The Interview Chair

Episode 129: Building Community in Athletic Programs

In this episode, Jimmy sits down with former school Athletic Director Stephen Speck. Whether you are an AD, school leader, or parent of a student athlete, this interview offers meaningful insight to help all of us build a community where our players, performers, parents, coaches, and administrators experience the joy of competition and the benefits that comes from being a part of a team.

Episode 128: Don't Apologize for Caring

In this episode, Jimmy reflects on challenges that come with leading a school in the last month of the calendar year, causing us sometimes to move quickly and create undercurrents that impact staff morale in negative ways. He also shares his views on hiring, evaluations and reinforces a powerful leadership lesson that every leader needs to remember when dealing with difficult staff decisions.

Episode 127: A Soft Place to Land

In this episode, Jimmy calls for educators to lead with empathy, recognizing that students and colleagues often carry unseen pain that influences their behavior. Rather than reacting to actions alone, schools should create a “soft place to land” by building trust, showing compassion, and intentionally supporting both the emotional and academic needs of everyone in the community. By doing so, educators can foster stronger relationships, improve school culture, and help others move forward despite their challenges.

Episode 126: The Internal Siren

Avoiding tough conversations can turn small issues into major conflicts. In this episode, Jimmy shares practical strategies to help you initiate those conversations and build a culture of open communication and trust.

Episode 125: Fingerprints on the Sculpture

In this episode, Jimmy reminds decision-makers that the more staff and students who have their “fingerprints on the sculpture” to determine the vision, design, and implementation for the culturized classroom and school, the more likely we are to get the positive results we desire. A positive school culture is the collective responsibility of everyone within the school community.