The Assistant Principal Podcast

Frederick Buskey
  • 4.9 (32)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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

  1. 2D AGO

    What a Ford Mav-Wreck Can Teach Us About Leadership

    What a Ford Mav-Wreck Can Teach Us About Leadership Sponsor Spot 1:Travel can positively impact students in a big way - but if your first thought is, “who is going to plan all of this?”, don’t worry because that’s where Kaleidoscope Adventures comes in.The KA team has been planning student group travel for more than 30 years! They handle the logistics from start to finish, so you can focus on your job in the classroom.Whenever you’re ready to plan a trip, Kaleidoscope Adventures can’t wait to help your group travel beyond expectations. 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. Celebrations: Key Points Part 1 Weigh the risk v reward and make the best decision you can with the information you have at the timeStay in the present, especially stop worrying about problems you can’t solve in the current momentTake good care of the things that keep you safe and watch for signs of wear (self-care)Slow downOwn the results 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. Key Points Part 2 Be thankfulLeverage the thing we can do that AI cannot takeaway: be fully present! Summarizing (The big takeaway) 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 Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

    22 min

  2. FEB 10

    Reimagining School Leadership with Dr. Lindsay Whorton

    Reimagining School Leadership with Dr. Lindsay Whorton   Power Quote: “Leadership has to be a team sport.”     Teaser: I hope you enjoy listening to today’s episode as much as I did recording it. It’s a wonderful combination of big picture thinking and exploring some new ideas but then also getting down and making some really specific suggestions about next steps so this wonderful blend of 40,000 foot thinking and then being right down on the ground doing the work.   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     Guest Bio: Dr. Lindsay Whorton has served as president of The Holdsworth Center since 2019, leading its growth from seven Texas school districts to 89 districts serving over 1,900 educational leaders.  A native of Independence, Missouri, Lindsay graduated from Drake University with degrees in secondary education and English. She captained the women's basketball team to a 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship, earning tournament MVP and First-Team Academic All-American honors. A Rhodes Scholar, Lindsay earned her master's and doctorate in social policy from Oxford University, where she also served as a Fulbright Scholar studying Finland's teacher education system. Her most recent book is A New School Leadership Architecture.      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 should be the job of school leadership? (ref my 3 responsibilities and Eisenhower Matrix)What would the new architecture look like?Is there a way to nibble at the margins?What are some conversations leaders could have to plant the seeds of change?    Sponsor Spot 2:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast… ●      If you want to take the load off your teachers so they can do their best work, IXL can help. ●      With IXL, you get a personalized online learning and teaching solution that helps you improve achievement, empower teachers, track progress, and more. This one platform for K to 12 helps teachers accomplish what normally would require dozens of other tools. ·      IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress. Studies show that schools that use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Studies on more than 70,000 schools in nearly all 50 states show that those who use IXL outperform others on state tests, and IXL has decades of expertise and is proven to be effective.  Discover what IXL can do for your school. Visit ixl.com/assistant today.       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 ·      Do the org chart! ·      Think about what it would look like if you could increase teacher development capacity (by leveraging different roles) ·      And what would it look like of the principal took the lead in developing others’ capacity to coach? ·      The AP role: leading through others (goes back to the five gives)   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.com ·      Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul ·      Instagram: 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: o   Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others o   Be fully present o   Ask reflective questions o   And then just listen o   Don’t overcompli...

    50 min

  3. FEB 7 · BONUS

    Bonus-Preview with Dr. Lindsay Whorton

    Dr. Lindsay Whorton has served as president of The Holdsworth Center since 2019, leading its growth from seven Texas school districts to 89 districts serving over 1,900 educational leaders.    A native of Independence, Missouri, Lindsay graduated from Drake University with degrees in secondary education and English. She captained the women's basketball team to a 2007 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship, earning tournament MVP and First-Team Academic All-American honors.   A Rhodes Scholar, Lindsay earned her master's and doctorate in social policy from Oxford University, where she also served as a Fulbright Scholar studying Finland's teacher education system. Her most recent book is A New School Leadership Architecture. The full interview will air 2/10/26.

