Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Who Are You Without A Title?

Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen tackle the topic of understanding your identity outside of your career. They discuss how this can be particularly challenging for mothers, who often carry the mental load of running their households on top of having a career. Jen shares some insights into how she has learned to describe herself apart from her titles, and the toll that carrying the mental load can take on working moms. Will challenges listeners to learn to describe themselves in ways that align with their core values, and to align your decisions with those values. Listen in to hear the whole conversation! This post is based on a thoughtful post by Will Parker. You can read it below: WHO ARE YOU WITHOUT A TITLE? This morning, I was in a meeting with a Mastermind group when a superintendent told me she asked her husband a question from a chapter in my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The question: If you had to define yourself without a title or position, or even the label of parent, spouse, or partner, how would you define yourself? She told me she was surprised by how hard the question was to answer. Eventually, he said he was a problem-solver, and he described her as pragmatic.  The conversation reminded me of how difficult it can be to describe ourselves. In particular, I learned recently that this can be a significant challenge for moms. I learned this at a conference I attended in the fall of 2025, when two speakers, Katherine Wintsch and Lauren  Fitzgerald, founders of The Mom Complex, reported five commonalities among most mothers they interview: 1. Moms are filled with doubt. 2. There are no such things as experienced moms (every stage is new and different). 3. Moms today are rejecting perfection. 4. Parenting is a team sport. 5. Moms carry a heavy mental load and are just trying to survive (Wintsch, Fitzgerald, public comments, 09/25/25, check out their website here: https://momcomplex.com). Most interestingly, they have found that women tend to self-doubt and engage in negative self-talk more often than men in their surveys and work.  With those thoughts in mind, I wanted to ask the group of Mastermind members (both women and men) in my recent meeting how they would describe themselves in a positive way instead of a negative way if they could do so without relying on their own work or home titles. As a way to encourage this activity, I introduced the following words as ways I would describe them from the interactions we’ve had over the past five years of meeting together. Words like… * Courageous * Tenacious * Committed * Brave * Thoughtful * Inspiring * Gritty * Resilient * Problem-Solver As we talked, they introduced other words of their own, including: * Wise * Confident * Insightful * Funny * Fun-loving * Forgiving * Gracious * Nurturing The challenge with an activity like this is to find a practical application. So, I wanted to make a simple one:  WHEN YOU APPLY YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CORE VALUES TO THE GOALS YOU’VE SET FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR WORK, THE CHANCES ARE YOU’LL SEE OUTCOMES THAT BETTER REFLECT THOSE VALUES. The inverse is true as well: When we step into our fears or ego-driven identities, or if we simply move forward based on our titles (at work or home), we either fail to experience the values we most cherish or we simply play a role without actually living into the best version of ourselves. I know that’s a lot to think about in one sentence, but I’d like to you to take a moment and read that aloud. If it helps, say it in first-person:  WHEN I STEP IN MY FEAR OR EGO-DRIVEN IDENTITIES, OR IF I SIMLY MOVE FORWARD BASED ON MY TITLES (AT WORK OR HOME), I EITHER FAIL TO EXPERIENCE THE VALUES I MOST CHERISH, OR I SIMPLY PLAY A ROLE WITHOUT ACTUALLY LIVING INTO THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF. At the time of this writing, we just wrapped up the Thanksgiving holiday. My dad, who passed last year, would have been 85 this month. One time, I asked him how he wanted to be remembered. He said he hoped he would be remembered as a man who had loved and supported his wife and family. It was a simple statement and one that beautifully summed up his values and character. To be who we truly are may be less difficult than describing it. I guess I’d rather make the mistake of living out beautiful values like the ones above than simply identifying myself by titles or misunderstanding my true character. As you step into your day, I’d like to remind you of something another leader said in our meeting this morning. I didn’t write it down word for word, but here’s my best attempt:  “Leadership requires bravery, honesty, and hard conversations. We must be teachers or teachers. If someone isn’t willing to embrace these virtues, they should choose another profession.” It may not be a warm or fuzzy moment to be reminded to live into your best values and qualities. But it may be helpful to realize those whom you serve know when you do. NOW IT’S YOUR TURN  1. If you described yourself without using your job title or your roles at home, what words or qualities would you choose? 2. In what practical ways do you keep your decisions (at work or in life) aligned with your core commitments and values? The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Who Are You Without A Title? [https://williamdparker.com/2025/monday-matters-with-jen-schwanke-and-will-parker-who-are-you-without-a-title/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

