How do we actually plan for success in the coming school year?

April is a time when leaders are deep in planning—budgets, staffing, schedules, and resources are all coming together. But too often, we focus on what we’re going to do without fully thinking through how we set our teams up for success.

In this episode, Darrin challenges a common leadership assumption—that the work starts in August—and introduces a different way of thinking.

Because August isn’t the starting line.

It’s the reveal.

In This Episode

• Why so many leadership teams delay their real work until August
• The danger of treating the start of the school year as the starting point
• How lack of clarity shows up immediately when the year begins
• A powerful shift in thinking: “What must be true by August?”
• An introduction to backward mapping as a leadership strategy
• A simple exercise you can use right now to begin planning differently

Key Takeaway

Great leaders don’t wait for August to get started.

They use the time leading up to the school year to build clarity, align their teams, and create momentum—so when the year begins, they’re ready.

Try This

Pick one initiative or priority for next year and ask yourself:

What are three things that must be true by August for this to succeed?

Your answers will reveal exactly where your focus should be right now.

What’s Coming Next

Next week, we tackle a real challenge many leaders face:

What do you do when your team is in transition and August really is when everyone comes together?

Even in times of change, there are steps you can take now to set yourself up for success.

Sponsor Spotlight: HeyTutor

Strong leadership requires focus—and that’s hard to maintain when leaders are pulled into operational work that can be handled by the right partners.

That’s why Darrin highlights the work of HeyTutor, a sponsor of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast.

HeyTutor provides:

• High-quality, evidence-based math and ELA tutoring
• Full program management (recruiting, training, scheduling)
• Clear data tracking through an easy-to-use dashboard

Their support helps leadership teams stay focused on what matters most—leading people and improving outcomes.

Learn more: heytutor.com

You can have talented, committed leaders who care deeply about their work—and still feel like something is off. Conversations feel unclear. Decisions take longer than they should. Initiatives pile up without traction.

That’s misalignment.

And while it may not be loud or obvious, it comes at a cost.

In this episode, Darrin breaks down:

• What misalignment really looks like in leadership teams
• The hidden costs, including decision fatigue, staff confusion, and lost time
• A personal leadership story that reshaped his understanding of alignment
• Why alignment doesn’t happen during the work—it must be built intentionally

Darrin also shares a practical tool you can use immediately with your team:

Start. Stop. Continue. Consider.

This simple protocol helps leadership teams:

• Identify what needs to be added
• Eliminate what’s no longer aligned
• Protect what’s working
• Think strategically about what’s next

Whether used in a leadership retreat or a focused team session, this process creates the clarity and shared direction teams need to move forward together.

Key takeaway:

Your team doesn’t need to work harder.

They need to work together—on the right things, in the right way.

🔗 Resources & Links

• Blog: Start, Stop, Continue, Consider Protocol
• Connect with Darrin: darrin@roadtoawesome.net
• Learn more about leadership retreats and team development

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

Becoming the bottleneck.

We talk about how this happens unintentionally, why it’s so common among high-performing leaders, and how it ultimately limits both team growth and organizational success.

Brooke brings a powerful perspective to this conversation. As the founder of Success by Design Club and creator of OZ, an AI-powered leadership coach, she has spent over two decades working with leaders at the highest levels—including Fortune 500 organizations—helping them break free from burnout and lead with clarity and confidence.

Together, we dig into the dangers of “superhero leadership,” the hidden cost of control, and why stepping in to help can actually hold your team back.

Most importantly, we explore what it really takes to shift—from being the center of every decision to building systems and structures that allow your team to step up and thrive.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stretched thin, or like everything depends on you… this conversation is for you.

Key Takeaways

1. How leaders unintentionally become the bottleneck
2. The danger of “superhero leadership”
3. Why helping can actually hurt your team
4. The role of systems in scaling leadership
5. How to build trust, clarity, and accountability
6. Why burnout is often a systems issue—not a personal failure

About Brooke Dukes

Brooke M. Dukes is the founder of the Success by Design Club and creator of OZ, an AI-powered leadership coach designed to help leaders grow without burning out.

With over 20 years of experience in executive leadership, sales, and consulting—including work as a Fortune 500 executive and global strategist—Brooke helps CEOs, founders, and visionaries build businesses that actually work for them.

Her work blends behavioral science, Human Design, and real-world strategy to restore clarity, confidence, and calm in leadership.

She is also the creator of the GRACe™ Communication Framework and Culture Compass™ Diagnostic, a #1 best-selling author, host of the Burn On, Not Out podcast, and a sought-after speaker known for her honest and heart-forward approach.

🔗 Connect with Brooke

1. Website: brookmdukes.com
2. Podcast: Burn On, Not Out
3. Social: @BrookMDukes

Get Darrin's weekly blog here

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

In this episode, Darrin responds to a question from a first-year principal in upstate New York who asked a challenge many school leaders face:

How do you stay responsive to parents while still leading the school effectively?

Parent emails, phone calls, and concerns can quickly fill a leader’s day. Without systems in place, communication can pull leaders into a reactive cycle that leaves little time for the work that matters most.

Drawing from his own experience as a principal and from insights shared on the podcast, Darrin explores how leaders can break free from the Cycle of CHAOS and build systems that protect their time while strengthening communication with their school community.

Along the way, he shares practical strategies that help leaders communicate clearly, set expectations, and stay focused on their highest priorities.

This episode also highlights an idea shared by Rae Hughart in Episode 199 and connects to leadership lessons from Darrin’s book Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful reminder for every leader:

"Stop sacrificing the important on the altar of the urgent."

Resources Mentioned:

Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader

School Leader Weekly Planner

Episode 199 – Rae Hughart

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity are realities many leaders face daily. But resilience is not about simply pushing through the chaos — it’s about learning how to lead yourself and others through it.

In this episode, Darrin sits down with Russell Harvey, The Resilience Coach, to explore how leaders can build resilience in themselves and their teams while navigating the modern leadership landscape.

Russell shares powerful frameworks and practical strategies that help leaders move from overwhelm to clarity, from control to command, and from reactive leadership to intentional leadership.

This conversation offers practical insights for leaders who want to strengthen their mindset, support their teams more effectively, and build sustainable leadership habits.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why resilience is one of the most important leadership skills today
2. The difference between being in control and being in command as a leader
3. How the VUCA framework explains the constant change leaders face
4. The importance of developing personal resilience before leading others
5. Why great leaders focus on delegating brilliantly and removing obstacles for their teams
6. How identifying your purpose can strengthen resilience and confidence
7. A practical strengths and skills grid exercise leaders can use immediately

Key leadership insight from Russell:

A resilient leader focuses on three core responsibilities:

1. Delegate brilliantly based on the strengths of your team
2. Build and nurture a resilient team culture
3. Develop your own personal resilience

When leaders invest in these three areas, they create the conditions for trust, clarity, and stronger team performance.

About Russell Harvey

Russell Harvey, known as The Resilience Coach, is a leadership coach, facilitator, speaker, and resilience expert with more than 20 years of experience in leadership and organizational development.

His work focuses on helping leaders and organizations build resilience in the face of constant change and uncertainty.

Russell works with leaders and organizations to develop practical strategies that improve leadership effectiveness, strengthen team relationships, and help individuals rediscover their energy and purpose.

Connect with Russell Harvey

Website: https://www.theresiliencecoach.co.uk

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russelltheresiliencecoach/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theresiliencecoach/

Connect with Darrin

If this episode resonated with you and you're looking for support in developing stronger leadership teams, clearer systems, and healthier school cultures, connect with Darrin.

Website: https://darrinpeppard.com/

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

A textbook gets adopted. A program is purchased. A shiny new initiative is rolled out.

And suddenly everyone says, “Great… we have a curriculum.”

But that’s not curriculum.

In this episode, Darrin sits down with Emily Makelky from the Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI) to unpack what curriculum actually means and why empowering teachers to lead curriculum development can transform how schools serve students.

Drawing on years of classroom experience and consulting with districts across the country, Emily shares how leaders can move beyond resource adoption and build sustainable curriculum systems that reflect their community, their teachers, and their students.

The conversation also explores how leadership teams can prioritize curriculum work, avoid overwhelming teachers, and create structures that support long-term improvement.

If you’ve ever wrestled with questions like “What should we really be teaching?” or “How do we align instruction across classrooms?” this episode offers practical insight for school and district leaders.

In This Episode

1. Why a textbook is not a curriculum
2. The difference between resources and true curriculum alignment
3. How schools can build local curriculum that reflects their community
4. Why teacher voice and teacher leadership are essential in curriculum development
5. How leaders can create systems and routines that support curriculum work
6. Why going slow to go fast matters when implementing curriculum changes
7. How districts can create a long-range plan for curriculum development

About Emily Makelky

Just like when she was in the classroom, Emily loves it when the “lightbulb” comes on for teachers.

Combining her teaching experience with a foundation in business management, Emily now works as a consultant with the Curriculum Leadership Institute, helping schools and districts take a systematic approach to curriculum development and alignment.

Emily’s work focuses on helping educators clarify what should be taught, align instruction and assessment, and empower teachers to lead meaningful curriculum work within their schools.

Resources Mentioned in the Episode

Curriculum Leadership Institute

https://www.cliweb.org

Free tools and resources (including the Long Range Plan template)

https://www.cliweb.org/toolsandinspiration

Free Long Range Planning Session

https://calendly.com/d/3sk-z55-pg2/develop-your-long-range-plan

Connect with Darrin

If this episode resonated with you and you're looking for support in developing stronger leadership teams, clearer systems, and healthier school cultures, connect with Darrin.

Website: https://darrinpeppard.com/

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

In Episode 262, we explored the hidden cost of distraction and how trust and psychological safety erode when leaders aren’t fully present.

In Episode 263, we discussed how to engineer margin through calendar integrity, decision discipline, and clarity around your top priorities.

Now we bring it home.

Because presence isn’t performance.

Presence is connection.

In this episode, Darrin dives into the relational and interpersonal work that makes leadership presence genuine — not polished, not performative, but real.

You’ll learn:

1. Why presence is more than eye contact and good posture
2. The three foundations of genuine presence:
3. Attention
4. Curiosity
5. Emotional regulation
6. Why you cannot fake nervous system safety
7. The danger of listening to fix instead of listening to understand
8. Four practical signals of authentic presence you can use immediately
9. Why follow-up is one of the most powerful leadership moves you can make

Darrin also shares a story from his superintendent experience that highlights the difference between listening to correct and listening to comprehend.

Reflection Question: Where do you need to replace fixing with listening?

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

In this episode, Darrin focuses on why distraction keeps happening — and how to intentionally break through the cycle of overwhelm.

Chaos isn’t loud.

It’s cumulative.

It’s the stacking of interruptions, back-to-back meetings, unresolved conversations, decision fatigue, and carrying problems that aren’t yours to carry. When leaders operate in survival mode, presence becomes nearly impossible.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why overwhelm — not incompetence — is the real issue
2. The difference between chaos being loud vs. cumulative
3. How to engineer margin into your leadership
4. The importance of calendar integrity
5. Why decision discipline protects your leadership capacity
6. How to clarify your Top Three priorities each week
7. How to use a simple 15-Minute Weekly Presence Audit

Plus, Darrin shares a free resource:

📥 The School Leaders Weekly Planner — a tool designed to help you schedule your priorities, build margin, and protect your presence. Download the free planner using the link here.

Reflection Question:

What on your calendar right now is stealing margin from the moments that matter most?

Find one thing. Change one thing. Break the chaos. Build the margin. Protect the moments.

Next up in Episode 264: The interpersonal work that makes leadership presence genuine and authentic.

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to digicoach.com and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

In Part 1, Darrin explores the hidden cost of distraction and how leaders unintentionally erode trust, psychological safety, and emotional connection when they are not fully present.

Through personal stories from his time as a high school principal, Darrin shares moments of realization when distraction cost him relational depth — and what those experiences taught him about culture and leadership.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why presence is not “soft” — it’s culture work
2. The three things that erode when leaders aren’t fully present
3. The difference between productivity and true leadership impact
4. Why leadership is about stabilizing people, not just solving problems
5. A simple 60-Second Reset you can use before your next important conversation

Reflection Question:

Where this week does someone need the fully present version of you?

This episode sets the foundation for Part 2, where we’ll explore how to intentionally create margin and break the patterns that keep leaders stuck in distraction.

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

Joe has spent more than 20 years traveling the world with one simple mission: reclaim human connection.

And if we’re honest, that mission has never been more urgent. Loneliness is at an all-time high. Belonging and self-worth feel fragile. Technology is louder than conversation. So what does that mean for school leaders?

In this conversation, Joe challenges us to rethink where connection lives on our priority list. It’s not one more thing on the plate.

It is the plate.

We talk about:

1. Why connection must be the foundation of leadership
2. The powerful “Chinette plate” analogy and what it means for culture
3. How storytelling builds trust and opens students’ minds
4. Why vulnerability accelerates connection in classrooms
5. The Big Tobacco → Big Tech comparison and what leaders must understand
6. How adults must model healthy tech boundaries
7. Why conferences and networks matter in fighting leadership isolation
8. The courage required to lean into difficult conversations

Joe also shares how he is personally leaning into leadership right now by stepping into uncomfortable spaces and using his voice where it matters most.

If you care about culture…If you care about your people… If you care about leading well in a distracted world…

This episode is for you.

Connect with Joe: www.joebeckman.com

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

George and I dig into his leadership journey — not from a place of “having it all figured out,” but from a place of learning out loud. We talk about how blogging helped him find his voice, not just share it, and why writing, reflection, and vulnerability matter more than ever for leaders.

We also explore the ideas behind George’s newest book, Forward Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times, including:

1. Why trying to “win” arguments often pushes people further away
2. The reality that somebody hates you — and why that shouldn’t drive your leadership
3. The balance between comfort and challenge in professional learning (the “warm bath / cold shower”)
4. How leaders can move communities forward during polarized, emotionally charged times

We close with a powerful reflection on leadership and self-care, as George shares how prioritizing his health has changed not only how he leads — but how he models leadership for his own kids.

This is an honest, thoughtful, and deeply human conversation about what leadership really looks like right now.

