to get in. We talk about the early days in Philadelphia, why engagement must precede information, and how a chessboard became intellectual capital that changed how students saw themselves a...
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1 week ago
51 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 47: What They Don’t Tell You About Being a Principal: Leadership, Isolation, and the Power of Community
Send us a text The principal’s chair looks different from the inside. We pull back the curtain on the quiet costs of leadership—why accountability requires real boundaries, why the job can feel isolating even in a busy building, and how to replace that isolation with a resilient network that actually gets it. Through candid stories and concrete examples, we map out the habits that keep leaders steady: clear communication, consistent expectations, and the courage to tell your school’s story be...
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3 weeks ago
16 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 46: Listen First, Lead with Heart: Principal Shannon Seale’s Journey from Classroom to School Leader
Send us a text What if the strongest leadership move is to listen first, decide second, and never micromanage? That’s the tought line of our conversation with Principal Shannon Seale, who went from high school social studies to leading a pre-K–2 campus, without losing her sense of humor, her humility, or her focus on what matters most. We explore the origin of Shannon’s calling to teach, how watching weak leadership shaped her convictions, and why avoiding conflict silently breaks cultures. ...
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1 month ago
49 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 45: Beyond the Classroom: How a PE Teacher Became a Transformational Leader with Dr. Donovan Smalls II
Send us a text What if the best instructional leadership doesn’t start with a rubric but with people? We sit down with Dr. Donovan Smalls II to unpack how a former PE teacher and college professor became an assistant principal known for calm under pressure, disciplined time management, and a people-first approach that lifts instruction across a building. We dig into the pivotal COVID moment that rerouted his career and why choosing to be the solution is the first real test of leadership. Don...
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1 month ago
51 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 44: A Principal’s Perspective on Society’s Issues in Schools
Send us a text Ever feel like the weight of the world lands squarely on your school's doorstep? You're not alone. Principal JL takes a rare solo moment to speak candidly about the reality educational leaders face when national events and societal tensions inevitably filter into school hallways. The truth about public education often gets lost in inflammatory headlines. Drawing from experiences in both small rural schools and larger districts, Principal JL dispels the myth that educators are ...
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1 month ago
12 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 43:The Cardinal Way: Building School Culture with Bill Curry: 2025 Nebraska Middle School Principal of the Year
Send us a text Ever wonder what makes a truly exceptional school leader? Bill Curry, recently named Nebraska's 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year, offers a refreshing perspective that might surprise you. Curry's journey into education began unexpectedly when a high school crush asked for help with algebra. That simple tutoring session revealed his natural teaching ability and set him on a path through classroom teaching, college basketball coaching, and ultimately school leadership. Hi...
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2 months ago
57 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 42: Seen, Heard, Valued: The Leadership Journey of Jayme Braida, Iowa’s 2025 Elementary Principal of the Year
Send us a text What if the most powerful leadership quality isn't perfection, but authentic vulnerability? Jayme Braida, Iowa's Elementary Principal of the Year and National Distinguished Principal, demonstrates how embracing imperfection revolutionized her approach to educational leadership. Jayme's journey didn't follow a straight path. She "stumbled upon education" after changing majors multiple times in college, yet found herself naturally drawn to leadership roles. Her transformation fr...
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2 months ago
41 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 41: Creating Bull Elephants with 2025 Nebraska High School Principal of the Year: Jerry Mack
Send us a text When a rural Nebraska principal discovered a behavioral problem with freshmen students, he turned to an unlikely source of inspiration: African bull elephants. Jerry Mack, the 2025 Nebraska State High School Principal of the Year, shares how this wildlife management concept transformed his school's culture by empowering seniors as leaders and mentors. Growing up poor in small-town Nebraska, Jerry initially entered education simply to coach sports, but discovered a passion for ...
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2 months ago
1 hour 14 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 40: From School Psychologist to Assistant Principal: Erin Jones’s Leadership Journey
Send us a text What does it take to truly connect with students who struggle? For Erin Jones, Assistant Principal at Sunrise Middle School, the answer lies in her own past. "I wasn't your picture-perfect student," she reveals, explaining how her personal challenges help her relate to behaviorally struggling students today. This fascinating conversation explores Jones' unconventional path from school psychologist to educational leader. Rather than starting as a classroom teacher, she built ex...
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2 months ago
40 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 39: Out of the Trenches: Dr. Dana Goodier's Leadership Journey!
Send us a text What happens when a Norwegian tour guide discovers her passion for educational leadership? In this revealing conversation, Dr. Dana Goodier shares her remarkable 25-year journey through the educational landscape, from teaching world languages to navigating the complex terrain of school administration. Dr. Goodier's story isn't one of overnight success but rather persistent determination. Despite completing her principal licensure program in 2011, she waited seven years before ...
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3 months ago
42 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 38: Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Climbing the Next Mountain in School Leadership!