PMP477: Lessons from Transition with Beau Brannon

A QUICK NOTE TO LISTENERS: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: What are the common pitfalls that keep principals from effectively leading instructional communities? Listen in to hear their response! MEET BEAU BRANNON: Beau Brannon is the Principal of Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He previously led Union’s Freshman Academy as both assistant principal and principal. A Muldrow High School graduate and former college football player at the University of Tulsa, Beau followed his passion for education and earned degrees from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Arkansas State, and Northeastern State University. He began his career teaching science and coaching football at Alma Public Schools, later becoming Teacher of the Year at Keys High School in 2015. Since joining Union in 2016, he’s taught Geometry, helped coach a state championship football team, and served in school administration since 2018. Beau and his wife, Caitlyn, have been married since 2013 and are proud parents of two children, Baker and Collins. A previous guest on episode 391, [https://williamdparker.com/2024/pmp391-hiring-tips-from-the-field-with-principal-beau-brannon/] Beau returns to Principal Matters with lessons from his first year in leadership at a new level. Welcome back to Principal Matters!  SCHOOL CULTURE AND STUDENTS OUTCOMES: Each spring, Union High School partners with OU to give a survey to staff, students, and families. Over the last year, Brannon’s school has seen a 10% increase in “Faculty Trust in Principal” over the last year. 96.2% of respondents agree the principal at this school develops a team attitude and spirit amongst faculty & staff,94.3% agree the principal at this school commends me when I do a better than average job, and 98.1% agree that the admin team cares about them as a person. The emphasis on student relationships, student success, and providing real hope and pathways had led to improved student results in his school. Beau’s school has seen a 32.25% decrease in failed courses in semester one and a 21% decrease in failed courses in semester 2, totalling about 1300 courses that do not need to be recovered. All in all, Beau’s school is doing exceptionally well.  CHALLENGES IN TAKING ON A NEW ROLE: Moving from Union’s Freshman Academy to Union High School presented a fresh set of challenges to Beau. The size of Union High School is one of the challenges that Beau had to navigate. Union High School has about 3,500 students and 250 staff. Beau had to learn how to work amongst a bigger admin team and had to try to get to know 175 teachers as quickly as possible. Since he previously taught at Union High School, it took a lot of work for Beau to gain the trust of some of the teachers at his new school, since not all of them saw him in the leadership light right away. HIRING PROCESS AND PRIORITIES: In his first year, Beau hired 42 new teachers and staff members, and hired 29 new teachers and staff members in year two. One hiring tip he recommends is to have a hiring waitlist or chart. Throughout the year, you will hear names of people who want to work at the school. Beau also recommends building partnerships with area colleges and universities and going to their job fairs. Another hiring recommendation he makes is to develop your own staff.  TOO BIG TO DO ALONE: One lesson Beau Brannon has pulled for this past year is that the work of a principal is too big to do alone. Principals need to lean on their team’s strengths. Beau shares that his team just did the Clifton Strengths Finders from Gallup to learn each other’s strengths. Everyone has a passion, and they need to lean into them in order for leadership teams to be successful. Leaning into the collective intelligence that comes from working with a team means less stress for the individual.  ADVICE TO THOSE TAKING ON NEW ROLES: When asked what advice he would give those who are stepping into a new role, Beau reminds listeners to take care of themselves. He follows up that statement by saying that you aren’t as important as you think you are, and that you are a lot more important than you think you are. This means that you need to take your work seriously, but that you also need to remember to take care of yourself and your loved ones first.  You can stay connected with Beau Brannon via X [https://x.com/Beau_Brannon] or Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/in/beau-brannon-a6a98b153/].  The post PMP477: Lessons from Transition with Beau Brannon [https://williamdparker.com/2025/pmp477-lessons-from-transition-with-beau-brannon/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Responsive vs. Reactive Leadership

Welcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about the difference between responsive vs. reactive leadership. This conversation was inspired by a thoughtful post written by Will, you can read it below. As always, thank you for doing what matters! RESPONSIVE, NOT REACTIVE, LEADERSHIP During a Mastermind meeting today, a leader shared feedback about a team member who tends to be reactive versus responsive. In particular, situations involving student discipline or teacher behavior are often managed with what were described as “knee-jerk” reactions that make the matter worse rather than better. We’ve all been on the other side of reactionary situations. My wife once worked in a school setting where the assistant principal would come on the intercom system to yell at students to be on time to class. She and her fellow teachers would cringe every time his voice came across the speakers. Instead of directly addressing the students who were late to class, the administrator thought shouting at the entire student body (and teachers) would be more effective. He was wrong. The harder question for leaders to ask themselves: In what ways am I reacting instead of responding in my own position or service to others? HERE ARE SOME OTHER EXAMPLES I’VE WITNESSED (OR BEEN GUILTY OF NOT HANDLING WELL) IN THE PAST: * One teacher misses professional development by taking a sick day. You find out later that she was really on a family trip. You’re tempted to blast out a reminder to your entire staff about being honest and using integrity when reporting an absence from work. What do you do? * The copy machine is broken again, and the backup machine is also out of ink. Teachers are lined up wanting a solution. You are tempted to shoot out an email or make an announcement to be patient as you try to replace the ink yourself or call for service repair. What do you do? * Two students have a verbal altercation on a field trip that is witnessed by their teacher. He brings the students to your office when they return to school and would like you to assign discipline and call the parents to back up his concerns. You realize what has happened does not meet the threshold for an office referral. You are tempted to manage the situation as requested, although you know this is a situation that can be managed by the teacher just as he would have done if it had happened in his classroom. What do you do? In each of these situations, the quick fix may seem different to leaders depending on the size of their school, the systems they have in place for managing student or teacher behavior, or the temperament of the people involved. That is why a quick-fix suggestion for each scenario is normally not sufficient. Instead, consider first what would be the “responsive” rather than “reactive” way to move forward. Also, when you’re not in the middle of a scenario, consider running these situations by team members before they happen, and ask them for ideas and responses. Your collective feedback may or may not reveal how closely aligned your values are as a team for responding rather than reacting. HERE ARE SOME PRINCIPLES TO KEEP IN MIND: * Responsive leaders plan in advance for scenarios and have basic protocols for follow-through. * Reactive leaders put out fires as they arise without preset protocols or plans for follow-through. With that context in mind, here are a few suggestions for each of the above to keep in mind for responding rather than reacting: * In the situation with the teacher who took a sick day but was really on vacation: Inquire with your Human Resources director or district policy on whether personal days can be taken during professional development. Meet with the teacher one-on-one and ask for feedback. Express your expectation that absences are handled with professionalism and integrity. At the least, let them know you are aware of the situation and that, in the future, they are expected to follow the same protocols as everyone else. * In advance of facing problems with copiers: Establish a first-responder system with a protocol for who is supposed to be managing, repairing, and servicing your copiers. Follow that system. If it is not working, reach out directly to the person responsible for feedback. Have some backup printers available for small sets (or class sets) of copies that need to be made in lieu of the first-responder system not working as planned. * When the teacher brings students to your office after the field trip: Acknowledge and support the teacher’s desire to have all students behave in ways that reflect the values and commitments