The Assistant Principal Podcast

Frederick Buskey
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  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A bi-weekly podcast to improve the quality of life and leadership for assistant principals.

  1. 22 HRS AGO

    The Power of Short Cycle Change Part 1

    Teaser: We’ve all experienced it – BIG change. Not change as in the pandemic or a hurricane, or even NCLB. I mean BIG change initiatives that we do to ourselves. The programs or solutions we implement to great fanfare, that we pour money and time into, that almost inevitably fade out to be replaced by the next big thing. PBIS, Leader in Me, block scheduling, PLCs/teaming, standards-based assessment, and so much more. It’s not the program or content that’s the problem, it’s the process – specifically the process of BIG change. Today, I’m going to make the argument for ditching BIG change initiatives in favor of much smaller more tightly focused Strategic Action Cycles. I’ll identify the problems with BIG change, share the design philosophy behind Strategic Action Cycles (or SAC) and go through the SAC steps with an example. Fill out this short form to receive your free Strategic Action Cycle guide. Sponsor Spot 1:If you’ve been scrolling through social media this Spring, you’ve probably seen some of your colleagues from other schools on a trip with their students. They’re at Disney, Or D.C., or maybe even across the pond – and if you’re inspired to start planning a future trip for your students, I highly recommend working with Kaleidoscope Adventures. The KA team has been planning student travel for over 30 years, and they make the whole process very easy. Check out Kaleidoscope Adventures at mykatrip.com and start planning an educational adventure your students will remember forever. Show Intro When students practice math over the summer, students learn and math scores go up. Join the growing list of schools offering at-home summer math enrichment through Summer Pops.  If you are curious about what a research-based summer-math program looks like. Check out Summer Pops for free. Get your FREE workbook samples today at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. The link is in the show notes. Celebrations: Key Points Part 1 The inspiration for this episodeOriginal offering and first contractNext week’s episodeThe inspiration for SACToo many failed change initiatives from my studentsAdmin program change project (BHAG) - PBISMy own failures and successes with BIG change Tech’s rapid prototypingThe guide (that I will follow)The problems with BIG change (p. 29)The four principles of leverage (p. 28-33)Archimedes(seesaw analogy)Wrap up: p 34-36Fill out this short form to receive your free Strategic Action Cycle guide. Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit http://ixl.com/assistant to get started. Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Summer Pops Workbooks: https://summerpopsworkbooks.com/  Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Fill out this short form to receive your free Strategic Action Cycle guide. Frederick’s Links: 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/B0CWRS2F6...

    41 min

  2. APR 14

    WOW! 300!

    Wow! 300! Power Quote: It’s all about the people and the relationships Teaser: You are about to listen to the 300th episode of the assistant principal podcast. We released our first episode on August 26, 2021 with the topic of Strategic Leadership and, honestly, that episode was so bad I pulled it from our platform. Producing this show has been such an incredible experience and I wanted to do something special for episode 300 so I invited on some friends and we have a celebratory conversation that I think does a great job of surfacing what’s important about this podcast, why it’s relevant, and reiterates the main points about people relationships and staying true to our purpose as leaders I hope you enjoy listening to the show as much as I did recording it. Sponsor Spot 1:- So when it comes to student travel, I get why it can feel like a big lift. That’s why I always point people toward Kaleidoscope Adventures. They’ve been doing this for more than 30 years, and they understand what schools actually need - clear communication, strong organization, and a plan that works. They handle the details, so you’re not left piecing it all together yourself. If you’ve been on the fence about planning a trip, now is the time to reach out to my friends at Kaleidoscope Adventures. Visit mykatrip.com today and get your free quote today. Kaleidoscope Adventures – Travel Beyond Expectations. Show Intro It’s not too early to think about summer. No. Not the vacation, the learning that can happen. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to summerpopsworkbooks.com to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes. Guest Bio: Will Parker: William D. Parker is the Founder of Principal Matters, LLC, an educator, author, speaker, and executive coach who uses his expertise in school culture, leadership, and communication to equip educators with solutions and strategies for motivating students, inspiring teachers, and reaching communities. Will serves schools across the globe through professional development and leadership support. He is regularly asked to present at K-12 professional development events, education conferences, leadership teams, and graduate classes on effective practices, organizational management, and strategies for enhancing school communication.Amber Coburn: Amber Coburn is the Middle School Dean of Students at Eno River Academy, a K-12 Charter School in Hillsborough, North Carolina. A lifelong champion of middle school and all its quirks, she has spent the past 14 years helping students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. In her current role, she is honored to expand her impact on teaching, learning, and school culture at Eno River Academy Middle School!Dr. Pam Buskey: Dr. Pam Buskey is a recently retired Professor of Education at Western Carolina University. Wherever Pam has been, regardless of the role, she has been a leader. She is a bright light and inspiration to everyone who knows here and I have the distinct pleasure to be her husband and soul mate.Mara Almond: Mara (Buskey) Almond is the Inclusion Strategist at Strategic Leadership Consulting. When she’s not taking care of me and doing all the behind-the-scenes work that makes this podcast possible, Mara serves other entrepreneurs through her own business, Red Finch. Mara possesses a level of wisdom and empathy far beyond her 27 years. Warmup questions: We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Each person will introduce themselves, give name and position, and a celebrationIs there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do? Questions/Topics/Prompts Round robin sharing of your favorite moment/guest/idea/tool – whatever has been most impactful. After each individual goes, we will have a brief discussion on their answer.Conclude with what each person would like to see on future episodes and what they are still working on to grow as a leader.FB: This show is about life and leadership, so relationships and change begins within. Before we ask others to change their behaviors we need to change ourselves by examining our own assumptions, by learning about stuff but also learning about people, and then being the change we wish to see (to parahrase Gandhi)Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started. Closing questions: What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work… Summary/wrap up People Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in ...