You can learn more about George at his website

Grab his new book on Amazon

Here is the link to the blogpost I referenced in the show

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

In this solo episode, Darrin unpacks why that gap between effort and impact is rarely about commitment—and almost always about clarity. Building on his “Cycle of Chaos” episode, he shares the ALIGN Framework, a practical system for strengthening team dynamics and keeping teams focused on what matters most.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why strong teams drift into reactivity when clarity is missing
2. How alignment breaks the Cycle of Chaos—not just “working harder”
3. The ALIGN Framework for healthier team dynamics:
4. A — Agree on the Vision and Goals: Ensure everyone can name the top priorities in the same language
5. L — Language and Communication: Teams don’t just make decisions—they carry the message
6. I — Intentional Role Clarity: Clear ownership prevents duplication, avoidance, and frustration
7. G — Growth Through Cross-Training: Build continuity and empathy without eroding roles
8. N — Navigate with Intention: Protect focus, pause before adding initiatives, and stay anchored to priorities

Reflection questions to take back to your team:

1. If I asked each team member privately, would they name the same top three priorities?
2. Are we clear on what gets communicated, who communicates it, and how it’s framed?
3. Where might I be stepping in that’s keeping someone else from stepping up?
4. Are we moving the goal forward—or just filling the calendar?

Support for leaders and teams

If you’re thinking, “This sounds like my team, but we’re struggling to get there,” Darrin invites you to reach out for coaching, team support, or a leadership team alignment retreat designed to reset vision, roles, and priorities.

Connect with Darrin: darrinpeppard.com | roadtoawesome.net | @darrinmpeppard

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at HeyTutor.com

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

We dig into Weston’s newest work and the idea that the gap between high performers and underachievers usually isn’t talent. It’s behavior—especially in the moments when adversity hits.

In this episode, we explore:

1. Why “hidden work” is the difference-maker when no one is watching
2. The four performance pitfalls that derail people at every level:
3. Blame
4. Excuses
5. Self-deception
6. Giving up
7. The flips that top performers lean into instead:
8. Ownership
9. Solutions
10. Truth
11. Grit
12. A Shark Tank green-room story with Barbara Corcoran that perfectly frames ownership vs. blame
13. Why feedback is the raw material for performance—and how self-deception blocks growth
14. Weston’s take on “growability” and why self-awareness matters more than skill level
15. How Weston is leaning into leadership right now: staying a learner, and learning from great leaders in every space

Key takeaway

When life gets hard, your default matters. You don’t rise to the level of your goals—you fall to the level of your patterns. This episode is a gut-check and a playbook.

Connect with Weston

Find Weston at WestonKieschnick.com and connect with him on social media to follow his work (and his “10-second truth” videos).

Thank you to our Amazing Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm. Connect with them at: https://heytutor.com/?utm_source=RTA&utm_medium=RTA&utm_campaign=RTA

This episode is also sponored by DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems. Go to https://www.digicoach.com/ and tell them you heard about them here on the Leaning into Leadership podcast for special partner pricing.

In this solo episode, Darrin introduces The Cycle of Chaos—a framework that helps leaders name what they’re experiencing and begin interrupting the patterns that keep them stuck in survival mode.

Rather than offering quick fixes or productivity hacks, this episode invites reflection, clarity, and intentional leadership.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. Why feeling busy doesn’t always mean you’re being effective
2. How constant reactivity increases cognitive load and erodes clarity
3. The five stages of the Cycle of Chaos:
4. Constant Reactivity
5. High Cognitive Load
6. Absence of Clarity
7. Overextension
8. Survival Mode Leadership
9. Why leaders stay stuck in the cycle—and why it’s not a failure
10. How clarity becomes the starting point for real change

This conversation is a reminder that leaders don’t need to work harder—they need to lead clearer.

Sponsors

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor, delivering high-impact, research-based tutoring that supports students while reducing leadership overwhelm.

Additional support comes from DigiCoach, helping leaders capture real-time instructional data, provide meaningful feedback, and build clarity through strong systems.

How do we support students who are behind — without overwhelming teachers or relying on systems that don’t deliver results?

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin Peppard sits down with Jennifer Sheffield, CEO of HeyTutor, for a grounded, practical conversation about what effective tutoring and intervention really look like in today’s schools.

Jennifer brings a unique leadership lens — blending her background in law, governance, and education — to help leaders rethink how tutoring fits into MTSS, Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports, and daily school operations.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. Why “tutoring” means very different things — and what defines high-impact tutoring
2. The biggest barriers schools face when implementing interventions
3. How districts can address the human capital challenge without adding strain to teachers
4. Creative push-in and pull-out models that work in middle and high schools
5. Why relationships and student champions matter as much as curriculum
6. How tutoring can become a pipeline for future educators
7. What it means to lead with purpose, trust, and whole-person leadership

Jennifer also shares a powerful personal story that shapes her leadership philosophy — reminding us that great leadership is ultimately about people, belief, and opportunity.

Learn more:

1. HeyTutor: https://www.heytutor.com
2. Contact Jennifer directly: jennifer@heytutor.com

If you’re a school or district leader searching for intervention strategies that actually move the needle — this conversation will help you think differently.

Episode Sponsors:

This episode is sponsored by digiCOACH — an easy-to-use mobile platform that empowers school leaders to provide teachers with positive, actionable feedback tied to research-based instructional practices, with real-time data to support fidelity and instructional decision-making.

Learn more at digicoach.com (mention the show for special partner pricing)

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor - HeyTutor delivers customized, evidence-based, high-dosage Math and ELA tutoring to K–12 school districts nationwide. Their focus is on in-person tutoring, while also offering flexible online options — all tailored to meet diverse student needs and aligned with state standards.

Head over to HeyTutor.com to learn more - tell them you heard about them on the Leaning into Leadership podcast.

This conversation was sparked by a real question from the field—a leader Frederick supports reached out looking for guidance on how to handle parents when emotions are high. Together, Darrin and Frederick unpack a practical, grounded framework for what to do before, during, and after conflict shows up at your door.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

1. Why the best time to prevent angry parent blowups is before anything goes wrong
2. How leaders build “relationship capital” through proactive, positive contact
3. Why it matters to separate the student from the behavior (and how that changes everything)
4. The value of student-written statements for clarity, due process, and aligned facts
5. How to make the parent call in a way that reduces defensiveness and keeps everyone grounded
6. What to do when a parent escalates—and why listening is your strongest tool
7. A powerful reminder: parents don’t always react to what happened—they react to feeling disrespected
8. The bottom-line takeaway: It’s not about you—and remembering that makes it easier to listen

Key takeaway

When conflict rises, your job isn’t to “win” the conversation—it’s to protect dignity, stay calm, listen deeply, and build partnership forward.

Episode Sponsors:

This episode is brought to you by HeyTutor - HeyTutor delivers customized, evidence-based, high-dosage Math and ELA tutoring to K–12 school districts nationwide. Their focus is on in-person tutoring, while also offering flexible online options — all tailored to meet diverse student needs and aligned with state standards.

Head over to HeyTutor.com to learn more - tell them you heard about them on the Leaning into Leadership podcast.

This episode is also sponsored by digiCOACH — an easy-to-use mobile platform that empowers school leaders to provide teachers with positive, actionable feedback tied to research-based instructional practices, with real-time data to support fidelity and instructional decision-making.

Learn more at digicoach.com (mention the show for special partner pricing)

In this first episode of 2026, Darrin sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Mark Brown for a powerful conversation about leadership, hope, and intentional presence. Mark shares the story behind his “Hope Dealer” philosophy, why hope is for everyone (not just those in crisis), and how leaders can create cultures where people feel seen, supported, and empowered.

As a first-year high school principal, Mark also reflects on the transition from assistant principal to principal, the importance of asking for help, and how modeling leadership behaviors matters more than any directive. The conversation closes with a reminder many leaders need to hear: taking care of yourself is not selfish — it’s essential.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

1. What it really means to be a “Hope Dealer”
2. Why leaders shouldn’t try to be the source of hope for others
3. Lessons from Mark’s transition into the principalship
4. Empowering others by asking for input — even when you don’t need it
5. Modeling leadership through presence, attitude, and behavior
6. Why self-care is a leadership responsibility, not a luxury

Connect with Dr. Mark Brown:

1. Instagram: @heymarkbrown
2. Website: www.markbrownedu.com
3. Book: Hope Dealer: Leaning In to Lift Others

This episode is sponsored by digiCOACH — an easy-to-use mobile platform that empowers school leaders to provide teachers with positive, actionable feedback tied to research-based instructional practices, with real-time data to support fidelity and instructional decision-making.

Learn more at digicoach.com (mention the show for partner pricing)

This episode is also brought to you by HeyTutor - HeyTutor delivers customized, evidence-based, high-dosage Math and ELA tutoring to K–12 school districts nationwide. Their focus is on in-person tutoring, while also offering flexible online options — all tailored to meet diverse student needs and aligned with state standards.

Head over to HeyTutor.com to learn more - tell them you heard about them on the Leaning into Leadership podcast.

Drawing from his work with leadership teams across the country, Darrin shares the key trends he’s seeing shape leadership in the year ahead—including the growing need for clarity, the non-negotiable role of culture, and the shift from compliance-driven leadership to coaching-focused practice.

Darrin also reflects on his personal one-word theme for 2025 (Evolve) and looks ahead to 2026 with a renewed commitment to leading fiercely—with clear priorities, strong boundaries, and intentional focus. This episode is designed to be listened to individually or together as a leadership team, offering space for reflection, alignment, and forward momentum.

This episode is sponsored by digiCOACH — an easy-to-use mobile platform that empowers school leaders to provide teachers with positive, actionable feedback tied to research-based instructional practices, with real-time data to support fidelity and instructional decision-making.

Learn more at digicoach.com (mention the show for partner pricing)

In This Episode

1. Why pausing to reflect matters before stepping into the new year
2. The leadership trends shaping 2026
3. The importance of clarity for leaders and leadership teams
4. Why culture must remain a top priority
5. The shift from compliance to coaching in effective leadership
6. One-word reflection: Evolve (2025) and Fierce (2026)

Connect & Continue the Conversation

To stay connected and receive reflective leadership insights in 2026, visit roadtoawesome.net and sign up for the newsletter. Go to darrinpeppard.com to learn more about Darrin's speaking, leadership workshops, and retreats.

If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with other leaders or leadership teams who may benefit from this conversation.

In Episode 252 of Leaning Into Leadership, Darrin Peppard sits down with Scott Borba, superintendent–principal in California’s Central Valley and author of The Leader You’re Not. Together, they explore leadership identity, the cost of perfectionism, imposter syndrome, delegation, boundaries, and why sustainable leadership begins with self-awareness.

This is a candid, reflective conversation for leaders at any stage — especially those feeling the weight of trying to do it all.

Key Topics & Takeaways

1. Why early-career leaders often fall into the “superhero” trap
2. The unique challenges of serving as both superintendent and principal
3. How COVID forced many leaders to confront identity, confidence, and calling
4. The importance of trusted mentors and leadership networks
5. Why perfectionism quietly fuels burnout and imposter syndrome
6. How delegation and asking better questions build leadership capacity
7. The cost of saying “yes” — and why boundaries are not selfish
8. Why leaders must stop comparing themselves to “Facebook leadership”
9. The freedom that comes from knowing who you’re not as a leader
10. Why legacy matters most at home — where leaders are not replaceable

Memorable Moments

1. “Trying to be the perfect leader kept me from growing.”
2. “Every yes comes with a cost.”
3. “You’re not replaceable at home — and that matters.”
4. “Delegation isn’t weakness; it’s leadership.”

About the Guest: Scott Borba

Scott Borba is a superintendent–principal serving a small, rural school district in California’s Central Valley. With over 20 years in school leadership, Scott is deeply committed to relational leadership, mentorship, and sustainability in the profession.

He is the author of The Leader You’re Not: Why It’s Just as Important as the Leader You Are, a reflective exploration of leadership identity, self-awareness, and letting go of unrealistic expectations. Scott also teaches in a university administrator preparation program and leads a countywide leadership network focused on connection, growth, and reducing burnout.

Resources & Links

1. 📘 The Leader You’re Not by Scott Borba
2. 📩 Connect with Scott Borba ( sborba52@gmail.com)

Final Thought

Leadership isn’t about being everything to everyone.

It’s about knowing yourself well enough to lead with clarity, humility, and purpose.

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Darrin sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Danny Steele to explore what it truly means to lead with heart, clarity, and purpose. Danny reflects on his 31-year career in education, the mentors who shaped him, the mistakes that taught him, and the passion that continues to fuel his work supporting educators today.

Together, they dig into:

• Danny’s early leadership missteps and the moment he realized his job was to serve teachers first.
• The concept of “passion drift”—why educators lose their edge and how leaders can help them get it back.
• Why administrators must redefine their light bulb moments to sustain joy and impact.
• The insecurities that quietly derail leadership—and how vulnerability becomes the antidote.
• How to lead instructional improvement without being an expert in every subject area.
• Key ideas from Danny’s brand-new book, The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader, including why curiosity must come first and why leaders must prioritize learning over teaching.
• Practical, reflective questions every leader can ask themselves to grow in 2025 and beyond.

This episode is a masterclass in humility, clarity, and the power of leading from a place of authenticity. Whether you're a principal, assistant principal, district leader, or teacher-leader, this conversation will leave you challenged and inspired.

Links & Resources

• Danny’s Website: SteeleThoughts.com
• Danny on Social Media: @SteeleThoughts
• Email Danny: danny@steelethoughts.com
• Get Danny’s New Book: The Instructional Leader in You

Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing.

For this milestone episode, the script gets flipped. Longtime friends and frequent guests Todd Bloomer and Dominic Armano take over the show and interview host Dr. Darrin Peppard about the lessons he’s learned from 250 episodes and a lifetime in school leadership.

They dig into leadership clarity, time management, burnout, support systems, and why relationships will always matter more than perfect paperwork. You’ll hear practical advice for current principals, assistant principals, and aspiring leaders who are wondering, “Am I in the right seat?” or “Am I ready for the next step?”