of your school. Remind them that their classroom behavior norms are enforced both in and outside the classroom setting when on a school field trip. Remind them that the protocol will involve whatever classroom discipline the teacher believes is reasonable and that the teacher will follow up with parents accordingly. If the situation merits you also setting up a subsequent meeting, you will be happy to do so. Ensure the teacher immediately reaches out to parents with feedback and lets you know afterward so that you aren’t blindsided by a situation not handled correctly. Even in my three suggestions or responses, I am sure many other ideas or scenarios could be suggested that would also work; however, the point of the examples is that responsive leadership versus reactive leadership involves establishing protocols, holding people accountable for following them, and communicating clearly throughout the process to maintain fairness, firmness, and consistency. IDS (IDENTIFY, DISCUSS, AND SOLVE) During my Mastermind meeting, another leader shared a practical way to address concerns with fellow teammates. She called it IDS (Identify, Discuss, and Solve). Using this quick outline, she invites other educators to conversations to address these three areas. They identify what the real challenge is, discuss what is working and what is not, and then search for solutions–not just admire the problem. LET’S WRAP THIS UP The next time you find yourself (or someone else) reacting rather than responding to a situation, pause long enough to ask: Do we have a system in place for this? How are we following that system? What can I do differently next time to ensure we have and follow a system that works? Whatever difficulties you’re managing in leadership today, be assured your students, teachers, and teammates respect your responses much more than your reactions. As tempting as it may be to jump into a situation and wrestle it back into control, remember that ultimately you create the best conditions for learning when you model what you expect from others. It is not fair to assume you will have answers to every scenario in advance. That is why leadership is also more than planning ahead for responsive feedback. Leadership also requires wisdom to know when to apply solutions, what to do when outcomes go awry, and the ability to give yourself and others the grace anyone deserves when managing difficult situations. For school leaders, your campus is your classroom. The same classroom norms, expectations, communication, and follow-through that work in strong (responsive) classrooms also work in strong (responsive) schools. The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Responsive vs. Reactive Leadership [https://williamdparker.com/2025/monday-matters-with-jen-schwanke-and-will-parker-responsive-vs-reactive-leadership/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

PMP476: Leading a Community of Educators with Steve Ventura

A QUICK NOTE TO LISTENERS: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is:  I’m struggling with a new teacher responding to constructive feedback. Suggestions? Listen in to hear their response! MEET STEVE VENTURA: Steve Ventura is the founder and president of Advanced Collaborative Solutions (ACS), a movement dedicated to empowering educators and students through collaboration, innovation, and impactful professional learning. With a vision of ensuring every child—regardless of background—has access to highly effective teachers and leaders, Steve provides practical, research-based strategies to drive meaningful change in education. A dynamic and motivational speaker, Steve’s expertise stems from years of experience as a teacher (elementary, middle, and high school) and as an administrator, serving as an assistant principal, principal, director, and superintendent. His leadership insights have influenced countless educators through keynote presentations, professional development, and national conferences. Steve is the author of several influential books, including Achievement Teams: How a Better Approach to PLCs Can Improve Student Outcomes and Collective Efficacy (ASCD, 2022). His newest ASCD publication, Improving Instruction Together: Leading Achievement Teams and PLCs, was released in August. NOW, LET’S DIVE INTO THE INTERVIEW: Welcome to a fascinating and insightful conversation with Steve Ventura!  