    1h 21m

  3. APR 7

    The Systems Supporting Teacher Growth with Isiah Williams

    The Systems Supporting Teacher Growth with Isiah Williams Teaser: If you’ve listened to this show for longer than a month you have likely heard me talk about the flywheel – the “magic” system for driving continual teacher growth. In December I was at an administrators’ conference in Pinehurst, NC and happened to sit at a table with an enthusiastic and passionate young AP who shared with me some of the strategies his school was using to create a culture of continual growth. What he described was a flywheel, and I am so excited to have him on today. Sponsor Spot 1:Are you a little tired of the same old student trip… the same itinerary… the same stops?If you’re ready to do something different, check out Kaleidoscope Adventures! They’ve been creating unforgettable educational experiences for over 30 years, and they know the destinations that work best for student groups — including a few hidden gems you might not have even thought about.Whether you’re dreaming of theme parks, international travel, or anything in between, Kaleidoscope Adventures custom-builds each itinerary to fit your students and your goals.Want fresh ideas for your next trip? Visit mykatrip.com today. Show Intro It’s not too early to think about summer. No. not the vacation, the learning that can happen. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to summerpopsworkbooks.com to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes. Guest Bio: Isiah Williams is a 2nd Year assistant principal at East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte, NC. He helps guide a magnet school of over 2600 students. Isiah is in his 17th year in education and was formerly a math teacher. Warmup questions: We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts What systems have you built around teacher development?How have these systems grown and evolved over time?How do they impact your work as an AP?How have teachers responded?If an AP is listening and wanted to move this forward in their school, what advice do you have for them?Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started. Closing questions: What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap up It’s a system, and each piece has a structure and a purposeDon’t build it all at once (see March 17’s episode on change mistakes)Include teachers from the beginningNotice: collaboration, not conflict Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers! Guest Links: Frederick’s Links: 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.amaz...

    43 min

  4. MAR 31

    Guiding Change with Dr. Christie Cooper

    Guiding Change with Dr. Christie Cooper Teaser: Building on DiSC styles and how they influence change processes. 50-70% of change initiatives Fail! Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes. Show Intro It’s not too early to think about summer. No. not the vacation, the learning that can happen. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to summerpopsworkbooks.com to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes. Guest Bio: Inspiring is the word that best describes Dr. Christie Cooper! Christie’s energy, coupled with a passion for effective learning makes the workshops that she facilitates highly engaging and meaningful for the participants. Christie is the founder and president of Cooper Consulting Group, and her mission is to “inspire learning and leadership development to help leaders and teams be their best.” She has extensive real-world business experience that benefits clients; including senior positions as a Regional Manager and Corporate Trainer with Mars Inc. Christie holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership and a PhD in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University; is a Board-Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Counseling and Education; Certified Trainer in Emotional Intelligence; and holds many other industry certifications and partnerships. Warmup questions: We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts 2: Change, stages of evolution, the change curve. I do have my own model for driving incremental change, so I think we could have some great conversation looking at similarities and differences of our models.Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started. Closing questions: What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap up Not everyone handles change the way you do, not everyone needs the same things you do.There is a cost to failed change (human and resources – every yes is a no to something else)Small change is the alternative to big change (work A-B)If you are going to do this work (and you should):Free: Reach out to me for free leadership compass activity and directions, do it separately, then meet off site to debrief.Facilitated (better) but $3-10k (+125/person) for a day-long event (and can couple nicely with team coaching)Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers! Christie’s Links: https://www.lin...