In this episode, we explore:

• Reaching 250 episodes
• What Darrin has learned from starting the podcast in 2022 and pushing past the “most podcasts die by episode 10” barrier.
• How consistency, clarity, and curiosity have shaped the show.
• Coaching, walkthroughs, and making feedback part of the job
• Why leaders must get crystal clear on what they care about and what they’re looking for in every classroom.
• How to shift from “gotcha” feedback to curious, growth-focused conversations with teachers.
• For principals who haven’t been in classrooms enough
• Using the Eisenhower Matrix to separate what’s truly important from what just feels urgent.
• A simple exercise with sticky notes to analyze where your time really went this semester.
• How to build systems and delegation so you can focus on instruction and culture.
• Support systems & avoiding burnout as a leader
• The critical role of a great secretary/admin assistant in protecting your time and priorities.
• Why every leader needs people outside their building—coaches, mentors, colleagues—to call when things get heavy.
• The power of a trusted circle at home and how podcasts can be “free PD” that keeps you growing.
• For assistant principals who are struggling or ready for more
• What to do when you’re coming home thinking, “Did I make a mistake?”
• Reflective questions Darrin uses with leaders:
• What have you learned about yourself as a leader?
• What’s actually going well (even if it doesn’t feel like it)?
• How to think about your trajectory if you’re ready for the next role.
• If Darrin could wave a magic wand…
• The one administrative task he’d eliminate: the bureaucracy of evaluation.
• What evaluation could look like if it was purely about coaching, growth, and support rather than compliance.
• Advice for new principals starting mid-year
• Why your first job isn’t to “fix” everything—it’s to build relationships and listen.
• How to learn the subculture of your new school community before making big moves.
• Seeing the rest of the year as your “learning runway” before truly leading in year one.
• The teacher Darrin would rather mentor
• Given the choice, why he’ll always choose the relationship-rich but disorganized teacher over the hyper-organized teacher who struggles to connect with kids.
• How systems can be taught, but genuine connection with students is much harder to create from scratch.
• How Darrin is leaning into leadership right now
• His commitment to finding every possible avenue to pour into leaders—whether or not they hold a formal title.
• Helping leaders find clarity, act with intention, and walk in their purpose.

For more visit darrinpeppard.com

Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing.

If you’ve followed high-level high school athletics—especially in Colorado—you’ve probably heard of Valor Christian High School. From state titles to nationally ranked teams, Valor has built a reputation for excellence. But what most people don’t see is the intentional culture, systems, and faith-driven leadership behind the wins.

In this episode, Darrin sits down with Keith Wahl, longtime coach and now Athletic Director at Valor Christian, to talk about building a mission-centered athletic program in the middle of NIL, transfer portals, club sports pressure, and sky-high parent expectations.

Keith shares how Valor has stayed anchored to its founding mission and culture documents, how they rebuilt systems after a difficult season, and why he believes sports don’t teach life lessons—people do.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Keith’s journey into leadership at Valor Christian
• From opening Mountain Vista High School as its first head baseball coach… to a “divine nudge” text from his wife… to becoming Valor’s first head baseball coach and eventually Athletic Director.
• From “pioneer” to nationally respected athletics program
• How Valor went from a brand-new school with a bold Christian mission to a MaxPreps Top 50-level athletic department—without abandoning its original vision and purpose.
• Culture documents, team plans, and the power of clarity
• Why written team plans and an athletic handbook became game changers for culture, communication, and peace—and what happened when those systems disappeared (and then had to be rebuilt).
• Leading in the NIL and transfer era
• How NIL, club sports, and transfer rules have reshaped high school athletics—and what leaders can do to stay mission-focused instead of becoming purely transactional.
• Youth sports pressure and parent expectations
• Why today’s parents often have less trust and higher expectations, and how schools can respond with value, transparency, and a holistic vision of sport.
• Faith, sport, and deeper meaning beyond the scoreboard
• Keith’s work with Baylor’s Faith & Sport Institute, their “Away Game” cohort, and what it looks like to build an athletic experience that forms character—not just winners.
• The trust triangle & the athletic leadership team
• How Keith uses the “trust triangle” (with authentic vulnerability at the base) to lead his internal team and create a second-family culture among his staff.
• Knowing your people: Enneagram, Working Genius & AI
• How Keith uses tools like the Enneagram, Working Genius—and yes, even ChatGPT—to better understand his team and tailor his communication to each person.
• A powerful tribute to Coach Janie McHugh
• The story of longtime Valor volleyball coach Janie McHugh, her fourth straight state title, and why Keith believes deeply that knowing your people is one of the greatest gifts of leadership.

Connect with Keith Wahl

• Valor Athletics: valoreagles.com
• Social: @CoachWahl22 on all major platforms

Make walkthroughs meaningful. Simplify your coaching culture. Visit digiCOACH.com and mention Darrin for special partner pricing.

In this inspiring episode, NAESP President April D. Knight joins Darrin to explore what leadership looks like when it stays grounded in relationships, service, and intentional support for school leaders. April shares the story of her 34-year career, her leadership journey through Columbus City Schools, and how her deep commitment to equity and connection led her to the NAESP presidency.

Together, they dig into three major initiatives shaping NAESP’s future:

• The groundbreaking NAESP–AMLE partnership, focused on elevating support for middle-level leaders.
• The National School Leaders Conference, including new strands for early childhood, middle school, and secondary success.
• The National Gold Star School Program, NAESP’s bold new recognition initiative honoring schools for culture, systems, and people—not just test scores.

April also shares timeless advice for early career principals, discusses the evolving nature of school leadership, and reflects on what it means to “lean into leadership” during times of change.

Key Topics Covered

• April Knight’s leadership journey from classroom teacher to NAESP President
• The importance of relationships and trust-building in early leadership
• How NAESP is expanding support for middle-level leaders
• Behind the scenes of the new NAESP–AMLE partnership
• What leaders can expect from the 2025 National School Leaders Conference in Orlando
• Details and criteria for NAESP’s new National Gold Star School Program
• Advice for aspiring and first-year administrators
• How April is “leaning into leadership” right now

About Today’s Guest – April D. Knight

With 34 years in education and over two decades as a principal, April Knight is a nationally respected advocate for students, teachers, and school leaders. She serves as the 2025–2026 President of NAESP and leads Avondale Elementary in Columbus City Schools, Ohio’s largest district. Her work focuses on academic excellence, equity, mentoring future school leaders, and advancing the principalship nationwide.

Links & Resources Mentioned

• NAESP Website: https://www.naesp.org
• National School Leaders Conference Information & Proposal Submission
• National Gold Star School Program (application open through Jan. 31)
• AMLE Website: https://www.amle.org
• Connect with April:
• Email: aknight@naesp.org
• X (Twitter): @AKnightApril

Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit digiCOACH.com, mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing.

In Episode 247 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Darrin welcomes back repeat guest Dr. Christopher J. Jochum, founder and CEO of CJ Leadership Solutions, LLC, Professor and Chair of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University, and a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, coach, and author.

The episode opens with a reflection on the “tap on the shoulder” moment many leaders experience — the first time someone sees leadership potential in them. Darrin connects this to research showing that 95% of students and 90% of teachers equate leadership with a title, highlighting why the work of developing teacher leaders is so critical.

Chris and Darrin explore the unique intersection of K–12 and higher education, including what Chris has learned as he transitioned into leading one of the largest teacher preparation programs in the country. He highlights the people, the culture, and the innovative mindset that make Fort Hays State a standout institution at a time when many university teacher prep programs are shrinking.

The conversation then pivots to Chris’s new book, You Don’t Have to Leave to Lead: A Practical Guide to Teacher Leadership — a culmination of years of teaching, research, and on-the-ground leadership development. They unpack key themes from the book, including:

🔥 Conversation Highlights

• Leadership is about influence, not titles — and why this mindset shift is crucial for teachers.
• Why teacher leadership is NOT “one more thing” but rather strengthens a teacher’s core practice.
• The five major goals of teacher leadership and why they matter for school and district leaders.
• The connection between teacher leadership and student outcomes — and how raising the “leadership lid” (Maxwell) elevates entire campuses.
• How teacher leadership can extend careers, support retention, and create meaningful growth pathways.
• The “field of diamonds” metaphor and why leaders must look to the talent already in their building.

Chris finishes by sharing how he is currently leaning into leadership — continuing to challenge himself, sharpen the saw, and prepare to write his next leadership book aimed at a broader audience.

About Dr. Chris Jochum

Dr. Christopher J. Jochum is the founder and CEO of CJ Leadership Solutions, LLC. A sought-after speaker, trainer, and coach, Chris partners with organizations throughout the U.S. and abroad to transform culture by developing leadership capacity at every level. He believes that leadership is about influence, not formal authority.

Chris also serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University, leading one of the nation’s largest teacher preparation programs. With nearly 30 years in K–12 and higher education, Chris began his career teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language before holding faculty appointments at the University of Central Missouri and the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

His research focuses on leadership development in both K–12 and higher ed, along with the value of study abroad. He hosts The Department Chair Leadership Podcast and is also the author of The Department Chair: A Practical Guide to Effective Leadership.

Connect with Dr. Chris Jochum

🌐 Website: CJLeadership.com

📧 Email: chris@cjleadership.com

🎙️ Podcast: The Department Chair Leadership Podcast

📘 Books: You Don’t Have to Leave to Lead and The Department Chair (Road to Awesome Publishing)

Dr. Jochum's previous appearance on Leaning into Leadership

Support for today’s episode comes from digiCOACH — the walkthrough and coaching platform designed to simplify data collection, strengthen feedback, and improve instructional clarity. Visit digiCOACH.com, mention Darrin sent you, and ask about special partner pricing.

In this solo episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard takes leaders deep into one of the most important—and most avoided—responsibilities of leadership: crucial conversations.

Darrin shares a vulnerable story from early in his principalship and unpacks the powerful lesson he learned about how silence, avoidance, and hesitation can erode culture, damage trust, and create uncertainty. From there, he introduces a clear, actionable, eight-step framework rooted in the work of Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler’s Crucial Conversations, adapted for leaders in every sector.

Listeners will learn how to:

• Center themselves before delivering hard messages
• Remove assumptions and stay grounded in facts
• Create psychological safety
• Describe performance gaps clearly and respectfully
• Invite honest dialogue
• Collaboratively build solutions
• Reinforce alignment through clear commitments
• Sustain accountability through effective follow-up

Darrin then applies the framework to three real-world leadership scenarios—from education, construction, and healthcare—providing detailed sample dialogue and leadership moves leaders can use immediately.

Whether you’re leading a school, a team, a department, or an organization, this episode will equip you with the clarity, confidence, and courage to navigate the tough moments that shape culture.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why tough conversations define leadership effectiveness
• What makes a conversation “crucial”
• The 8-step Crucial Conversations Leadership Framework
• How to avoid assumptions and approach conversations with purpose
• How to balance accountability with empathy
• How leaders across industries can apply these steps (with detailed examples)

Three Real-World Scenarios Covered:

1. Education — Staff not following safety protocols
2. Construction — Crew leader disrespecting team members
3. Healthcare — Nurse omitting required patient handoff details

These examples model exactly what effective leadership conversations sound like.

Episode Resources:

• The AWESOME Leadership Action Guide
• Leadership keynote information go to https://darrinpeppard.com
• Connect with Darrin on LinkedIn, Instagram, and social platforms

Let’s face it — leadership is complex. That’s why Darrin is proud to partner with digiCOACH, a walkthrough and coaching platform that simplifies observation and feedback so leaders can focus on what really matters — students and instruction.

Visit digiCOACH.com and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing.

In Episode 245 of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Jayme Braida, Principal of Columbus Elementary in Chariton, Iowa, and the 2025 Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year.

Jayme opens up about her personal journey—from overcoming childhood ADHD and family trauma to becoming a passionate advocate for trauma-informed leadership, equity, and authentic connection. She shares the mindset shifts that helped her turn her challenges into strengths and how those experiences shape her leadership every single day.

Listeners will learn:

• Why vulnerability and self-awareness are the foundation of strong leadership
• How to foster safety and belonging for students and staff
• Practical steps to build trauma-informed practices into everyday school culture
• The importance of joy and purpose in sustaining long-term impact

This is an episode full of honesty, reflection, and hope—a must-listen for any leader who believes in the power of connection to drive transformation.

Connect with Jayme at jaymebraida.com

Let’s face it — leadership is complex. That’s why Darrin is proud to partner with digiCOACH, a walkthrough and coaching platform that simplifies observation and feedback so leaders can focus on what really matters — students and instruction.

Visit digiCOACH.com and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing.

Have you ever felt like you’re just running from one issue to the next — solving problems, answering questions, and checking boxes — only to end the day realizing you didn’t actually move the needle on what matters most?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. The issue isn’t time — it’s clarity.

In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard dives deep into why clarity is the most powerful tool a leader can possess. He explores how clarity transforms busyness into impact, how it builds trust, and how leaders can create cultures where everyone understands the “why” behind the work.

You’ll learn practical steps to:

• Gain clarity for yourself by aligning purpose, priorities, and actions
• Communicate clearly so your team knows where you’re going and why
• Model and empower clarity to drive ownership and momentum
• Build a culture of clarity that strengthens trust and accountability

Darrin also references Hubert Joly’s Harvard Business Review article on values-driven leadership and shares how Stephen Covey’s reminder — “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities” — is foundational to effective leadership.

Because when leaders lead with clarity, organizations move with purpose.

Resources Mentioned:

• AWESOME Leadership Action Guide — a free tool to help you clarify your purpose and priorities
• “5 Principles of Purposeful Leadership” by Hubert Joly (Harvard Business Review)
• Visit our website: https://darrinpeppard.com/

Visit digiCOACH.com and mention that Darrin sent you for special partner pricing.

What happens when the person leading your organization leads through fear? In this powerful and practical episode, Darrin sits down with Kate Lowry, a Silicon Valley–based CEO coach, venture capitalist, and author of Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders.

Kate and Darrin unpack the realities of working under toxic, dominance-driven leadership and share strategies for not only surviving but thriving in those environments. From understanding a fear-based leader’s motivations to preserving your own energy and identity, Kate offers tools that empower listeners to regain control, find their voice, and protect what matters most.