In this podcast, you will learn how to lead a community of educators— a very different task than merely managing a school. Ventura points out significant issues like the unethical and morale-destroying impact of ignoring substandard teaching, as well as the “overconfidence bias” among leaders who overestimate their progress, leading them to overlook crucial areas for improvement. He also notes that leaders are frequently pulled away from instructional focus by other tasks that don’t directly impact student learning. To address these challenges, Ventura champions specific approaches. He stresses that effective instructional leaders must embrace collaboration based on research-backed strategies and maintain a relentless focus on student achievement. His latest book, “Improving Instruction Together,” advocates for cultivating a culture of teamwork and shared responsibility, moving beyond individual principal efforts. He identifies three essential leadership characteristics: leadership clarity, leadership consistency, and leadership integrity. This foundation of relational trust significantly increases the likelihood of success with new initiatives. Ventura also highlights the importance of collective efficacy, defined as the shared belief within a group that they can positively affect the lives of those they serve. He notes that teachers with high collective efficacy are less likely to refer students to special education, as they believe they haven’t exhausted all efforts. A few additional insights you will find in this conversation: * Instructional Leadership Mindset: Leaders should approach their role with curiosity and a relentless pursuit of excellence, focusing on high-impact actions over simply “more work.”  * Continuous Improvement & Shared Leadership: A mindset of continuous improvement is crucial, alongside a willingness to share leadership rather than shouldering every problem alone.  * Student Well-being & Engagement: Promote student well-being through three levels of engagement: * Emotional Engagement: Giving students voice and choice in their learning. * Cognitive Engagement: Providing challenging learning experiences where students must problem-solve when stuck. * Behavioral Engagement: Seen as a positive outcome of strong emotional and cognitive engagement, leading to fewer issues. * The Power of Goals: Setting clear, short-term goals (e.g., end of the month, not just end of the year) significantly boosts motivation and accelerates progress for both teachers and students.  * Structured Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) / Achievement Teams: PLCs should be well-defined and structured, not merely rebranded staff meetings. Ventura outlines a four-step structure, and brings us back to a central question: “What do our students need us to learn before the end of this meeting?” PLCs should aim to acquire new knowledge and sensitively challenge current practices, not just maintain existing knowledge. * Importance of Reflection: Meaningful reflection involves leaders openly sharing their own “missteps” or shifts in perspective to encourage similar introspection among staff. The ultimate goal is to learn from the work, not just do the work. * Leaders as Learners: Leaders should learn with teachers, not just sponsor professional development for others. Any proposed change should be presented with a compelling case demonstrating its worth, as people will resist change if they don’t perceive its value. STAYING CONNECTED:  You can stay connected to Steve Ventura via the following channels: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ventura-2773a91a9/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ventura-2773a91a9/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acsolutions.k12/ [https://www.instagram.com/acsolutions.k12/] X: https://x.com/smventura [https://x.com/smventura] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.ventura.85333 [https://www.facebook.com/steve.ventura.85333] The post PMP476: Leading a Community of Educators with Steve Ventura [https://williamdparker.com/2025/pmp476-leading-a-community-of-educators-with-steve-ventura/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity and Cracking the Code

This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to talk about how curiosity leads to discovery. Sometimes, school leaders can get so caught up in their work that they forget to be curious, forgetting that curiosity is the engine of learning. As leaders, we need to intentionally seek out the inquiry, discover, and apply cycles in our work. Through using reflective tools, we can unpack what curiosity is teaching us. Listen in to the whole conversation to hear from Will and Jen about how curiosity can lead to personal and professional growth. This episode is inspired by two posts, one written by Will Parker and one by Jen Schwanke about curiosity. You can find the link to Will’s article here [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-curiosity-teaching-you-william-d-parker-upbzc/?trackingId=wysDGCfsSDqfUcbH66r3Bw%3D%3D] and the link to Jen’s here [https://jen-newsletter-c4287d.beehiiv.com/p/cracking-the-code?utm_source=jen-newsletter-c4287d.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=cracking-the-code&_bhlid=45a31292fcb8b993d8393ade8eae3faebf007d2c].  Thank you for doing what matters! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity and Cracking the Code [https://williamdparker.com/2025/monday-matters-with-jen-schwanke-and-will-parker-curiosity-and-cracking-the-code/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].