Episode 45: Break the Rules - Rethinking School Expectations

Episode 45: Break the Rules - Rethinking School Expectations

We're on vacation, so we're sharing one of our most downloaded episodes. School rules are everywhere. But most people can't even recite them. So what are they actually for? In this episode, Sarah and Andra challenge traditional school rules entirely. They're not calling for chaos—they're calling for a reframe. Instead of rules that beg to be broken, what if we built cultures grounded in values that actually stick? Think about it: we don't avoid murder because of a law. We avoid it because we value human life. But we drive 67 in a 60 mph zone because rules are meant to be pushed. This conversation will make you rethink discipline, culture-building, and what it means to teach kids to make good choices because they understand why. See you back live in a couple weeks! Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

Episode 44: The Streaming Service Problem - Principal Edition

Summer brings space to think—and immediately brings a different kind of overwhelm. Should you focus on behavior? Master schedule? Staff morale? Professional development? All of it feels urgent. None of it feels doable. In this episode, Sarah and Andra use the Netflix scrolling problem to explain summer planning paralysis. You have all these choices and end up making none. They break down the real traps and share a practical fix: organize everything into three columns—Keep, Fix, and Pause. Do your Keep items. Move to your Fix items. Leave Pause items alone. This simple shift is the difference between a scattered summer and a strategic one. If you're drowning in possibilities, this episode will help you find your focus. Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

Real Talk: Secrets of a Long‑Serving Principal with Matt Moyer

How does a principal stay in one building for 21 years when the average principal lasts just three? Matt Moyer, nationally distinguished principal at Rupert Elementary in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has beaten the odds. He's been principal for over two decades—at the very school he attended as a child. In this Real Talk episode, Sarah and Andra ask Matt what keeps him there. Spoiler: it's not money. Matt's had plenty of opportunities to leave for more. What kept him was purpose—and the people. Matt speaks about mission-driven leadership, building relationships across generations, and his hiring philosophy: hire for character, train for skill. He shares real examples—like teachers quietly paying for students' trip insurance out of their own pockets. That's the culture he's built. For principals feeling burned out or wondering if they can actually build a sustainable team, Matt's story offers clarity: the people matter. The mission matters. Align those two things, and you can build something that lasts. Check out Matt’s website: https://sites.google.com/view/from-the-principals-office-mat/social-media-pages [https://sites.google.com/view/from-the-principals-office-mat/social-media-pages] Facebook [http://facebook.com/theprincipalexchange] | Instagram [http://instagram.com/theprincipalexchange]

Episode 43: Credentialed Yet Unprepared - Today's Principal Reality

You have the credential but feel completely unprepared. This is the reality for many principals—and the statistics show why. In this episode, Sarah and Andra tackle the crisis in principal retention: 42% are considering leaving, 64% cite administrative burden as the reason, and 86% report daily stress. The real problem? The job isn't set up for principals to actually lead. This conversation explores what needs to change to support principals so they can succeed, not just survive. Link to the policy brief. [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/69149fb46b3dc96c8f863955/t/6a0b26381a0dab52c7f92823/1779115586543/Credentialed_and_Unprepared.pdf] Check out TPE Lead: tpe-lead.com [http://tpe-lead.com] Interested in joining our advisory committee? Email us "advisory." Make sure you follow us: Facebook [http://facebook.com/theprincipalexchange] | Instagram [http://instagram.com/theprincipalexchange]

Episode 42: Stop Playing the School Hero: Lead Without Burning Out

When principals step into leadership, it often starts with the best intentions. You want to help. You want to support your staff. You want to solve problems, remove obstacles, and make life easier for the people around you. But over time, that desire to help can quietly turn into something else—the belief that you have to be the one who fixes everything. In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of "hero leadership" and why constantly rescuing, solving, and stepping in can actually weaken systems, limit leadership growth in others, and leave principals carrying more than they were ever meant to carry. From building leadership capacity to creating systems that work without you, this conversation reframes what strong leadership really looks like. Because great principals don't build schools that constantly need saving—they build schools that can thrive because leadership is shared.   Read our policy brief: Credentialed and Unprepared [https://www.theprincipalexchange.org/s/Credentialed_and_Unprepared.pdf]   Check out TPE-Lead at tpe-lead.com [http://www.tpe-lead.com] Follow us on all socials @theprincipalexchange