In this episode:

• What fear-based leadership really looks like in practice
• How to use emotional intelligence and strategy to navigate toxic power dynamics
• The “gray rock” method — and why being boring can be powerful
• How to protect your time, energy, and sense of self
• When to stand your ground — and when it’s time to move on
• Practical takeaways from Unbreakable that every leader should know

Connect with Kate Lowry

Website: katelowry.com

Unbreakable: How to Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders

Amazon (Paperback) | Amazon (eBook)

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Dr. Hornick shares insights on:

• Building a leadership pipeline through intentional coaching and “grow-your-own” development.
• Managing the dichotomy between leading a district and leading a school board.
• The value of trust, transparency, and reflection in effective leadership.
• How partnering with an outside coach has elevated confidence, clarity, and consistency across his district’s leadership teams.

This conversation goes beyond education—it’s about how any organization can strengthen its leadership culture through trust, reflection, and clarity of purpose.

Connect with Dr. Dan Hornick:

LinkedIn | X (@DanHornick)

Orange County Public Schools on LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Darrin Peppard:

Visit darrinpeppard.com to explore his keynotes, leadership workshops, and coaching programs designed for school and corporate teams.

To celebrate the launch of darrinpeppard.com, Darrin shares six quotes that have shaped his leadership—and how each one connects to clarity, systems, purpose, relationships, and the courage to take the road less traveled. Along the way, he shares pivotal stories: moving from “Captain Chaos” to intentional leader, the coaching that changed everything, trusting relationships over titles, and choosing the Road to Awesome.

The six quotes & themes

1. “Clear is kind.” — Brené Brown → Clarity is respect; clear expectations build trust and culture.
2. “You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.” — James Clear → Systems create freedom; move from reactive to proactive.
3. “We are uniquely positioned to help the person we once were.” — Rory Vaden → Why Darrin coaches overwhelmed leaders: he was one.
4. “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” — Simon Sinek → Purpose drives followership; leadership begins with why.
5. “The quality of your leadership is reflected in the quality of your relationships.” — John C. Maxwell → Leadership is a people business; trust is the measure.
6. “Two roads diverged… I took the one less traveled…” — Robert Frost → Courage to choose the harder, truer path—the Road to Awesome.

Key moments & stories

• Early lesson: tough conversations and the kindness of clarity.
• From big goals/small systems to calendar discipline and true prioritization.
• Coaching that shifted Darrin from firefighter to leader.
• Purpose as the anchor for speaking, coaching, and the new site.
• A critic turned ally: trust as leadership’s true metric.
• Three “two-roads” inflection points: focusing on what’s right, leader vs. firefighter, and the leap into entrepreneurship.

Timestamps (approx.)

00:00 — Welcome & website launch celebration

02:40 — Quote 1: Clear is kind

05:30 — Quote 2: Goals vs. systems

09:10 — Quote 3: Helping the leader I once was

14:40 — Quote 4: People buy your why

18:00 — Quote 5: Relationships mirror leadership

22:10 — Quote 6: The road less traveled

27:10 — Call to action & close

Resources & links

• Explore the new site: darrinpeppard.com
• Grab the free AWESOME Leadership Action Guide (link in show notes)
• Speaking, coaching, and workshops: inquire via the site’s contact page

Call to action

If you’re ready to move from chaos to clarity and lead with intention, visit darrinpeppard.com and download the FREE AWESOME Leadership Action Guide. Book Darrin for your next keynote, retreat, or leadership team training.

Drawing on a real coaching conversation and a personal story from his time as a superintendent, Darrin outlines how acknowledging loss, re-centering on purpose, and empowering staff voice can rebuild trust and momentum during difficult times. You’ll walk away with practical tools you can use in your next leadership meeting — including a powerful exercise to help your team “throw away” the things they can’t control and reclaim focus on what truly matters.

In this episode:

• The emotional toll leaders and teams experience during crises
• How to help your people let go of what’s beyond their control
• A real-world example from a post-COVID leadership retreat
• Three concrete leadership actions to rebuild trust and focus
• A simple reflection question to guide your next team meeting

Leaders can’t fix everything — but they can bring calm, clarity, and courage to those they serve.

David explains the difference between thinking, feeling, and doing, and how the Kolbe A™ Index reveals your natural patterns for solving problems and taking initiative. Together, Darrin and David discuss:

• The four Action Modes—Fact Finder, Follow Through, Quick Start, and Implementer—and what each reveals about how you get things done
• Why diverse conative strengths make teams more effective
• How understanding these instincts improves hiring and collaboration
• Darrin’s own Kolbe A™ results (4-4-7-4) and what they say about his leadership style
• The connection between conation, culture, and AI in modern organizations

Whether you’re leading a school district, a company, or a small team, this conversation will help you leverage what comes naturally—so you can do more, more naturally.

Connect with David Kolbe & Kolbe Corp:

🔗 Website – Kolbe.com

🔗 Learn More – Do More, More Naturally

💼 LinkedIn – David Kolbe | Kolbe Corp LinkedIn

📱 Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter/X

Connect with Dr. Darrin Peppard:

🌐 Road to Awesome | LinkedIn

🎙️ Subscribe to the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast

We dig into the missing piece that derails so many leaders: clarity. From the dangers of jargon like “fidelity” and “rigor” to building shared ownership of definitions, Casey unpacks how leaders can eliminate “quiet chaos” and create cultures of transparency and trust. She walks us through the six habits of her Clarity Cycle Framework—determine focus, analyze, gain insight, cast vision, celebrate, and calibrate—and why clarity isn’t just about communication but about creating habits that stick.

Along the way, Casey shares stories from her own leadership journey, the power of celebrating intentionally, and how redefining clarity can transform collaboration across schools and organizations.

We wrap up with Casey’s vulnerable and inspiring reflection on her own growth as a leader—challenging the narratives we carry into our work.

Connect with Casey:

🔗 Website: catchingupwithcasey.com

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/catchupwithcasey

🔗 Instagram: instagram.com/catchupwithcasey

🔗 YouTube: youtube.com/@catchupwithcasey

Zac shares openly about his journey through teaching, administration, and overcoming struggles with anxiety and overwork. He talks about shifting from chasing “work-life balance” to finding a “work-life rhythm,” building systems that align priorities with actions, and the importance of being intentional about presence both at school and at home.

We also explore his writing, including his six-pillar “PEOPLE” framework for fruitful leadership: Prioritize, Empathize, Observe, Pray, Love, and Encourage. Along the way, Zac reminds us that small, consistent acts of encouragement can have lifelong impact.

This is an inspiring and authentic conversation about leadership, culture, family, and faith — one that will encourage every leader to pause, reflect, and lean into what matters most.

Connect with Dr. Zac Bauermaster

• Website: ZacBauermaster.com
• Instagram, Facebook, X: @ZBauermaster
• Books: Available on Amazon

Key Themes

• Leading through crisis and recovery
• The role of empathy, vulnerability, and preparation
• How the Principal Recovery Network supports school leaders
• The Principal Recovery Network Guide and how it helps communities heal
• Why “heartening schools” is as important as hardening them
• Practical advice for leaders on rest, trust, and courage

About the Guests

Dr. Kacy Shahid transitioned from substitute teacher to principal in six years, eventually leading her alma mater, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis. After experiencing the tragedy of a school shooting in 2022, she found renewed purpose in advocacy and healing. She is the author of Know Your Place, Run Your Race and the 90-day journal HEARTWORK. She currently serves as a Strategic Advisor and Community Engagement Lead in Higher Education.

📌 Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram/Twitter: @DrKacyShahid | Facebook: Kacy Shahid

Dr. Kevin Lein is an assistant professor at Wayne State College (NE) with over 35 years of experience in education as a teacher, coach, principal, and higher education leader. A survivor of a school shooting, Dr. Lein has become a leading advocate for personalized learning, system reform, and safe schools. He is a founding member of the Principal Recovery Network and a national voice for heart-centered leadership.

Darrin shares Webster’s definitions of 10 powerful words, explores how they’re often misused in both education and corporate spaces, and provides leadership takeaways for creating clarity.

If you’ve ever told your team you want more “collaboration” or asked for “rigor” without explaining what that means, this episode is for you.

Takeaways:

• Why words lose their power when they’re left undefined
• 10 common buzzwords and what they should mean
• How clarity in language creates clarity in action

Words are powerful — but only when leaders define them clearly.

Timestamps Outline

• 00:00–02:25 | Introduction, inspiration for the episode, why words matter
• 02:25–04:45 | The danger of buzzwords without definition
• 04:48–07:12 | Word #1: Collaboration
• 07:12–09:34 | Word #2: Accountability
• 09:34–12:02 | Word #3: Engagement
• 12:02–15:41 | Word #4: Curriculum
• 15:41–17:32 | Word #5: Rigor
• 17:32–20:47 | Word #6: Fidelity
• 20:47–23:19 | Word #7: Best Practices
• 23:19–24:54 | Word #8: Data-Driven
• 24:54–26:38 | Word #9: Expectations
• 26:38–30:17 | Word #10: Professional Development
• 30:17–End | Wrap-up, leadership challenge, and call to action

Connect with Darrin on social media @DarrinMPeppard on all platforms

Website: www.roadtoawesome.net

Email: darrin@roadtoawesome.net

He unpacks the Second Mile philosophy (go above the job description), the PACE model (Purpose • Affirmation • Collaboration/Control • Engagement), and concrete strategies for modeling, celebrating growth, and handling resistance without taking it personally. If you’re an early-career AP/Principal or a veteran leader sharpening your edge, this episode delivers playbook-ready tactics.

In this episode:

• Tech hiccups, persistence, and the leadership lesson of “find a way”
• From Ozan, AR (pop. 81) to college athletics: foundations of service-first leadership
• Second Mile leadership: presence → proof; kindness, eye contact, enthusiasm
• Turning customer-service training into school culture (the “my pleasure” mindset)
• Modeling what matters: visibility in halls, classrooms, and duty posts
• PACE core values in action:
• Put students first
• Focus on learning
• Support each other
• Commit to growth
• Engage in the process
• Dealing with disengagement and tough feedback without getting defensive
• Preparing assistant principals for the leap to the principal’s chair

Connect with Dr. Jason Williamson

Website & socials: IAmJasonWilliamson.com and @IAmJasonWilliamson

LinkedIn: JasonWilliamsonEDD

Linktr.ee - Jason Williamson

They explore the intersection of AI, Industry 4.0, and education — from classroom adoption and teacher hesitancy to corporate applications and future workforce demands. Brad explains how technology can enhance, not replace, our humanity, why soft skills remain critical, and how industries like automotive are re-skilling workers as automation grows.

Listeners will learn about the five-step process Brad uses to help schools and organizations embrace AI responsibly, the misconceptions around jobs being replaced, and how leaders in any sector can stay ahead by building awareness and focusing on people.

Brad also shares his personal journey from third-grade teacher to global futurist, the story behind the title Racing the Future, and his current passion for mentoring and coaching others to elevate their leadership.

Pre-order Racing the Future now on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and connect with Brad at bradwaid.com or newhorizonsglobal.net.

From clarity of vision to the importance of celebration, he explores how daily actions and leadership choices either strengthen or weaken the culture we want for our schools. You’ll hear stories from his own leadership journey—including lessons from coaching, team retreats, and learning to stop being “Captain Chaos”—and walk away with strategies you can put into practice immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why clarity of purpose and vision is the anchor for culture
• How trust and psychological safety empower staff and students to take risks
• The role of relationships and belonging in creating connected schools
• Ways to reinforce culture through celebration and recognition
• Why consistency and accountability protect trust and fairness
• How leaders shape culture through modeling and intentionality

Culture isn’t a poster or program—it’s the lived reality in your classrooms, hallways, and community. As leaders, you are the culture carriers.

Grab my free School Leaders Planner here to help you prioritize what matters most, block time with intention, and stay focused on the work only you can do.

Grab an autographed copy of Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader

Dr. Schwanke shares insights from her doctoral research, her leadership journey, and her brand-new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. We dig into:

• Why schools feel under attack during turbulent times—and why this isn’t new.
• How leaders can avoid the traps of denial, defensiveness, or despair when criticism comes.
• The importance of being trust willing as well as trustworthy.
• Why strong systems are essential for good people to thrive.
• Practical advice for new principals handed the master keys for the first time.
• Strategies for instructional leadership when you don’t feel like an expert in every content area.
• How to build authentic trust with staff, parents, and students—and why curiosity beats judgment every time.

Whether you’re stepping into school leadership for the first time or looking to sharpen your ability to lead with trust and positivity, Dr. Schwanke’s wisdom will help you show up with courage, clarity, and relentless optimism.

📚 Learn more about Dr. Schwanke’s work and books: JenSchwanke.com

✉️ Sign up for her newsletter: Principal Problems with Dr. Jen

🎧 Listen to her on the Principal Matters podcast

Julia Bialeski has lived those words throughout her 20+ year career in public education, serving as a teacher, instructional specialist, assistant principal, elementary principal, and now Coordinator of Recruitment and Hiring for the Howard County Public School System in Maryland. She’s also the author of Leading with Grace: Cultivating Hope, Authenticity, and a Focus on People Throughout the Leadership Lifespan.

In this episode, Julia and I explore:

• Her framework for the leadership lifespan — what it is and why it matters for leaders at every stage.
• How to enter a new leadership role with purpose, clarity, and strong relationships.
• The essential connection between recruitment, hiring, and retention — and why listening is your best strategy.
• The systems and boundaries leaders need to protect wellbeing and model it for others.
• How to build long-term pipelines for talent in schools and districts.

Whether you’re a brand-new administrator or a seasoned leader starting a new chapter, Julia’s insights will help you navigate change with authenticity, focus, and grace.