    42 min

  5. MAR 24

    Leadership Styles with Dr. Christie Cooper

    Leadership Styles with Dr. Christie Cooper Teaser: The leadership style activity I do with groups… Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes. Show Intro When students practice math over the summer, students learn and math scores go up. Join the growing list of schools offering at-home summer math enrichment through Summer Pops.  If you are curious about what a research-based summer-math program looks like. Check out Summer Pops for free. Get your FREE workbook samples today at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. The link is in the show notes. Guest Bio: Inspiring is the word that best describes Dr. Christie Cooper! Christie’s energy, coupled with a passion for effective learning makes the workshops that she facilitates highly engaging and meaningful for the participants. Christie is the founder and president of Cooper Consulting Group, and her mission is to “inspire learning and leadership development to help leaders and teams be their best.” She has extensive real-world business experience that benefits clients; including senior positions as a Regional Manager and Corporate Trainer with Mars Inc. Christie holds an EdD in Organizational Leadership and a PhD in Global Leadership and Change from Pepperdine University; is a Board-Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and the Center for Counseling and Education; Certified Trainer in Emotional Intelligence; and holds many other industry certifications and partnerships. Warmup questions: We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts 1: Leadership styles, why they matter, brief overview of DiSC styles and maybe some expert insights from youSponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started. Closing questions: What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap up Value of having common understandings of leadership styles:I know myself better, the strengths to lean into and the overuse tendencies to guard againstI better know what other people need from meRecognize individuals’ strengthsI know our general strengths and weaknesses as a teamWe have common language to provide positive accountabilityIf you are going to do this work (and you should):Free: Reach out to me for free leadership compass activity and directions, do it separately, then meet off site to debrief.Facilitated (better) but $3-10k (+125/person) for a day-long event (and can couple nicely with team coaching) Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers! Christie’s Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imchristiecooper/

    58 min

  6. MAR 17

    Five Change Lessons

    Five Change Lessons March 17, 2026 Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes. Show Intro Friends/School leaders, When students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. So, what’s your summer math plan this year? Whether you have no summer math program, or are curious about what a research based program looks like. Check out Summer Pops for free. Get your FREE workbook samples today at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. The link is in the show notes. Celebrations: Colleagues and the kindness of strangers Key Points Part 1 I invest so much of my time helping people avoid making big mistakes in change initiatives that it is super-frustrating to make those mistakes myself. I’m working with several schools on implementing my flywheel model to grow teacher capacity. In brief the flywheel has three components: Provide professional development/trainingFollow up training with targeted observations to monitor resultsUse data from observations to plan the next training It’s a simple and powerful concept, but there are many places that implementing a flywheel can breakdown, and in my excitement to push some school leaders into implementing the flywheel, I made some critical mistakes. In today’s podcast I describe five frequent mistakes we make when it comes to implementing change. This is sector agnostic – if you ever lead change, these five things are critical. It can’t be my vision; it needs to be our vision. I think this is the most common mistake people (including me) make. Sometime we can trust too much in our own leadership. Pilot with a willing group. One of the simplest mistakes to avoid is to force change. When implementing change, work with the willing by doing a pilot. Just because a thing worked somewhere else doesn’t mean it will work at your organization, so find the people who most want the change and enlist them in a pilot. It’s so much easier to work with people who are trying to make the things work. They are more resilient when things go wrong (and they will) and will ultimately be better recruiters for expansion than you will be. Work A-B – identify initial baby steps to generate winds and make things better immediately and build moment Account for initiative fatigue - be a shepherd of attention. Remember every yes is a notice of something else. People are already working at max capacity and addition by subtraction.Create clear and measurable success criteria (why are we doing this?) Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit http://ixl.com/assistant to get started. Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Frederick’s Links: 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 Recl...

