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

PMP491: Navigating the Future of Education with Dr. John Spencer

A QUICK NOTES TO LISTENERS: Before this week’s episode, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: How do I manage parents (without losing my patience) who come to conversations with the assumption that educators cannot be trusted? Listen in to hear their response! MEET JOHN SPENCER: Dr. John Spencer is a former middle school teacher and current college professor who is passionate about seeing students reach their creative potential. He is the author of the bestselling books Launch, Empower, and Vintage Innovation, and The A.I. Roadmap. In 2013, he spoke at the White House, sharing a vision for how to empower students to be future-ready through deeper learning and creativity. In this episode of Principal Matters, Dr. Jen Schwanke and Dr. John Spencer engage in a fascinating, wide-ranging conversation that touches on nearly every critical aspect of modern education. While anchored in the core practices of effective teaching and leadership, their discussion also dives deep into a rich array of interconnected topics. They explore the nuances of AI in schools—from its impact on academic integrity and educational technology to its potential to unlock student agency and creativity. The conversation also weaves in the essential human elements of education, examining the roles of emotional intelligence, practical teacher training, and meaningful professional development. This episode is guaranteed to be entertaining and insightful, but more than anything, it will be inspiring. To begin, Dr. Spencer details his compelling professional journey, tracing his path from a dedicated middle school teacher to his current multifaceted roles as an educational consultant, keynote speaker, accomplished author, and university professor. Drawing from his extensive experience teaching and supporting preservice teachers, John discusses the critical skills that new educators must possess to be successful. He offers invaluable, practical insights specifically tailored for principals and school leaders who are responsible for mentoring and guiding these new members of the profession. From there, Jen and John dive deep into the prevalent misconceptions surrounding artificial intelligence in education. They specifically address the inherent risks and flawed logic that come with an over-emphasis on trying to “catch” students who might be “cheating” with AI tools. Instead of a punitive approach, John stresses the fundamental importance of fostering creativity and enhancing student agency. He persuasively argues that AI should be viewed as a powerful tool that can assist with, and even amplify, both of these critical educational goals. To that end, he emphasizes the urgent need for educators to proactively adapt to new and emerging technologies. However, he cautions that this adaptation must be balanced with a steadfast commitment to maintaining emotional intelligence and intentionally fostering genuine joy within the classroom environment. The wide-ranging conversation also touches on the broader challenges that modern educators face today, while concluding on a hopeful note about the profound promise of innovation in the teaching profession. STAYING CONNECTED: You can stay connected with John Spencer via the following channels: LinkedIn:  John Spencer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerideas] Instagram: @johntspencer  Website:  https://spencereducation.com/ [https://spencereducation.com/] The post PMP491: Navigating the Future of Education with Dr. John Spencer [https://williamdparker.com/2026/pmp491-navigating-the-future-of-education-with-dr-john-spencer/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Lessons from Coaching Leaders

Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are taking some time to reflect on lessons they have learned through coaching school leaders. Listen in to hear the full conversation! This week’s episode was inspired by a post written by Will. You can read it below: LESSONS LEARNED IN COACHING LEADERS by William D. Parker Over the past several years of working with school leaders across the country, a few lessons have become increasingly clear. In 2017, when I transitioned from principal to executive director of my state principal association, I put more than 30,000 miles on my car in my first year in that role. My goal was to connect across the state with as many leaders one-on-one or in groups in order to secure stronger relationships, as well as get a better feel for the variety of schools represented. I have visited schools in almost every demographic imaginable — urban settings where hundred-year-old buildings house generations of learning, suburban schools supporting college towns, and rural schools where principals may also drive buses and coach teams. One school I visited in the Panhandle of Oklahoma was a district where half the schools served Oklahoma residents, and half of the district was across the border of West Texas. Since those days, I’ve also criss-crossed the U.S. and spoken in states from coast to coast, at schools, conferences, retreats, and workshops with an emphasis on training or equipping school leaders. I’ve walked the halls of a demonstration academy in Washington, D.C., observed a program for raising laying hens at a middle school near Oklahoma City, walked the shop floors of welding and robotics programs near Houston, Texas, and spent the day with principals in locations near beaches, mountains, skyscrapers, and cattle lots. In addition to walking in these various settings, I’ve probably spent even more time in one-on-one conversations with education leaders through virtual or phone calls. Many of these have been coaching or reflection sessions. Some of them have been one-time complimentary times, and many of them have been with leaders who meet with me regularly on a formal basis for coaching and feedback. Along the way, I have gathered a few lessons in coaching leaders that may be insightful as you think about your own development or the opportunities you may have to coach or mentor others. LESSON 1 Most people already have the answers for their next steps. They just need someone to listen and provide them clarity on what they already know they want. That may not seem like an interesting point, but it still surprises me (and the leaders whom I coach) that when we go deep on a challenge they’re currently facing, they often already know what they want. The challenge is talking through the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, thoroughly enough to recognize the importance and value of what they want to do next. A lot of times, I’ll use what I call the magic wand question with leaders and ask something like, “If you could wave a magic wand, what is the outcome you really want to see happen?” Simply saying this out loud can often provide the clarity and motivation needed to move forward. LESSON 2 Leaders hold roles that isolate them, and they deserve the confidence of someone they can trust. This may be obvious to you if you are a leader, but it may also be a good reminder that the more responsibility you take on in any school or organization, the less others can really understand the weight of concern you carry for those under your care. Many times, school leaders, in particular, manage people or systems where they are being pressured by people from every part of the organization. Board members, teachers, parents, students, and community members all see priorities that are important to them. You must weigh those concerns in light of information none of those other groups is really studying or considering. Yes, it’s important to be transparent with the budgets, data, feedback, progress, or lack of progress you are aware of when making hard decisions. But leaders often see the wider lens of all these inputs where their staff or community only see the part most important to their group. When weighing tough decisions about personnel, student discipline, budgets, or curriculum, the leader often is the final decision maker. This position of isolation means they benefit from a third party whose perspective can be objective without being prescriptive. One benefit of working with a coach is avoiding the pitfalls of isolation. We think better with others. Sometimes those others can be the people on your teams or in your communities. At other times, you need to be alone with your thoughts long enough to have clarity, and a good coach will help you navigate your thoughts toward reaching that kind of clarity. LESSON 3 Leaders deserve to be challenged in their thinking and maintain their own growth professionally. Whenever I meet with leaders, I usually include some discussion around content on leadership or education practice. These discussions allow us to talk about writings, research, and practice from other practitioners who inform us of trends, takeaways, or insights into what is working best in improving outcomes. I not only use my own books for these discussions, but I also pull in books from leadership and education authors to guide conversations with school leaders and ask them how this looks in their practice (good or bad), and what they may want to do next to adjust, monitor, or change their own practice. As a result, I’m asking leaders to stretch themselves in their own learning. If we are going to lead learning communities, we must also remain learners. As we wrap up these three lessons, I want to add an additional self-reflection practice I like to do with leaders. If you have ever attended my trainings or listened to my podcast before, you’ve probably heard me share these. When I meet with leaders, I like to ask them to do a quick self-inventory based on the following statements, ranking their agreement with each statement from 1–5 (1 = little time, 5 = much time). * I have been visible and present with every student, every teacher, every day this week. * I have been reading, meditating, or reflecting on helpful books or lessons (and our time together also counts). * I have made healthy choices in my sleep, nutrition, and exercise. * I have been faithful to those I love with my time and attention. You may want to pause a moment and do some math for yourself. The goal is growth, not perfection. Coaching leaders has given me the opportunity to spend time with leaders in places I never imagined visiting before. It has also given me treasured moments of providing feedback, asking hard questions, and protecting confidences. We know in other industries like business and professional athletics that those at the top of their games receive coaching. If that is the case for men and women managing multibillion-dollar companies or competing at the highest levels, why would we not want to provide coaching for those responsible for the learning outcomes of hundreds, if not thousands, of students? Providing helpful feedback to a fellow leader — or inviting someone to sit across from you in coaching — can help you see answers that were already in front of you, protect you from isolation, and stretch your thinking. Just like we want students and teachers to have the best environments for learning, leaders deserve the best environments for their own learning as well. Coaching is one way to help leaders enjoy the very outcomes they are seeking to provide others. Whether you’re seeking clarity for your next step, encouragement not to lead in isolation, or growth in your own learning, coaching can be a powerful way to move the needle toward your goals. If you or someone on your team would like to explore one-on-one coaching opportunities, I’d be glad to connect and talk further. Will’s email: will@williamdparker.com The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Lessons from Coaching Leaders [https://williamdparker.com/2026/monday-matters-with-jen-schwanke-and-will-parker-lessons-from-coaching-leaders/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