    10 min

  4. FEB 3

    The Five Gives

    The Five Gives   Teaser: It’s that time of the year for assistant principals when it just feels like you’re completely underwater all the time the thought you had at the beginning of the year of engaging in teacher development of doing observations and coaching those are kind of long lost dreams at this point, but there is a way out we don’t have to sit in the space today I am going to do a quick overview of five strategies that will free up a little bit of your time so that you can get back to doing that meaningful purposeful work of helping to support and grow your teachers now using the strategies isn’t going to save you hours a day. Remember all we’re trying to do is really nibble at the margins and if we can find you five 1015 minutes a day. Well, that's 1235 minute coaching sessions. Before we begin…   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   Celebrations:     Key Points Part 1 Six stages of reclaiming purpose     Stage three is about doing less and using five strategies to save a few minutes of time to invest in your priorities.   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.   Key Points Part 2   The five gives: 1.     Give it up 2.     Give it back 3.     Give it away 4.     Give it a C 5.     Give it a bounce       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.com ·      Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul ·      Instagram: 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: o   Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others o   Be fully present o   Ask reflective questions o   And then just listen o   Don’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 Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

    17 min

  5. JAN 27

    When Things Didn't Go Well in the Fall

    289 When Fall Didn’t End Very Well   Teaser:  “I would love it if you would consider doing a podcast episode on what happens when a principal gets off track and needs to get the trains back on track... Just as our students get off track around October (the honeymoon phase is over), I found myself last fall losing sight of our mission and goals for the year. My AP and I got excited and started getting buried in trying new initiatives, and I think it caused some frustrations with the staff. We started to focus on the noise instead of patterns. I didn't know if you had any tips or strategies that you could share to help stay focused on the path I designed back in the summer.”     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   Celebrations: Family, home, routines and processes   Key Points Part 1 Common mistakes: ·      Initiatives ·      Popping green balloons ·      Unilateral decision-making ·      Coaching before building trust   Strategic v tactical level ·      Strategic – it’s about culture (6 dimensions) Episode 179 ·      Cycle of relationships (tactical)     Other factors: ·      Transparency and communication (4 types of decisions) ·      Vulnerability ·      Listen, listen, listen   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.   Key Points Part 2   Getting things back on track: ·      Transparency and vulnerability: “Last fall was tough. I made a lot of mistakes and I’m sorry I’m determined to be a better leader and a better servant that begins with listening. I’ll be asking each of you questions about the fall. What went well were there any surprises? Is there anything we should be doing differently. I will not give feedback it’s not a conversation. I just want to listen and learn so I can become a better leader.” ·      Use the 5-mc process as a culture check in ·      Learning about teachers: provide a list of reflective questions. Ask them to choose three they would like to talk about. Meet with them (preferably in their rooms) and create space for them to talk. You can paraphrase and answer direct questions but avoid adding your stories, justifying previous actions, or suggesting changes. ·      Possible questions See episode 177: 1.     What is your teaching superpower? 2.     What is the biggest difference between who you are now as a teacher and when you began? 3.     If your you could make your students better at one thing, what would it be? 4.     What is your proudest teaching moment and why? 5.     How do you see yourself being different five years from now? And these from ClaudeAI: 1.     What part of your teaching day energizes you most?  2.     When do you feel most connected to your students?  3.     What's something you've learned from your students this year?  4.     If you could spend more time on one aspect of your teaching, what would it be?  5.     What does a really good day in your classroom look like?  6.     What do you wish people understood about your classroom or your students?  7.     What's a challenge you're working through right now that you feel good about tackling?  8.     When you think about a student who really grew this year, what do you think made the difference?  9.     What conditions help you do your best work?    Summarizing (The big takeaway) ·      Be transparent and vulnerable ·      Ask good questions and listen to build trust and identify pain points ·      Support teachers by addressing pain points ·      Reflect on programs versus people. My opinion: better people is more important than better programs, so focus on building 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.com ·      Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul ·      Instagram: 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-kaleidosc...