    13 min

  7. MAR 10

    Make Every Moment Count with POY Jason Johnson

    Show Title: Make Every Moment Count with POY Jason Johnson Power Quote: Make Every Moment Count Teaser: The R word – relationships. Sometimes it feels like we talk about it too much but not enough. It doesn’t make sense, but I hope you know what I mean. In a digital world, it feels like relationships are an analog concept, but I think they are more important now than ever. Sponsor Spot 1:- If you love travel, but your student trips are starting to feel a little… copy-and-paste, it might be time to level up.That’s why I recommend Kaleidoscope Adventures.They’ve been planning educational travel for more than 30 years. And the best part? No cookie-cutter itineraries. Every trip is built around your program, your budget, and your goals.Whether you’re dreaming of a trip to Universal’s EPIC Universe, a history-filled journey to Washington, D.C., or even an international adventure, Kaleidoscope Adventures can help you plan a trip your students will never forget.Get inspired today at mykatrip.com. Kaleidoscope Adventures - Travel Beyond Expectations Show Intro It’s not too early to think about summer. No. not the vacation, the learning that can happen. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to summerpopsworkbooks.com to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes. Guest Bio: Jason M. Johnson is the 2025 North Carolina Principal of the Year and serves as Principal of Orange High School in Hillsborough, NC. With over 28 years in public education, he has led impactful change in both middle and high school settings. Under his leadership, Orange High exceeded academic growth in 2023–2024 and 2024-2025 and improved its state performance grade from a C to a B. A proud NC A&T alumnus, Johnson holds graduate degrees from UNC Greensboro. He has served as Executive Director of Schools, School Transformation Coach (NC Department of Instruction), and principal of multiple schools, and he sits on several advisory boards and state leadership associations. Johnson believes in equity, opportunity, and high expectations. He is married to Heather and is the proud father of Jason, Addison, Ava, and Aidan. Warmup questions: We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts “It’s all about relationships” is a popular phrase and you spoke eloquently about relationships in your session this past December at NCPAPA. Can we go deep on relationships?When we talk about “relationships” what do we actually mean? What are the indicators of healthy professional relationships?Why are relationships so important? Has their importance changed from when you were early in your career?Many administrators wind up leading the school they taught in, which leads to some complicated relationships. Thoughts?How do you sustain a school that is too big (literally has too many people for you to know them all)? How do you build powerful relationships in a time with increased turnover? Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started. Closing questions: What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap up Remind your teachers they can be a hero to kids – Look for strengths - one sentence mattersRemind yourself you can be a hero to your teachers (not by fixing but by supporting)Make every moment count (cv=every moment matters) Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully present...

    44 min

  8. MAR 3

    Doing is Not Serving with Leah Marone

    Support, Don’t Solve Teaser: Becoming a strategic leader is a journey – a long one. It’s a journey full of stops and starts, and slow incremental improvement. But there are also some inflection points – places where leaders make a great leap forward. Those inflection points usually have more to do with changes in perception than the acquisition of knowledge or skills. Today’s topic is an inflection point. To get to the place where you are growing your teachers, you have to first stop trying to fix things for them. Don’t fix, grow. You can’t do both. Today’s wonderful guest is going to help us learn how to stop being a serial fixer. Before we dive into the interview, I’s like you to think about summer… When students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. So, what’s your summer math plan this year? Whether you have no summer math program, or are curious about what a research-based program looks like. Check out Summer Pops for free. Get your FREE workbook samples today at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. The link is in the show notes. Show Intro Sponsor Spot 1:I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes. Guest Bio: Leah Marone is a psychotherapist, Yale Clinical Instructor, and corporate mental wellness consultant with over 20 years of experience. A former Division 1 athlete, she specializes in high-achievers struggling with imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and performance anxiety. Leah has conducted over 20,000 therapy sessions and contributed to Psychology Today, Newsweek, and The Atlantic. She works with organizations on burnout prevention, boundary setting, and emotional intelligence. A sought-after speaker, Leah has presented her Support, Don’t Solve framework to leaders nationwide. Her new book, Serial Fixer, exploring the hidden patterns of over-functioning and how to break free. Warmup questions: We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?Questions/Topics/Prompts Assistant principals are the ultimate serial fixers out of a desire to serve. Let’s begin by untangling this emotional piece of being a fixer.One reason APs do too much fixing is they aren’t sure how to validate the person’s needs without fixing them. Can you talk about the hierarchy of steps that can lead us to being supporters instead of fixers?What are some baby steps serial fixers can take to become supporters?Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started. Closing questions: What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?Where can people learn more about you and your work…Summary/wrap up Control disguised as compassion (making them feel better makes us feel better)Support don’t solve and creating dependenciesUse validation as the break and inquiry as the acceleratorBegin by being self-aware Special thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music! Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Sponsor Links: IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant  Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/ Close Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at frederick@frederickbuskey.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!...

    50 min
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About

A bi-weekly podcast to improve the quality of life and leadership for assistant principals.

Information

  • Creator
    Frederick Buskey
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    299
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Strategic Leadership Consulting, LLC
  • Show Website
    The Assistant Principal Podcast

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