Send us a text That moment when you've built a solid foundation, but find yourself staring at the ceiling wondering, "What's next?" This summer, after three years of transformative work as building principal at Hastings High, I hit that wall. We'd successfully tackled culture, transforming our school from "welcome to the jungle" into a place where students and staff felt valued. We'd implemented systems that increased daily attendance by nearly 4% and reduced chronic absenteeism by 8.9...
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3 months ago
34 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 37: The Street Cred Principal: Josh Tovar’s No-Excuses Approach to School Leadership!
Send us a text What does it take to transform a struggling school? Josh Tovar knows firsthand. Born in Juarez, Mexico, and growing up with learning disabilities and family challenges, Josh's journey from troubled teen to transformational principal offers powerful lessons for any educational leader. Josh's personal story gives him authentic "street cred" with students facing similar struggles today. "I was a drunk in high school. I had no pathway," he shares candidly. This background allows h...
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3 months ago
1 hour 15 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 36: Leading with Clarity: Casey Watts’ Educational Leadership Journey!
Send us a text What happens when talented, dedicated educators feel stuck despite their best efforts? According to Casey Watts, the answer isn't about working harder—it's about seeing clearer. After two decades in education as a teacher, coach, and district leader, Casey discovered that the persistent gap between administrators and classroom teachers wasn't due to lack of commitment or expertise. The missing element was clarity. When leaders say, "Nobody's getting on board with our initiativ...
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4 months ago
52 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 35: The Blueprint: Todd Bloomer’s Educational Leadership Journey on Balancing Family, Leadership, and School Culture!
Send us a text What makes a school leader decide to step away when they still love what they do? Former high school principal Todd Bloomer opens up about his nearly three-decade journey through education and the wisdom he gained along the way. Todd's story begins as a New Yorker who packed everything into a Geo Prism and moved 1,800 miles to teach in Texas without ever having visited the state. His leadership philosophy was born in a seventh-grade Texas history classroom when a student candi...
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4 months ago
40 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 34:Transitioning from Teacher to Administrator: Josh Rowan's Insights as a First-Year Assistant Principal
Have you ever wondered what happens when a teacher steps into the administrator's office for the first time? Josh Rowan, Assistant Principal and Activities Director at Schuyler Middle School, pulls back the curtain on his journey from broadcaster to classroom teacher to educational leader in this revealing conversation. Josh's path wasn't the traditional straight line into education—he discovered his calling while covering school events for his hometown newspaper. This unique entry point gav...
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4 months ago
52 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 33: Get Organized: Dr. Frank Buck’s Journey and Blueprint for Productive Educational Leadership!
What separates exceptional educational leaders from the merely competent? According to Dr. Frank Buck, it might be as simple and as challenging as reliable organization systems. His journey from band director to productivity expert reveals a crucial truth: educators aren't typically fired because students performed poorly at a concert, but because they forgot to order the buses to get there. Dr. Buck's leadership philosophy centers on supporting teachers by removing obstacles to their core i...
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4 months ago
55 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 32: Emotional Schools: Leroy Slanzi's Leadership Journey on Building Student Resilience Through Emotional Intelligence!
Imagine walking into a school where a principal tells a fart joke, and within seconds, students take deep breaths and self-regulate back to attention. Sound impossible? For Leroy Slanzi, this is everyday reality in schools that have embraced his emotional intelligence framework. With over 25 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school leadership, Slanzi brings a unique perspective to the educational leadership conversation. Having begun his career as a special education te...
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5 months ago
50 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 31: The Road to Awesome: Dr. Darrin Peppard's Journey on Purposeful Leadership, Culture, and What Truly Matters!
Fan Mail! Dr. Darrin Peppard's educational leadership journey began when his college roommate asked for help coaching fifth-grade basketball. That simple moment sparked a passion that would guide him from classroom teacher to award-winning principal, superintendent, and eventually to becoming one of education's most respected leadership voices. The turning point in Darrin's leadership philosophy came during his first year as an assistant principal while processing over 2,200 discipline refer...
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5 months ago
58 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 30: When Tragedy Strikes: A Principal's Guide to Navigating Student Death and School-Wide Grief
Fan Mail! Death is something no school leader wants to face, yet crisis management becomes an unavoidable reality when tragedy strikes. Drawing from the painful experience of navigating four student deaths in just three years, this deeply personal episode explores the profound challenges of leading a school community through grief and loss. The sobering statistics tell only part of the story. With suicide ranking as the second leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds and over 6,600 youth...
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5 months ago
23 minutes

Educational Leadership with Principal JL
Send us a text Doors closed, minds open or the other way around? Our conversation with NASSP’s 2025 National Principal of the Year, Tony Cattani, pulls back the curtain on how a large high school built a culture where teachers learn from teachers every single day. Tony walks us through the exact system that turned isolation into collective efficacy: a strengths inventory across four core areas, 25-minute targeted classroom visits, collegiality cafes that showcase teacher-designed practices, a...