PMP490: Rural School Leadership with Eric Nichols

Some people have begun to refer to Dr. Eric Nicols as “The Rural School Leader,” and no wonder. Dr. Nichols has dedicated his career to championing the students and communities of rural Eastern Oregon. Serving as both Principal and Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Crane Union High School, one of the nation’s last public boarding schools, he has embraced the multifaceted leadership required in isolated educational environments. Driven by his own small-town upbringing, Dr. Nichols has not only led his basketball team to four consecutive state championships, forging deep community bonds, but has also significantly enhanced academic offerings through expanded Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. A passionate advocate who understands that rural schools are the “hubs” of their communities, he co-founded “Wide Open Spaces,” a professional network to combat the isolation of rural educators, embodying his mission to ensure these vital institutions receive the recognition and resources necessary to thrive. This episode of Principal Matters Podcast features Dr. Jen Schwanke in conversation with Dr. Eric Nichols, who is celebrated as a champion for students and educators in rural communities. Jen met when Dr. Nichols invited her to present at a 2-day rural conference in beautiful Bend, Oregon, an event he co-founded to connect educators across the state.  Dr. Nichols currently serves as the principal and head boys basketball coach at Crane Union High School, where he advocates for the belief that the school is the primary hub of its small town community. During their discussion, Dr. Nichols recounts his path to rural leadership, the unique structure of his public boarding school, the origin of his networking initiative for isolated educators, and the importance of fostering deep community connections. He emphasizes that moving to rural life was a choice he made, noting that “rural isn’t something that happens to you. It’s something you get to be a part of.” You can find Dr. Nichols on X and Instagram at @iamericnichols. You can also find him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-nichols-046597176]. Learn a bit more about Dr. Nichols in this feature article [https://iamaruralteacher.org/stories/eric-nichols-crane-or].  The post PMP490: Rural School Leadership with Eric Nichols [https://williamdparker.com/2026/pmp490-rural-school-leadership-with-eric-nichols/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Tips for Interviewing

Welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about interview tips for educators. We share practical interview tips and tell some stories about times that interviews did not go well for us. Today’s topic was inspired by one of Jen’s recent newsletters, you can read it here [https://jen-newsletter-c4287d.beehiiv.com/p/interviewing?utm_source=jen-newsletter-c4287d.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=interviewing&_bhlid=e14e594d7945e7cc521987b10cf808737862f8b5&jwt_token=]. You can also read some of my older posts on interviewing here [https://williamdparker.com/2019/pmpencore027-ten-tips-for-interviewing-for-an-education-opening-2/] and here [https://williamdparker.com/2015/30-questions-from-principal-interviews-plus-more/]. Listen in to hear the full conversation! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Tips for Interviewing [https://williamdparker.com/2026/monday-matters-with-jen-schwanke-and-will-parker-tips-for-interviewing/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].

ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP412: The Principal’s Journey with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket

For the final Friday of Black History Month, the exceptional educator highlighted this week is Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket. [https://williamdparker.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/rachele.jpg] She is a wife, mother, principal, public speaker, and author, and has decades of experience in public education. During her educational career, she has proudly served as a classroom teacher, instructional team leader, mentor teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal.  In this interview, she talks with me about her book  The Principal’s Journey: Navigating the Path to School Leadership [https://www.amazon.com/Principals-Journey-Navigating-School-Leadership/dp/B0BVC8MXNB]. Visit her website here [https://bio.site/the_principals_journey]. Listen in to hear the full conversation! You can visit the original blog pos [https://williamdparker.com/2024/pmp412-the-principals-journey-with-dr-rachel-edoho-eket/]t to learn even more about Dr. Edoho-Eket. The post ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP412: The Principal’s Journey with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket [https://williamdparker.com/2026/encore-friday-pmp412-the-principals-journey-with-dr-rachel-edoho-eket/] appeared first on Principal Matters [https://williamdparker.com].