    38 min

  6. JAN 12

    Oh, They are Mad! with Darrin Peppard

    Oh, They are Mad! with Darrin Peppard   Power Quote: “Listen more, talk less.”     Teaser: Here’s the email I received that inspired this episode: I’m wondering if you have an episode of your podcast focusing on dealing with unreasonable parents. This year has been exceptionally difficult regarding the attacks I’m receiving from parents.  Either they are offended when I discipline their child because their child is innocent, or they are offended that I disciplined their child without contacting them prior to the discipline so they can solve the problem for me.  I understand that discipline should not be the focus of my day and it typically is not.  I also try really hard to make sure 20% of the kids do not consume 80% of my time.  But how do I not allow the parents to consume me?  In each case, the student has owned it, accepted the consequence and moved on… while at school.  Then they get home and tell a different story about a big bad AP who is targeting them.I have some knowledge in this area but wanted some additional expertise so I’m partnering with my friend and colleague Darrin Peppard of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast and we are recording our conversation to be simulcast on both shows. Before we get started…   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     Guest Bio: As a 'recovering' high school principal and former school district superintendent, Darrin Peppard draws from over 25 years of experience in education, including 13 years in leadership roles. Darrin is renowned for his expertise in school culture and climate, coaching emerging leaders, and his culture-first approach that emphasizes keen insight and a dynamic personality. His accolades include being named the 2016 Wyoming Secondary School Principal of the Year by WASSP/NASSP, the 2015 Jostens Renaissance Educator of the Year, and induction into the Jostens Renaissance Hall of Fame in 2019. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Wyoming (2017). Through his book "Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader," Darrin shares strategies for maintaining a positive attitude, elevating others, and finding joy in leadership. Co-authored with Katie Kinder, his latest work, "Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools," provides proven methods for building transformative educational environments. Darrin also hosts the "Leaning into Leadership" podcast, where he discusses decision-making, cognitive biases, and more with industry experts.     Warmup questions: ·      We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?     Questions/Topics/Prompts We could look at four phases: ·       Building capital in advance (deposits before withdraws) o    Identify students and families who may need extra care o    Parents want to be heard o    Make early and positive contacts. Have the teacher do the same (teach them how) ·       The meeting with the student o    Begin with care – Are you okay? o    Separate the behavior from the student o    Have them write their version o    Listen ·       The post-conversation/information for parent o    Can have the student (with you) call the parent o    Make sure parent knows exactly what to expect o    End with optimism and affirm the value and dignity of the student ·       Problem discussions o    Clarify what the problem is o    Do not take it personally (may not be about you) – DPs basketball example o   Remember parents may have prior negative experiences   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 ·      Think three phases: before, during, after ·      Parents want to be heard ·      Know the story you are telling yourself about the parent     Resources: ·      The Assistant Principal Podcast: #199 “Are You Okay?” with Jamie Brown and #237 Helping Teachers Call Home ·      Leaning Into Leadership: Episode 68: When Calling Parents isn't Your Calling with Crystal Frommert   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!

