The Modern Principal Podcast

Boss Goes the Wrong Way

What do you do when you disagree with your boss? This week on the pod, Karen and Christy tackle a common problem that is not-so-commonly resolved. We show you how to resolve a disagreement in opinion respectfully and effectively! 

Not My Circus...Yet!

In this episode, Christy & Karen take on a scenario from a building title reading/instructional coach who is assigned a new-to-her building and finding she is putting out fires and subbing in classrooms instead of the job she felt she was hired to do. We work through how to create connectedness to a new team and a new role--even when the work you find yourself doing isn't what you signed up to do! We also talk through how to build systems in order to preserve some of the priority tasks you need to accomplish even if the 'grenades' get thrown to you mid-day! Join us as we dive into this topic and look through the lens of scholar, systems and soul!

Our School Culture is Strong Except For...

You work hard as the administrator and building leader to set the tone for a positive and supportive staff culture. But what about when one or two teachers consistently don't buy in and push back against the work of your team? Join Christy and Karen this week as we tackle two separate topics in this giant topic--first we briefly chat through bringing change to a culture and what it means to set the tone. Then we jump in and provide strategies and supports on how to examine a teacher who isn't buying in, the motivations behind their actions, as well as, how to have the critical conversations to move the building and your teachers forward. Join us!

Finding Colleagues You Can Trust

Things pop up every day at work and sometimes you just need the advice of someone else...but who? Where do you turn and how can you be sure who to trust?! This week on the pod, Karen and Christy deep dive different mindsets to take into building collegial relationships with those in your same role! We cover tips to consider when developing trust with colleagues, boundaries to establish, avoiding self-comparison and even being sure you don't lose yourself in the advice of others. Be sure to tune in and rate us on iTunes!

Battling COVID Fatigue

Year 3 of the pandemic and going strong...wait a minute. Not so fast. We are tired. Teachers are tired and fatigue is setting in. It's a hard place to be at the start of a school year. On the pod this week, Karen and Christy tackle the burnout our teachers and school staff are facing while working harder than ever in a pandemic. We discuss ways to filter the new demands being added to teachers' plates while matching more resources to meet those demands! We also talk through how to be real and vulnerable about the struggles you're facing and being sure to keep people in the forefront of all you do! Tune in!

The Impossible Imposter Syndrome

Isn't it the worst? You are just starting to find your confidence as a leader or in your skill and then BAM...a failure hits or someone doubts your abilities and it all comes crumbling down in your head. Good thing is, you aren't alone. And that is actually comforting to know! This week on the pod, Karen and Christy take a shot at vulnerability and lay it all out there about how we've struggled with this in the past (AND currently), as well as what some of the scholars recommend you do about it! Tune in!

The Production of Back-to-School PD

This week, Karen and Christy tackle the monstrous planning that is the back to school preservice professional development for teachers. We deep dive on how to think of the PD time as a production, connecting everyone to the heart of the work we are going to do as well as the intentions we need for the year. We also discuss how to keep the sessions lively while also valuing teachers time! We hope you tune into this episode and leave us some feedback on themodernprincipal.com

The Principal and Instructional Coach

This week on the podcast, Karen and Christy dive into the relationship between principal and building instructional coach and share how to set the role up for success!

Instructional Feedback: Your #1 Priority

On this episode of the pod, Karen and Christy dive into instructional feedback, which can be hard to prioritize with the last-minute fires that seem to pop up all day. However, instructional feedback is one of our #1 priorities as principals, and by using scholar, system, and soul, you can make it happen each day!

Introducing Yourself as Principal to a New Staff

In this week's pod, Karen and Christy tackle a scenario from a newly-appointed principal who is stuck between knowing exactly what to do and also being paralyzed with indecision in regards to her first staff email. This episode aims to share the many facets of introducing yourself to a new staff to ensure you're conveying your priorities, professionalism, and the personal side.