WEBSITE: juliabialeski.com

Link to book: https://a.co/d/9jvD9Nk 

Link to subscribe to my free weekly Strategic Serenity newsletter: http://eepurl.com/jhBD3s 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/julia-bialeski-7a4a122a9 

Instagram: @julia.bialeski

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why momentum isn’t magic — and how to build it intentionally
• How to schedule “pulse checks” that keep your team aligned
• The difference between empowerment and just delegating tasks
• How to resist “shiny object syndrome” and stay focused on what matters most
• Small celebration and gratitude habits that reinforce your culture
• Why your calendar is one of your most powerful culture tools

If you want to keep your August energy alive in October, January, and beyond — this episode is for you.

🔑 Topics covered:

• Why PLCs often get stuck—and how to move them forward
• The three critical responsibilities of a PLC team leader
• How to create psychological safety and trust on collaborative teams
• Why conflict can be productive (if it’s managed well)
• Strategies for building leadership capacity across your staff
• Why vulnerability isn't weakness—it's the first step to trust
• How to start strong, whether you’re launching a new school or relaunching PLCs
• And yes... Chad shares his current top-ranked BBQ spot 🍖

Whether you're a principal, team leader, or district leader, this episode offers practical strategies and real talk about what it takes to build and sustain thriving teams.

📚 Learn more about Chad’s books:

• Teacher Team Leader Handbook: Simple Habits to Transform Collaboration in a PLC at Work
• Let’s Put the C in PLC: A Practical Guide for School Leaders
• An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC: Reflecting and Doing

📍 Mentioned in this episode:

• Google’s Project Aristotle on effective teams
• Patrick Lencioni’s Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The concept of "giraffe conversations" and inclusion vs. icebreakers

🎧 Tune in and walk away with tools to support your team, grow leaders from within, and lead with greater clarity.

As educators and leaders gear up for a new year, Darrin and Joshua dive deep into:

• What clarity looks like at the start of the school year
• How new leaders can define success before the chaos begins
• Building relationships and trust before pushing new initiatives
• The power of clearly modeling expectations
• Making feedback, coaching, and support part of your leadership culture
• Practical ways to sustain clarity, energy, and intentionality all year long

Whether you're just stepping into leadership or returning for your 20th year, this episode offers real-world strategies to help you start strong and stay focused on what matters most.

👉 Related blog post: Clarity for School Leaders – What to Do Now to Set Your Team Up for Success

👤 Guest Bio – Joshua Stamper

Joshua Stamper initially used his artistic talent and creative thinking as a professional graphic designer before transitioning into public education, where he found his calling in helping students express themselves and thrive. His own struggles as a student inspired his mission to challenge the status quo of education, promote innovative practices, and lead with empathy.

Joshua has served as a middle school Assistant Principal in North Texas for the past eight years, across four campuses and two districts. In addition to his administrative work, he is the author of Aspire to Lead, host of the Aspire to Lead podcast, a leadership coach, and educational presenter.

Joshua and his wife Leslie are the proud parents of five children, three of whom they adopted from foster care. They are both trained in trauma-informed practices, which Joshua incorporates into his leadership style.

Check out Joshua's new book (co-authored with Charle Peck) The Language of Behavior: A Framework to Elevate Student Success

📲 Connect with Joshua:

Website: www.joshstamper.com

Twitter/Instagram: @Joshua__Stamper

Dan opens up about the toll leadership took on his health, the fallacy of servant leadership without self-care, and how shifting his mindset—and his habits—changed everything. Together, they discuss the real cost of constantly being “on,” how to stop being the help desk for your team, and the importance of building community and reclaiming purpose.

You’ll also hear about Dan’s book, Stressed Leaders Stay in the Game, and the immersive retreat experience he created to help other leaders shed the weight of burnout and rediscover their why.

In this episode:

• Why servant leadership needs a rewrite
• The myth of inbox zero
• Morning habits that set the tone for better leadership
• Building a leadership community where vulnerability is a superpower
• How Dan is helping leaders stay in the game

👉 Connect with Dan Stecken:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dan-stecken

Website: stressedleaders.com

📘 Grab the book: Stressed Leaders: Stay in the Game (Published by Road to Awesome)

🎧 Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to help other leaders find clarity and purpose on their journey.

Through powerful stories and practical takeaways, Darrin walks you through his AWESOME framework, a leadership model that has helped schools and districts across the country move from dysfunction to alignment. Whether you're leading a building or a district, this episode offers actionable insights to help your team become more aligned, accountable, and impactful.

In This Episode:

• What separates great leadership teams from the ones that just get by
• The most common traits of ineffective teams (misalignment, lack of trust, unclear roles)
• How to implement the AWESOME Teams Framework:
• Accept the challenge
• Welcome feedback and support
• Examine your priorities
• Stand on your values
• Operate intentionally
• Model what you expect
• Engage in reflection
• Why team norms and trust are essential for collaboration
• How to align your leadership team around shared instructional goals
• The value of team retreats and neutral-facilitated reflection

Memorable Quotes:

“If I want a better WE, I’ve got to be a better ME.”

“Great leadership teams aren’t built by accident. They’re built on purpose.”

“Be the thermostat, not the thermometer—set the tone instead of just reflecting it.”

Resources & Links:

• RoadToAwesome.net – Website
• The Principal Academy – Online leadership course
• Blog: Road to Awesome – Weekly leadership insights
• Book: Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader
• Book: Culture First Classrooms

Connect with Darrin:

• Instagram/Facebook: Darrin M Peppard
• TikTok/X: @DarrinMPeppard
• LinkedIn: Darrin Peppard
• Leadership Retreats: Contact via Road to Awesome

Call to Action:

• Share this episode with your leadership team and start a conversation about how you work together.
• Reflect: What is one step your team will take this week to become more aligned and intentional?
• Looking for a leadership retreat or customized support for your team? Reach out to Darrin to schedule your session.

Guest Bio: Dr. Chris Fuzie is the owner of CMF Leadership Consulting and currently serves as the Business/HR Manager for a District Attorney’s office in California. A Leaderologist II and President of the National Leaderology Association, Chris holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), M.A., and B.A. in Organizational Leadership, with graduate certificates in Human Resources and Criminal Justice Education.

Since 2010, he has developed and delivered leadership training for public, private, profit, and non-profit organizations. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a former national instructor for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and California P.O.S.T. Courses. Chris is the author of Because Why... Understanding Behavior in Exigencies, S.C.O.R.E. Performance Counseling: Save the Relationship, Change the Behavior, and his latest book, Liminal Space: Reshaping Leadership and Followership.

Chris is honorably retired from the Modesto Police Department after 28 years of service, having led teams including the Homicide Team, Hostage Negotiations Team, Street-Level Drug Team, School Police Officer Team, and the Traffic Motor Unit.

Dr. Fuzie on Social Media: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-chris-fuzie-ed-d-m-a-ol-vl2-37587934/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090255232861

https://www.facebook.com/chris.fuzie/

https://x.com/CMFLeadership

WEBSITE:

https://www.cmfleadership.com/

https://www.scoreperformancecounseling.com/

We dig into the systems she and her team have put in place to support staff, build teacher-led professional development, and align their work around a shared vision rooted in ROAR: Relationships, Opportunity, Accountability, and Rigor. You’ll hear how her team has achieved a 95% staff retention rate and how small, intentional acts—like student-written postcards of appreciation and teacher shoutouts—help fuel a positive culture of gratitude.

Shauna also shares her approach to being present in the building, the importance of hallway zones and rolling desks, and how she's using data, teacher voice, and intentional leadership to make a lasting difference for her students and staff.

About Shauna Haney: Before becoming the principal of Ogden High School, Shauna Haney served as an assistant principal and taught exercise science, health, special education, and physical education. She’s a two-time Teacher of the Year and received a Distinguished Leadership Award in 2014. Known for her forward-thinking leadership, Shauna helped Ogden become one of Utah’s first schools to implement a no cell phone policy. Her focus on building a strong, supportive school culture has led to an impressive 90–95% staff retention rate post-COVID, and under her guidance, the school has made tremendous gains in literacy, graduation, PBIS, and talent development. Shauna credits the school’s success to the powerful synergy between staff, students, and a deeply supportive community.

Email Shauna: haneys@ogdensd.org

Books Mentioned:

The Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself – By Stephen Trzeciak & Anthony Mazzarelli

Rerouting: Resilience Tools and Tactics – By Duncan Kirkwood

Driven by Data: A Practical Guide to Improve Instruction

– By Paul Bambrick-Santoyo

Jeff opens up about his unconventional path to school leadership, including his service in the U.S. Army Reserves, a career in coaching, and his early days as a rookie head football coach and math teacher. He shares what inspired his transition to administration and how a single conversation set him on a leadership journey grounded in systems thinking and relationship building.

Topics covered include:

• The power of systems to reduce chaos and create consistency
• A 60-90-30 day transition plan for new school leaders
• How to foster collective buy-in to support schoolwide accountability
• Jeff’s approach to culture-first leadership and his school’s cell phone policy journey
• Why listening is a non-negotiable skill for new administrators
• How podcasting helps Jeff sharpen his leadership skills

If you're stepping into school leadership—or looking to sharpen your systems and culture-building strategies—this episode is packed with insight and practical takeaways. Plus, Jeff shares how his podcast, Educational Leadership with Principal JL, is helping leaders grow and connect.

📩 Connect with Jeff:

• Email: the.principal.jl@gmail.com
• Podcast: Educational Leadership with Principal JL (available on all major platforms)
• Social Media: Find his handles through his podcast page
• More contact info:  https://dot.cards/principal_jl

Jeff Linden is the Principal of Hastings High School in Nebraska and the host of t the Educational Leadership with Principal JL podcast. With over 17 years in education, Jeff brings a wealth of experience as a teacher, coach, and school leader. A military veteran, Jeff’s leadership is grounded in discipline, systems thinking, and a passion for building strong school culture. He holds multiple advanced degrees in leadership and curriculum and is committed to empowering educators, supporting student success, and fostering collaborative school communities.

Miguel explains how a single teacher, Coach Danny Randolph, changed the trajectory of his life by believing in him. Now, Miguel pays that belief forward through a culture-first leadership approach rooted in visibility, relationship-building, and care.

A highlight of their conversation is the “Beyond the Classroom” program, an initiative where staff use their passions—whether it’s budgeting, button sewing, or pickleball—to teach students life skills and, more importantly, to build trust and authentic connections.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• The importance of being vulnerable and owning your story as a leader
• Why giving “every kid a champion” isn’t optional—it’s essential
• A framework for building authentic relationships through schoolwide culture systems
• The role of self-care, balance, and spiritual growth in sustaining great leadership

Whether you're a new principal or a veteran leader, Miguel’s story and leadership model will inspire you to see the potential in every child—and in yourself.

Guest Bio: Miguel Salazar is the principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, Texas. Before assuming his current role, he served as a math teacher, coach, assistant principal, and high school principal. Miguel is committed to fostering positive school culture, promoting equity, and ensuring every student’s success. His leadership philosophy centers on shared accountability, high expectations, and building strong, authentic relationships with students and staff. Through innovative programs like “Beyond the Classroom,” Miguel and his team ensure every student has a champion who sees them not just for who they are today, but for who they can become.

Joe and Darrin discuss everything from rethinking first-day icebreakers to helping students tackle real-world issues like mental health and community leadership. You’ll hear stories about students taking charge, serving their communities, and building relationships that last beyond the school walls. If you’re looking for actionable ways to build student agency and school culture—this episode delivers.

🎧 About Joe LaTorre:

Joe LaTorre’s unconventional journey—from finance to an unexpected stint with the Teletubbies—ultimately led him to his true calling: education. What began as a passion for inspiring a love of reading and writing grew into a mission to equip students and adults with the skills and mindsets needed to thrive in an ever-changing world. Through leadership development, innovation, and a focus on purpose, his work challenges apathy and unlocks potential.

As the founder of Bridges, a partnership between two Long Island school districts, Joe has helped teenagers develop leadership and communication skills to shape their futures. A two-time New York State Teaching Award winner, he has led district-wide initiatives, presented at regional and national forums, and been featured in multiple media outlets. Known for bringing people together and fostering cultures of success, Joe continues to explore new ways to create transformative educational experiences.

📱 Follow Joe on Instagram: @TheJoeLaTorre

🌐 Learn more at: www.JosephLaTorre.net

Walker has transformed East into a school where inclusivity, student empowerment, and academic excellence thrive. With nearly two decades at the school, she reflects on her growth as a leader, the intentional systems she's built to elevate student voice, and how she's making time to deeply connect with teachers post-pandemic.

This episode explores how school culture is built through trust, visibility, and authenticity—and why Terita believes joy is found in the journey.

About Terita Walker

Walker is the principal of Denver East High School in Colorado. Through intentional leadership and a deep commitment to equity, she has fostered a culture where students and staff thrive. She regularly engages with East’s 90+ affinity groups, hosts monthly coffee chats, co-leads community events, and credits the school’s success to the collective work of students, staff, families, alumni, and district partners.

With honesty and humor, Sheri unpacks her leadership “survival can”—the key tools and values that have helped her build continuity, shared leadership, and school-wide improvement. She discusses the power of relationships, the importance of hiring for fit and culture, and how her team’s deep trust has fueled meaningful change.

Plus, we hear about Schoenbar’s legendary student survival trip, an experience unlike any other that not only connects students to nature—but serves as a powerful metaphor for leadership.

This episode is filled with truth bombs, laughter, and deep insight into what it means to lead with heart in challenging and beautiful places.

Guest Bio:

Sherilynn Boehlert is the principal of Schoenbar Middle School in Ketchikan, Alaska. Previously, she served as the school’s assistant principal and was the principal of Point Higgins Elementary School, which was named a National Blue Ribbon School under her leadership. Boehlert is a graduate of Arizona State University West’s Leadership for Educational Entrepreneurs program and is deeply committed to student-centered decision-making, inclusive leadership, and data-driven practices that build strong, collaborative environments.

Connect with Schoenbar Middle School:

📘 Facebook: Schoenbar Middle School

🌐 Website: Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District

Teacher evaluation has long been a source of frustration—for both educators and administrators. In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, I sit down with Craig Randall, the developer and author of Trust-Based Observations, to reimagine what teacher observation can and should look like.