    1h 10m

  7. JAN 6

    Three Resolutions and One Word

    Three Resolutions and One Word   Teaser: The New Year is a great time to refocus and gain some clarity, but New Years’ resolutions feels to me like something that sounds good in theory but doesn’t work in practice. At least it hasn’t for me. Instead of resolutions this year, I’m using one word to help me keep my priorities straight, and three intentions that, if I work them daily, will lead me to my major goal of 2026. I’ll apologize on the front end if this episode comes off as narcissistic. I feel a bit awkward talking about myself and diving deep into how my brain works, but I’m doing it this way because I think if you can see what I’m doing and why I’m doing it, you will be able to take these practices and adapt them to your own lie and leadership. Notice the word “adapt.” Please don’t copy. Rather, think about how your context and needs are different from mine and how you might tweak the core ideas to better align with how your brain works and what your schedule allows.   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   Celebrations: ·      Caveat ·      I can walk without a limp! And Christmas and New Years (families both born into and chosen)   Key Points Part 1 ·      Two “secrets” to being a great leader: o   Be present o   Priority management ·      One word – overview ·      One word helps us be more intentional ·      Sharing previous one words ·      How this year’s one word shapes my priorities and daily actions   Sponsor Spot 2:●      With IXL, you get a personalized online learning and teaching solution that helps you improve achievement, empower teachers, track progress, and more. This one platform for K to 12 helps teachers accomplish what normally would require dozens of other tools.●      As students practice skills, IXL automatically adapts to ensure each learner is always supported and challenged at the right level. IXL also provides every student with a personalized learning plan to help them close knowledge gaps effectively.  ●      As a school leader, you’re always looking for ways to make it easier for teachers to do great work. Why not take the load off your teachers so they can do their best work? IXL can help.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.   Key Points Part 2   My three 2026 intentions are the daily actions that should help me achieve my goals.   My goal is to remake my body to maximize the time I have left to hike.   A key measurement for the goal is: Complete the 71-mile High Sierra Trail in August of 2026. The High Sierra is a stunning trail through the southeast Sierra Nevada range in California. It ends at the summit of Mt. Whitney (elevation 14,505), the highest peak in the continental United States. I am used to hiking mountains, but at 5,000 feet, not 10,000 feet. Half of the trail is at altitudes high enough to cause altitude sickness.   Notice my goal is not to hike the High Sierra Trail. It is the measurement. Do not mistake your measurement for your goal!   Three intentions I need to hold to achieve my goal: Build my days around movement. Movement is the most important thing.Move in different ways (resistance training, yoga, biking, hiking, water-aerobics) every dayConsume media that encourages me to move.   Notice: ●      These intentions drive actions I can take every day ●      If I act on these intentions each day, there is a very high likelihood of meeting my goals ●      They keep me focused on movement and combat my own distractibility   In goal setting and strategic planning, the biggest mistake I see people consistently making is they do not operationalize the goal. They develop plans and benchmarks, but fail to identify the daily practices and actions that will inevitably lead to success.       Summarizing (The big takeaway)   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.com ·      Ranford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoul ·      Instagram: 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 ...

    37 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    Reflecting on Leadership with Darryall White

    Teaser: At the end of each year, I re-air what I consider to be the best episode of the year, but my favorite episode for this year was released on Nov 11 (episode 279). Instead of re-airing something you’ve already heard, I decided to have my guest from that best episode, Darryall White, come back onto the show. I gave him some homework to complete the SWOT analysis and the Stop-Start-Continue-Consider process before we got together. In today’s show, Darryall is going to share what he found and I’ll serve as a reflective partner. As we work through the process, I’d like you to imagine being on both sides of the conversation. Imagine completing the reflections and sharing what you found. And then imagine being the reflective partner who can listen and ask clarifying questions. Before we get started… Sponsor Spot 1:Do you love to travel but are tired of the same old student trip?  Check out Kaleidoscope Adventures, our preferred planning partner! Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning educational travel beyond expectations for more than 30 years. They know the best destinations for student groups – they might even surprise you with a few hidden gems you’ve never considered!Discover the Harry Potter connection in Portugal, plan an “epic” trip to Universal, or celebrate America’s 250th on an American Adventure!Each experience is customized to fit your specific needs… never a “one-size-fits-all” cookie cutter trip! When you need a little inspiration, contact the experts at mykatrip.com for the freshest ideas for your next student trip! Show Intro Guest Bio: Today’s guest is a respected leader in education, Coach Darryall White, assistant principal and athletic director at Indian Land Middle School in Lancaster County, South Carolina.A proud Clemson graduate, Coach White has spent more than 30 years serving students as a teacher, counselor, and now assistant principal. He’s coached nearly every sport and recently made history as the first-ever Lancaster County School District Assistant Principal of the Year.Known for his energy, authenticity, and passion for developing champions from the inside out, Coach White helps students, teachers, and athletes strengthen the heart, the head, and the hustle.” 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 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. Summary/wrap up My desire coming out of this episode is for you to practice using both these tools and being on both sides of the conversationWith a colleague, friend, partner  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.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

    33 min
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4.9
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32 Ratings

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
    290
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Strategic Leadership Consulting, LLC
  • Show Website
    The Assistant Principal Podcast

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