Craig shares how shifting the focus from ratings to relationships not only supports teacher growth but also transforms school culture. We talk about why most traditional evaluation models actually hinder innovation, how to build psychologically safe spaces for professional learning, and what it takes to move from a compliance-based mindset to one of curiosity, collaboration, and trust.

You’ll also hear:

• The 9 key pedagogical focus areas of the TBO system
• How to navigate time and legal constraints with TBO
• Why great teachers still need—and crave—strong feedback
• What Brene Brown’s “trust marbles” have to do with better instructional leadership
• How leaders can model the exact mindset they want teachers to bring to their classrooms

Whether you’re a district leader, principal, or aspiring administrator, this episode will challenge your assumptions and offer a clear path to better, more human-centered instructional leadership.

👤 About Craig Randall

Craig Randall is the developer and author of Trust-Based Observations. Over the past 30+ years, he has worked in education as a counselor, coach, teacher, and principal. Today, Craig trains school leaders around the globe in the TBO system—a framework that replaces fear-based evaluations with trust-driven feedback, resulting in stronger instruction, teacher innovation, and school cultures rooted in psychological safety.

Craig is also the host of the 20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance (On the Road with Trust-Based Observations) podcast, where he highlights real conversations with classroom teachers about what makes great teaching and learning come alive. He frequently speaks at education conferences and is currently working on his second book.

📘 Learn more at: trustbased.com

📧 Contact: craig@trustbased.com

🎙️ Podcast: 20 Minutes of Teaching Brilliance

📱 Connect:

• X/Twitter: @TrustBasedCraig
• LinkedIn: Craig Randall
• Facebook + Instagram: Craig Randall
• Bluesky: @trustbasedcraig.bsky.social

Tony shares how his leadership journey evolved from managing to truly leading, and how a single conference keynote transformed his outlook. We dive into his groundbreaking peer observation model that has generated more than 3,000 teacher visits, fostered collective efficacy, and built a culture where everyone grows together. From collegiality cafes to popcorn lesson invitations, Tony’s story is a masterclass in empowering educators and redefining professional development.

This conversation is packed with actionable leadership insights, a healthy dose of humility, and yes—a metaphor involving Buffalo chicken dip that perfectly sums up what it means to lead with purpose and pride.

Learn more about NASSP's Principal of the Year program at https://www.nassp.org/news/nassp-announces-national-principal-of-the-year-finalists/

Dr. Lewis discusses the culture shift at his school, his “so what, now what” mindset, and why proper preparation, intentional systems, and relentless focus on every student have made the difference. He also opens up about how his personal story fuels his mission—and how being a national finalist is a platform for advocacy, equity, and excellence in public education.

Key Topics:

• Vision-driven leadership and systems thinking
• Accelerating achievement while addressing inequity
• Listening as a leadership superpower
• The impact of culturally responsive leadership
• Why excuses build bridges to nowhere

Learn more about NASSP's Principal of the Year program at https://www.nassp.org/news/nassp-announces-national-principal-of-the-year-finalists/

Chris and Darrin dive into:

• Why building trust, belonging, and relationships is non-negotiable
• Practical ways to shift from rows to collaboration
• How to engage a phone-based generation of learners
• Creating emotionally grounded classrooms and leadership environments
• The power of gratitude, intentional reflection, and grace

Chris shares his powerful 5+1 framework rooted in his doctoral research and personal journey—and leaves listeners with a call to lead through kindness, not just because it feels good, but because it works.

Bio: Dr. Christopher Culver is a highly sought-after, dynamic, and engaging speaker. He is a proud product of Oklahoma public education. Raised in a divorced family, he split his time between Tulsa during the week, a 300-acre farm in Wyandotte, OK, and several times throughout the year in Fayetteville, NC.

For more than a decade, Dr. Culver has served educational communities as a classroom teacher, secondary principal, and, most recently, as a cabinet-level administrator. He is the former President of the Oklahoma Association for Bilingual Education and currently serves as Vice President of the Oklahoma Citizens for Education nonprofit. Today, he works as a speaker and leading thought partner on the Science of Kindness, a consultant with expertise in culture and Gen Z/Gen Alpha understanding, and a part-time professor at Oklahoma City University, where he teaches future teachers and leaders.

Earning an EdD through research on culture and the collective impact on motivation, Dr. Culver is dedicated to spreading kindness, improving mindsets, and creating spaces where everyone is seen, heard, valued, and respected. He believes that if you cannot find the light, be the light!

Website: www.orangesparrow.org

Email/contact info: christopher@orangesparrow.org

Social Media: @DrChrisCulver

If you’re looking to improve your hiring systems, strengthen your culture, or simply need inspiration to keep growing as a leader—this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Todd: www.toddnesloney.com

📘 Check out Todd’s books, including Kids Deserve It and Building Authenticity

📷 Follow Todd @TechNinjaTodd on all social media

🎧 Learn more about Darrin’s leadership work at www.roadtoawesome.net

Together, they walk through a four-phase leadership cycle — Prepare, Perform, Refine, and Renew — with clear examples and strategies for turning vision into actionable leadership habits. From setting a focused instructional plan and building relational momentum to addressing systemic barriers and reflecting on growth, this episode is packed with practical tools leaders can use immediately.

They also share insights into their new collaborative initiative, Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network, a cohort-based leadership experience in partnership with the North Carolina Middle Level Educators Association (NCMLE). This program is designed to provide wraparound support for middle school principals through coaching, workshops, and peer connection throughout the school year.

Key Topics:

• How to create daily leadership practices tied to big goals
• Using clarity to drive instructional priorities
• Leveraging team alignment and inter-rater reliability
• The power of intentional culture-building
• Systems that free up time — like tiered behavior and email strategies
• Tools like SWOT and Start-Stop-Continue-Consider for reflection and renewal
• The launch of the Middle Ground cohort for North Carolina middle school leaders

Resources & Links:

• Get Darrin’s Principal Planning Tool 
• Learn more about Frederick at frederickbuskey.com
• Join the NCMLE Middle Ground: Leadership Excellence Network -   If you are super interested but don’t live in NC, drop me a line and we’ll figure out a way to support you.
• Subscribe to the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast
• Sign up for Darrin’s weekly leadership email at roadtoawesome.net
• Frederick's Email: frederick@frederickbuskey.com
• Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting
• Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a
• The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Darrin is joined by longtime friend and national thought leader Nathan Eklund, founder of Vital Network, to explore how schools can reimagine themselves as vibrant, sustainable workplaces for educators. With over 20 years in education, including a decade in the classroom and a career dedicated to improving adult work culture in schools, Nate brings deep insight into what truly moves the needle when it comes to retention, satisfaction, and sustainable leadership.

This is not another episode about bubble baths and yoga. Nate and Darrin dive deep into systemic solutions—why burnout is often misunderstood, how leadership isolation contributes to turnover, and what schools and systems can do to create cultures where teachers and leaders actually want to stay.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ Why burnout is a systems issue, not an individual weakness

✅ How workplace conditions—not perks—determine retention

✅ The power of rethinking daily routines like staff meetings to improve morale

✅ How to support multiple generations of educators under one roof

✅ The overlooked burnout crisis among principals and school leaders

✅ What it means to lead with the phrase: “I don’t know—what do you think?”

✅ How Vital Network partners with states and districts to make long-term, scalable change

✅ Why the best recruitment strategy is being a place people want to work

One Big Takeaway:

Listening isn’t soft leadership—it’s the strategic superpower of leaders who want to build trust, engagement, and longevity in their schools.

Connect with Nate Eklund:

🌐 Website: vitalnetwork.com

📧 Email: nate@vitalnetwork.com

📘 Nate's book: How was your day at school?

About the Show:

Leaning Into Leadership is the podcast for school and district leaders who are ready to rise above the daily grind and lead with clarity, purpose, and impact. Hosted by Dr. Darrin Peppard—leadership coach, keynote speaker, and author of Road to Awesome—each episode brings practical strategies, authentic conversations, and powerful stories from education changemakers across the country.

In this episode, Darrin is joined by international educator and podcast host Rob McLeod to explore a critical leadership conversation: school alignment. Drawing from his own career across three countries and multiple school systems, Rob shares how he rediscovered his passion by finding alignment between his personal values and the work his school was doing.

Together, they discuss:

• The three distinct types of schools: Expert, Coach, and Counselor
• How to identify your school’s default leadership style
• Why many schools unintentionally pull in different directions
• How leaders can use a values-based framework to bring their school into alignment
• The importance of understanding staff priorities: Responsibility, Achievement, or Meaning

Rob’s upcoming book, Schools That Give an F, offers practical tools for school leaders to create environments where every educator contributes meaningfully.

🎧 Learn more and connect with Rob here: https://linktr.ee/reinventingeducationpodcast

Check out Rob's kickstarter for his forthcoming book here

Darrin and Chad unpack the mistakes too many schools make—like treating PD as a day, not a movement—and offer a practical, strategic approach to make learning stick all year long. You'll hear about:

• How to build clarity into every phase of your PD plan
• The power of tiered professional development
• Why leaders must model differentiated support
• How to avoid turning your PD initiative into “the villain”
• Planning walkthroughs, building internal capacity, and protecting your time as a leader
• And how Teach Better + Road to Awesome are partnering to offer aligned leadership and instructional growth

Whether you’re a new principal or a veteran leader, this episode is packed with practical steps to help you develop PD that actually leads to instructional improvement.

👉 Learn more and schedule a conversation at www.roadtoawesome.net

👉 Connect with Chad and the Teach Better Team at www.teachbetter.com

Kevin shares his personal journey from chasing laughs to chasing success, including a pivotal life moment that redefined how he views choices and consequences. Drawing on his experiences as a K–12 teacher and professional musician, Kevin now fuses music, humor, and vulnerability to deliver unforgettable mental health and leadership programming for schools across the country.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Kevin’s transformation from educator to keynote speaker
• The importance of teaching students a process for decision-making
• Why motivational talks fall short — and how his “Visionary Values” program creates lasting change
• His favorite stories and questions from students (including one involving a flugelhorn!)
• How he’s leaning into leadership by leaning back into his own self-care

Whether you’re a principal seeking meaningful programming for your students or a leader reflecting on the power of our own past, this episode will inspire you to show up more intentionally — for yourself and for those you serve.

📍 Learn more about Kevin’s work and book him to speak: www.kevinmecchella.com

Ronn shares reflections from his journey — from a classroom in Hawaii to national leadership — and discusses how listening, connection, and collaboration are reshaping the future of educational leadership. You'll also hear about the value of NASSP’s Principal of the Year program and the upcoming United Conference in Seattle.

Key Takeaways:

• Why school leaders today are true heroes and must be seen as professionals
• The impact of rapid turnover in leadership roles and how to navigate it
• How NASSP fosters deep, authentic professional learning
• Why listening is one of the most powerful leadership moves
• The value of peer networks and nationwide connection through the United Conference

About Ronn Nozoe:

Ronn Nozoe is a lifelong educator and the Chief Executive Officer of NASSP. He has held leadership roles at ASCD, the U.S. Department of Education, and across Hawaii’s Department of Education. A former principal and teacher, Ronn brings decades of wisdom and a deep commitment to transforming education through school leadership.

Links Mentioned:

• Learn more about NASSP: nassp.org
• Explore the United Conference: unitedconference.org

Guest Bio:

Dr. Brandi Kelly is an accomplished author, speaker, podcaster, coach, and consultant with a passion for building thriving organizational culture. With over 20 years of experience, she is dedicated to empowering leaders to inspire growth, create positive change, and cultivate environments where success thrives. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Maxwell Certified Coach, Dr. Kelly is the recipient of numerous leadership honors, including the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award and Middle School Principal of the Year Award. She is also the founder of Spark Hope EDU. Learn more at www.sparkhopeedu.com.

Key Takeaways:

• How personal tragedy inspired Brandi’s journey into education
• The HOPE system and how it builds self-efficacy
• Why reflection isn’t optional for leaders—it’s essential
• The role of optimism, purpose, and habits in resilient leadership
• What it looks like to lead with hope in today’s schools

Links & Resources:

• Connect with Brandi at www.sparkhopeedu.com
• Grab your copy of Lead with Hope (available May 5!)
• Follow Brandi on social media @SparkHopeEDU
• Subscribe to the Lead with Hope Podcast
• Learn more about Darrin’s work and speaking: www.roadtoawesome.net

Jimmy shares how Culturize became the game-changing book it is today, why so many school leaders fall into “fixer” mode, and how coaching has changed the game for him and countless leaders. We also talk about the evolving landscape of school leadership, the importance of building leadership capacity, and his belief that culture is caused—by adults, not students.

Whether you're early in your leadership journey or a seasoned veteran, this conversation is packed with practical insights, authentic reflection, and coaching wisdom that will inspire and equip you to lead with clarity and purpose.

🔗 Connect with Jimmy Casas: https://www.jimmycasas.com

📘 Learn more about Culturize and Words on the Wall

📣 Book Jimmy to speak or coach your team

👤 About Jimmy Casas

Jimmy Casas served twenty-two years as a school leader. He is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and leadership coach who has dedicated his career to building better school culture and stronger school leaders. Under Jimmy’s leadership, Bettendorf High School was named one of the best high schools in the country three times by Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. He was the 2012 Iowa Principal of the Year and the runner-up NASSP 2013 National Principal of the Year. In 2014, he was invited to the White House to speak on the Future Ready Pledge, and in 2015, he received the Bammy Award for National Principal of the Year.

Check out Darrin as a guest on Jimmy's podcast The Interview Chair

Together, Darrin and Will dive deep into the real and raw experiences of school leadership. Will shares his journey from teacher to principal, including the moment he almost walked away from education—and the letter of resignation that changed his life. They explore the importance of reflection, well-being, and why leaders must pour into themselves before they can lead others.

They also discuss Will’s latest book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love, and how leaders can take back their autonomy by acting with clarity, curiosity, and intention.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership begins with personal wellness: Will's turning point came through a wake-up call at home, leading him to redefine how he approached leadership.
• The question every educator should ask: Whose permission are you waiting for?
• Leading with curiosity can unlock clarity and drive real school improvement.
• Scaling your influence is not about doing more—it’s about sharing your expertise and elevating others.
• Reflection and coaching provide the safe space leaders need to grow.

Quotes:

"You become a better leader when you start pouring into yourself."

"You don't need someone's permission to do what's right for kids."

"Scaling your influence is an obligation. Don't keep your expertise to yourself."

"Curiosity + Inquiry = Discovery. That's the formula for powerful leadership."

Connect with William D. Parker:

• Website: williamdparker.com
• Email: will@williamdparker.com
• LinkedIn: William D. Parker
• Instagram: @william_d_parker
• Facebook: William Davis Parker

Resources Mentioned:

• Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? by William D. Parker
• Pause. Breathe. Flourish. by William D. Parker
• The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
• Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast hosted by Will Parker

Want more? Visit roadtoawesome.net for leadership coaching, professional development, and keynote speaking that inspires and equips school leaders to lean into their purpose and lead with clarity.

This month, the Three Amigos—Darrin Peppard, Todd Bloomer, and Dominic Armano—are back with an episode that dives headfirst into one of the most common questions they get:

“How do I land that principal job?”

From the nerves of the interview to that surreal moment when you finally kick your feet up in the principal’s chair (even if it only lasts 10 minutes), this episode is packed with real talk, practical tips, and plenty of laughs.

Whether you're just starting to think about school leadership or are gearing up for your third-round interview, this is the episode for you.

🎯 What We Talk About:

• How to prepare for interviews (and what not to say)
• The fine line between confidence and cockiness
• Doing your homework on the school, superintendent, and district
• Making a strong impression with school colors, mission alignment, and personal touches
• Internal vs. external candidates: how to stand out
• What to do when you don’t get the job
• The importance of being your authentic self—and including your family in your story

Plus, Todd drops some killer one-liners (as always), Dom gets nostalgic, and Darrin makes peace with the Rockies' rough start to the season.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Be humble, but don’t undersell your leadership experience
• Research isn’t just about the school—it’s about the people
• Scenario-based interview questions are your friend
• Rejection isn’t the end—it’s a chance to reflect and grow
• Your personality and values matter just as much as your resume

🧢 Bonus Tips:

• Wear the school colors
• Use the school’s hashtag or mission language
• Bring a notebook and call interviewers by name
• Answer with “I did,” not “I would”

Subscribe so you don’t miss a single episode, and connect with us on social to keep the leadership conversation going.

🛣️ Until next time, have a Road to Awesome week.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard welcomes his long-time friend and leadership expert, Dr. Frank Rudnesky. Together, they explore the critical role of student leadership in schools and how empowering students can profoundly impact school culture. Dr. Rudnesky shares personal stories, practical strategies, and lessons from his latest book, Igniting Students’ Passions: Empowering Lifelong Leaders. The conversation touches on creating leadership opportunities for all students, fostering trust, and igniting passions that inspire lifelong leadership skills.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is not confined to titles; it’s a choice and a mindset.
• Creating intentional leadership opportunities for students helps them discover their potential and sets them on a path of lifelong leadership.
• Empowering students to step out of their comfort zones and take ownership of their learning fosters a positive and inclusive school culture.
• Practical strategies like leadership academies, service projects, and mentorship programs can help schools cultivate student leaders.
• Amplifying the voices of students and educators builds strong, connected communities and reinforces the importance of servant leadership.

Connect with Dr. Rudnesky at FiredUpLeadership.org, via email at FrankRudnesky@gmail.com, or on X, Instagram, and TikTok @DrFrankRud.

Chris shares powerful insights into shifting school leadership from crisis mode—something many leaders have felt stuck in since the pandemic—to a more proactive, intentional leadership approach. He emphasizes the importance of serving each and every student, rather than focusing broadly on “all students,” and how this subtle yet powerful shift in mission can transform school culture.

Throughout the conversation, Chris offers practical strategies leaders can immediately implement, including prioritizing classroom visits, giving actionable and meaningful feedback, and ensuring leadership teams stay focused on what truly matters most—teaching and learning.

Key takeaways from this episode:

• Why proactive leadership is crucial in moving beyond crisis-driven schools.
• How shifting from “all” students to “each and every” student can profoundly impact your school’s culture.
• Practical ways to protect your calendar and prioritize instructional leadership.
• Strategies for developing and empowering leadership teams through intentional professional growth.

This episode is packed with leadership wisdom and practical insights that will help you and your team refocus, reenergize, and recommit to the most important work in education.

Connect with Chris Dormer:

• Email: cdormer@nasd.k12.pa.us
• LinkedIn: Christopher Dormer
• Website: Norristown Area School District

Book Darrin for your next event!

Darrin Peppard is currently booking keynotes and workshops for opening convocations, teacher and principal conferences, and leadership development events. If you want to set the stage for an unforgettable school year or inspire meaningful growth at your next conference, reach out to Darrin today!

• Website: roadtoawesome.net
• Email: darrinmpeppard@roadtoawesome.net
• Connect on LinkedIn: Darrin Peppard

Listen, Subscribe, and Share!

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with your network. Your feedback helps us bring you more incredible conversations!

Leaning Into Leadership is available wherever you listen to podcasts—be sure to subscribe today!

He celebrates the community of listeners who have supported the podcast, discusses the evolution of guest selection towards more educational leaders based on audience feedback, and emphasizes how consistency, clarity, and credibility have become foundational values of his leadership philosophy. Throughout the episode, Darrin highlights the profound relationships and opportunities fostered through podcasting, including friendships, collaborations, and impactful professional growth.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Value of Commitment:
• Inspiration drawn from a flight attendant’s 30-year service pin story.
• The importance of consistently showing up and following through on commitments.
• Impactful Guests and Relationships:
• Reflecting on meaningful conversations with guests such as Katie Kinder, Dominic Armano, Todd Bloomer, Greg Bennick, Bradley Skinner, Luis Báez, Lauren Kaufman, Sean Gaillard, and Joshua Stamper.
• How these relationships evolved into friendships, business opportunities, and collaborative projects like co-authoring Culture First Classrooms.
• Listening and Responding to Audience Feedback:
• Observing analytics and listener communication to shift the podcast focus toward more educational leadership topics.
• Renewed commitment to align episodes closely with listeners' interests and needs.
• Personal and Professional Growth:
• The critical lesson learned about consistency driving clarity, trust, and credibility.
• How the podcast has enhanced Darrin’s visibility, leading to speaking engagements, coaching opportunities, and deeper professional connections.

Notable Moments:

• Darrin’s personal story about missing only one Sunday episode due to emergency gallbladder surgery, highlighting his deep dedication to listeners.
• Revisiting Alex Sheen’s "Because I Said I Would" story, emphasizing the power of promises and follow-through.
• Highlighting listener feedback about recent episodes and their impactful insights, such as Rae Hughart's email productivity tips.

Pep Talk (Action Step):

• Darrin invites listeners to make a commitment today that positively impacts their leadership journey, whether personal, professional, or relational. He encourages reflection on empowering others, clarifying visions, and deepening commitment.

Connect with Darrin:

• Engage on social media platforms.
• Leave a five-star review to help expand the podcast’s reach and impact.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment!

Get your copy of Culture First Classrooms right here!!

In this episode, Darrin Peppard sits down with Rae Hughart, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of the Teachers Deserve It (TDI) movement. Rae is passionate about empowering educators to reclaim their time, reduce burnout, and amplify their impact in the classroom.

Rae shares the intriguing backstory behind the TDI movement, starting from an unexpected dinner conversation that led to co-authoring the book Teachers Deserve It with Adam Welcome. She emphasizes the importance of practical, sustainable teaching strategies that genuinely give teachers back their time and autonomy.

Key highlights from this episode include:

• Origin Story of "Teachers Deserve It": How a dinner conversation with Adam Welcome sparked the creation of a movement and a bestselling book.
• Practical Tips to Save Time: Rae details a powerful email automation strategy that helped a teacher reclaim five hours of their week. This simple yet effective tip provides immediate value for educators overwhelmed by their inboxes.
• Supporting Paraprofessionals: Rae discusses the crucial role of paraprofessionals in schools and shares how the TDI team responded to community requests by creating dedicated training bundles specifically designed to uplift and support paraprofessional staff.
• Content Creation and Problem-Solving: Rae provides insights for educators interested in creating impactful content online. Her advice: clearly identify problems and offer actionable solutions.
• Leaning into Leadership: Rae reflects on her growth as a leader, specifically emphasizing the importance of active listening, facilitating reflection, and allowing time for solutions to emerge naturally.

Connect with Rae Hughart:

• Website: TeachersDeserveIt.com
• Social Media: @RaeHughart
• TikTok: @RaeHughartEDU

Free Resource:

• Email Automation Download (available via TeachersDeserveIt.com)

Tune in to learn practical strategies to save time, reduce burnout, and re-center your practice on what truly matters—because teachers deserve better.

Highlights from the Episode:

• Strategies to captivate students from the first day of school
• Infusing joy and fun into everyday learning experiences
• Practical classroom management tips for lasting student engagement
• Inspiring educators to embrace their authentic teaching style

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Katie's TED Talk
• Episode of Teaching Champions (Referenced in #PepTalk)
• Katie's Website

Connect with Katie Kinder:

• Twitter/X: @KatieKinder1
• Instagram: @untoldteachingtruths

Connect with Darrin:

• Book Darrin to speak at your school or conference
• Explore insightful leadership tips on Darrin’s Blog
• Join the Road to Awesome Email List
• Submit your book idea to Road to Awesome

Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools launches tomorrow, March 17! This book is packed with insights from educators across the country on how to build a thriving school culture. Don’t miss out!

Get it NOW on Amazon or Barnes & Noble or get an autographed copy here

In This Episode, We Cover:

• How AI is reshaping education and why schools need to embrace it
• The biggest misconceptions about AI in schools
• Practical ways school leaders and teachers can integrate AI into their daily work
• How Gruvy Education is making AI training accessible and actionable for educators
• AI tools that can save educators time and improve efficiency

Connect with William Grube & Gruvy Education:

• Website: Gruvy Education
• Twitter (X): @gruvyeducation
• Instagram: @gruvyeducation
• Facebook: Gruvy Education
• LinkedIn: William Grube
• YouTube: Gruvy Education

Join the Conversation:

If you found today’s episode valuable, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review the Leaning Into Leadership podcast. Share this episode with fellow educators and leaders who are looking to harness the power of AI in their schools!

Thanks for tuning in—until next time, keep leading with purpose!

David also offers a sneak peek into his contribution to Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools, the new book by Darrin Peppard and Katie Kinder, launching on March 17th. In his chapter, David explores how establishing clear expectations from day one leads to a positive and sustainable culture, both inside and outside the classroom.

Key Takeaways:

1. Building Capacity: The importance of teacher leadership in maintaining school culture, especially with the frequent turnover of school administrators.
2. Wolfpack Workshop: How this in-house professional development model at Winkler Middle School empowers teachers and drives student achievement.
3. Culture First Classrooms: Insights from David's chapter on setting expectations and building a culture of trust and accountability.
4. NCMLE 2025 Conference: An overview of the upcoming conference and its evolution into a national-level event for middle school educators.
5. Leadership Advice: Practical tips for teachers looking to take on more leadership roles in their schools.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Culture First Classrooms – Launching March 17th!
• The Wolfpack Workshop at Winkler Middle School.
• NCMLE 2025 Conference – March 23rd-25th in Charlotte, NC.
• Book: Culturize by Jimmy Casas.

Connect with David James:

• Twitter/X: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle
• Instagram: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle
• TikTok: @HeroicHistory22 | @NCMiddle
• Facebook: @NCMLE
• Website: www.ncmle.org

Connect with Darrin Peppard:

• Twitter/X: @DarrinMPeppard
• LinkedIn: Darrin Peppard
• Website: roadtoawesome.net

Call to Action:

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! Make sure to grab your copy of Culture First Classrooms when it launches on March 17th and check out the NCMLE 2025 Conference for more amazing professional learning opportunities.

Thanks for listening, and keep leaning into leadership!

They dive deep into how disempowerment impacts school leaders, teachers, and students—and what we can do about it. Bobby shares his journey from principal to leadership coach, the lessons he learned along the way, and why the behaviors we model as leaders shape school culture more than anything else.

🔹 Before the episode starts, Darrin shares some BIG NEWS!

His new book, Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools, co-authored with Katie Kinder, is coming in March! Stay tuned for sneak peeks, exclusive pre-order bonuses, and powerful insights from 23 amazing educators. 📚✨

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✅ The disempowerment many school leaders feel—and how to reclaim authority over your leadership.

✅ Why school culture is built through modeling, not mandates, and how leaders’ behaviors directly impact teachers and students.

✅ The flaws in traditional teacher evaluations and how school leaders can rethink professional learning to empower educators.

✅ How we can shift away from compliance-based leadership and focus on trust, collaboration, and meaningful change.

✅ Practical strategies for showing up as an empowering leader who nurtures talent instead of micromanaging it.

Meet Bobby Canosa-Carr

Bobby Canosa-Carr is a leadership coach, mindfulness teacher, and former school principal who has dedicated his career to transforming school culture. As a principal, he led the turnaround of a large high school in Los Angeles and later founded a charter school in San Pedro, California. He has worked in nonprofit organizations supporting hundreds of school leaders across 40 states as they navigate school transformation.

Bobby is the author of Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School, a book that challenges the power dynamics, rules, and rigid structures in education that often disempower students, teachers, and leaders alike.

📖 Get Bobby’s Book: Available on Amazon

🌐 Connect with Bobby: EnlightenedCoaching.us

Episode Highlights & Timestamp Guide

⏳ [00:00] – Introduction & Book Announcement: Culture First Classrooms is coming soon! 🚀

⏳ [03:15] – Introducing Bobby Canosa-Carr and the inspiration behind his book.

⏳ [07:30] – Why school leaders feel disempowered—and how Bobby discovered the power of coaching.

⏳ [12:45] – The impact of adult behaviors on school culture and why modeling is everything.

⏳ [17:20] – Rethinking teacher evaluations and professional learning—what’s really effective?

⏳ [24:00] – “What’s for Lunch?”—How sterile curriculum and professional development fail our schools.

⏳ [28:45] – The importance of leading with curiosity rather than always having the answer.

⏳ [31:30] – Bobby’s final insights on leaning into leadership through thoughtful questioning.

Resources & Links

📚 Darrin’s New Book! Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools – Coming March 2025! Stay tuned for exclusive updates.

📖 Bobby’s Book: Can I Go to the Bathroom? and Other Asinine Questions We Ask in School – Get it here

🌍 Connect with Bobby: EnlightenedCoaching.us

📲 Let’s Connect!

✅ Follow Darrin on LinkedIn

✅ Join the conversation on Twitter/X

✅ Subscribe to the Leaning Into Leadership Podcast on Apple Podcasts & Spotify

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to rate and review the show! Your support helps us bring more powerful conversations to education leaders like you.

🚀 Until next time, keep leaning into leadership!

Together, Darrin and Bradlee explore the role of teacher leadership, the dangers of the "just a teacher" mindset, and how school leaders can create environments that encourage collaboration, trust, and professional growth. They also discuss Bradlee’s impactful contribution to the upcoming book Culture First Classrooms, where he challenges the concept of classroom management in favor of classroom leadership.

If you've ever felt the weight of burnout or questioned your path in education, this episode will leave you inspired to own your story, embrace failure as a stepping stone, and create a culture where teachers and students thrive.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Teacher burnout vs. teacher beatdown – Understanding the emotional toll of teaching and what really drives educators to leave the profession.

✅ The power of second chances – Bradlee shares how mentorship, self-reflection, and leadership opportunities helped him rediscover his purpose.

✅ Shifting from classroom management to classroom leadership – Why building relationships and empowering students is more effective than simply managing behavior.

✅ Teacher leadership matters – Practical ways teachers can lead without leaving the classroom, and how administrators can create space for leadership to flourish.

✅ Culture and climate in schools – How small actions from school leaders, such as eliminating the "just a teacher" mentality, can transform staff engagement.

✅ Failing forward – Why embracing failure is crucial for student growth, teacher development, and leadership success.

Connect with Bradlee W. Skinner:

📲 Follow Bradlee on social media: @BradleeWSkinner on Instagram, Twitter (X), TikTok, and Facebook.

📩 Reach out to Bradlee for speaking, coaching, or leadership support.

Resources & Mentions:

📖 Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools (Coming Soon!)

🎙 Listen to past episodes of Leaning Into Leadership at RoadToAwesome.net

Katie and Darrin share personal stories about their paths as educators, what led them to co-write this book, and how they selected 21 amazing contributors to share their insights. They also explore why great teaching is an art, not a formula, and how school leaders can support teachers in building a culture-first approach to education.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Culture comes first—without strong relationships and a supportive environment, no initiative will thrive.

✅ Teaching is artistry—there’s no single way to be effective, and great educators bring energy, fun, and connection to their work.

✅ Leadership impacts everything—when educators feel empowered and valued, they take more risks and push students to succeed.

✅ This book is a lifeline—it’s filled with real, actionable insights from educators leading the way in post-pandemic classrooms.

About Katie Kinder:

Katie Kinder, author of Untold Teaching Truths and Hallway Leadership, is a passionate professional learning facilitator and education advocate. With nearly two decades in education, she inspires and equips teachers with real strategies to hook students from day one. A former Teacher of the Year and Top Five District Finalist, Katie brings energy, authenticity, and a deep love for educators everywhere.

Connect with Katie Kinder:

🌐 Website | 📌 Twitter/X | 📷 Instagram | 🔗 LinkedIn

Pre-Order the Book!

📖 Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools—Coming March 2025! Stay tuned for launch details and exclusive pre-order bonuses.

Bring Culture First to Your School!

Darrin and Katie are developing Culture First Coaching & Consulting, bringing hands-on leadership and instructional coaching to schools nationwide. If you’re interested in bringing Culture First to your school, reach out to learn how they can support your educators.

📩 Contact Darrin and Katie to bring Culture First Coaching to your school!

We dive into:

✅ The writing process—what it’s like to co-author a book and how it differs from writing solo

✅ How we identified the 21 incredible educators who contributed their insights

✅ The highs, lows, and unexpected moments in bringing this book to life

✅ What Culture First Classrooms truly means and why this book is so important for educators

This is an episode for anyone curious about the book-writing process, thinking about writing their own, or simply wanting a deeper look into what’s coming in March! Plus, I share a few sneak peeks from some of the powerful stories inside the book.

💌 Join the Email List: Want updates on the book release, exclusive pre-order bonuses, and behind-the-scenes insights? Sign up here: roadtoawesome.net

Looking for leadership coaching, professional development, or support for your leadership team? Let’s connect! Reach out via my website at roadtoawesome.net or connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, or Facebook. I’d love to support you on your leadership journey!

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Dr. Kelly Hastings, founder of Enlightening Leadership, a seasoned principal, leadership coach, and expert in implementation science.

Dr. Hastings shares her journey from teacher to principal, how leadership coaching transformed her leadership approach, and why building leadership capacity in schools is a moral imperative. She also dives into implementation science, an approach that helps schools sustain meaningful change, and discusses how leaders can grow and support aspiring leaders in their buildings.

If you've ever struggled with implementing new initiatives or wondered how to cultivate leadership in your school, this episode is packed with actionable strategies.

🎧 Key Takeaways:

✅ The role of mentorship and coaching in leadership growth

✅ How implementation science helps schools sustain change

✅ Strategies for growing and identifying aspiring leaders

✅ The importance of listening as a leader and empowering teams

✅ Unique challenges and strategies for middle school leadership

📌 Resources & Links:

🔹 Connect with Dr. Kelly Hastings: LinkedIn | Email: kelly@enlighteningleadership.com

🔹 Learn more about Implementation Science: Implement with Impact by Janice Pizzuto

Key Topics Covered:

✅ The IOU Leadership Framework: What it means to lead inward, outward, and upward.

✅ The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership: Why knowing yourself is the foundation for effective leadership.

✅ Building a Culture of Trust: The impact of relationships and shared leadership in schools.

✅ Living with Intention vs. Living by Default: How to shift from reactive to proactive leadership.

✅ PH2E Life Propeller Assessment: A tool to evaluate personal and professional growth.

✅ The Importance of Clear Vision and Common Language: How defining values and mission creates sustainable success in schools.

✅ Leader in Me & The 7 Habits: How Covey’s principles influenced his district’s transformation.

About Dr. Joe Famularo

Dr. Joe Famularo is a lifelong educator with over 34 years in the same district, including 18 as superintendent. Passionate about leadership and continuous improvement, he developed the IOU Leadership framework to help individuals and organizations create cultures of trust, purpose, and excellence. He is the author of IOU Life Leadershipand the upcoming book IOU School Leadership.

🔗 Explore IOU Leadership & Take the PH2E Assessment: IOULiving.com

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

🔹 Apple Podcasts | 🔹 Spotify | 🔹 YouTube | 🔹 Your favorite podcast platform

💡 What’s Your Biggest Leadership Takeaway? Share your thoughts with us on social media using #LeaningIntoLeadership!

Key Topics Discussed:

• Barb’s unique leadership role at Eastwood Global, combining International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum with the science of reading.
• The parallels and contrasts between traditional school leadership and leading in a virtual environment.
• Proven strategies for managing time, reducing stress, and setting boundaries as a school leader.
• The importance of saying “no” to unnecessary initiatives and focusing on what truly matters.
• How principals can develop self-belief and avoid the trap of comparison.
• Barb’s insights into the power of thought work and using affirmations to foster confidence and intentionality in leadership.
• Practical routines and habits for maintaining focus and avoiding overwhelm.

Key Takeaways for Listeners:

• Why removing email from your phone is a game changer for work-life balance.
• How to set boundaries that protect your time and energy while modeling the same for your staff.
• The transformative impact of focusing on thought work to create more positive emotions and actions.
• Why limiting initiatives and prioritizing depth over breadth benefits your entire school community.
• Actionable steps to create routines that align with your leadership vision and values.

About Barb Flowers:

Barb brings 14 years of public education experience, including six years as a principal, to her role as a leadership coach and educational leader. She helps principals overcome stress, manage their time effectively, and lead with purpose, all while balancing the demands of professional and personal life.

Connect with Barb Flowers:

• Podcast: The Principal's Handbook
• Website: barbflowerscoaching.com
• LinkedIn: Barb Flowers, PhD
• Instagram: @DrBarbFlowers

Topics Covered in This Episode:

1. Weathering the Storm (Literally and Figuratively): From snow days to unexpected challenges, the trio shares how school leaders navigate the unpredictability of their work while keeping students' needs at the forefront.
2. Making Tough Decisions: Darrin reflects on a recent blog post about the emotional and professional toll of making hard leadership calls. Todd and Dominic add their insights on balancing what's right for kids and the community while managing personal resilience.
3. Telling Your Story: Dominic leads a discussion on the importance of branding and public relations in education. Todd and Darrin share strategies to effectively showcase your school’s values and successes without fear of being seen as "flashy."
4. Learning from Other Leaders: Todd challenges Darrin and Dominic to share inspiring practices they've seen in schools recently, highlighting leadership newsletters and a deeply integrated SEL curriculum.
5. Focus for 2025: The group wraps up by sharing their personal resolutions and goals for the year, including self-care, leadership clarity, and embracing challenges.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leadership decisions are rarely black-and-white; staying focused on what's best for kids can guide tough choices.
2. Strong relationships and clear communication are essential for building trust and minimizing pushback.
3. Social media and storytelling are critical tools for creating a positive narrative about your school and its values.
4. Self-care isn't selfish—it's necessary for showing up as your best self in leadership roles.
5. Innovative ideas from peers and colleagues can inspire and improve your leadership practice.

Resources Mentioned:

1. Darrin’s blog post on leadership decisions
2. Fired Up Leadership by Dr. Frank Rudnesky

Connect with Us:

1. Darrin Peppard: Website | Twitter
2. Todd Bloomer: Twitter
3. Dominic Armano: Twitter

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Your support helps us bring more leadership insights to educators like you!

Anders Indset—known as "The Business Philosopher"—is a Norwegian-born writer and deep-tech investor. He is a four-time Spiegel best-selling author and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the most influential thinkers in technology and leadership for the years to come. 

With two decades of experience working with multinational companies, he is a trusted sparring partner for international CEOs and political leaders, and a guest lecturer at leading international business schools. Anders is the founder of the Njordis Group and the Global Institute of Leadership & Technology (GILT), as well as the initiator of numerous projects like the Quantum Economy Alliance. 

Anders is a bridge-builder between humanity and technology, shaping the economy of tomorrow with his practical philosophy. With his deep understanding of the impact of exponential technologies, Anders demonstrates how and why leadership and its relationship to philosophy are more relevant than ever. He firmly believes that in a world with nearly unlimited access to knowledge, a deeper understanding and the ability to anticipate future scenarios, combined with the development of interpersonal skills, will be the most sought-after qualities for leaders. 

His works have been translated into over 10 languages, and his new book, ‘The Viking Code – The Art & Science of Norwegian Success’, was released on October 8. His forthcoming ‘Singularity Paradox – Bridging the Gap Between Humanity & AI’ (www.singularityparadox.com) has been scheduled for Q1 2025, a book co-authored with renowned Quantum Physicist Dr. Florian Neukart.

Social Media: 

https://de.linkedin.com/in/andersindset

https://www.instagram.com/andersindset

http://twitter.com/andersindset

http://facebook.com/anders.indset

https://www.youtube.com/andersindset

Website: https://andersindset.com/

Email/contact info: 

engagement@andersindset.com

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The five lighthouse-inspired principles of effective leadership
• How to provide clarity and focus for your team during uncertain times
• The importance of being a consistent and visible presence in your school
• How to position yourself strategically to make the greatest impact
• The power of empowering your team and fostering trust
• Why creating a culture of hope and safety is essential for school success

Guiding Through Challenges

• Learn how to define your "true north" and guide your school community through obstacles with clear priorities and a shared vision.

Steadfast Presence

• Discover why consistency and visibility are key to building trust and creating stability for your team.

Strategic Positioning

• Explore how to focus your time and energy where it matters most to drive impactful outcomes for students and staff.

Shining a Light for Others

• Find out how empowering your team with clarity and support can create a culture of trust and shared ownership.

Symbol of Hope and Safety

• Understand how fostering a positive culture helps staff and students feel valued, supported, and ready to grow.

Share Your Thoughts: Did this episode inspire you to embrace the lighthouse principles in your leadership? Let us know your thoughts! Leave a review or share the episode on social media with your biggest takeaway. Don’t forget to tag us so we can join the conversation.

Blogpost link referenced in the episode - Be a Lighthouse: Five Guiding Principles for School Leaders in 2025

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The origin story of The Language of Behavior book and podcast.
• Why traditional disciplinary measures often fail and how to shift toward relational approaches.
• Insights into the push-in model and its transformative impact on classrooms.
• The power of grassroots leadership initiatives in fostering systemic change.
• How to "lean into leadership" by staying true to your values and beliefs.

Key Takeaways:

1. Behavior as a Message: Understand that behaviors are a form of communication and decoding them requires curiosity and compassion.
2. Team-Based Solutions: Building a collaborative team, like the Relationship Action Team, empowers educators to implement meaningful changes.
3. Proactive Strategies: Tools like the push-in model help address low-level infractions without removing students from the learning environment.
4. Invest in Teachers: Equipping teachers with practical strategies and fostering a sense of community can reignite their passion for education.
5. Authentic Leadership: Embrace your values and lead with authenticity to inspire trust and joy in your team.

Featured Quotes:

• "Behaviors are just the message. We can learn to decode them to better support our students." – Charlie Peck
• "When I stopped trying to meet others' expectations and leaned into who I am as a leader, everything changed for the better." – Joshua Stamper

Resources Mentioned:

• The Language of Behavior book (coming soon)
• The Language of Behavior podcast (available on all major platforms)
• Previous episodes featuring Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper

Connect with Our Guests:

• Charlie Peck: thrivingeducator.com @CharlePeck on all social media
• Joshua Stamper: joshuastamper.com @Joshua__Stamper on social media