Educational Leadership with Principal JL

Jeff Linden
  • 5.0 (45)
  • Self-Improvement

Principal JL is an educational leader who explores various topics facing educational leaders today! The Mission of this podcast is to inform and inspire other Educational Leaders on how to be their best for their Schools by honing their skills and talents so they may impact their teachers, staff members, students, parents/guardians, and community members positively for their School District! Come with a Growth Mindset as we journey through Educational Leadership! 

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 77: How to Successfully Merge Two Rival High Schools: Leadership Lessons with Virginia Principal of the Year Derek Cantrell

    Connect with the Show Here! Two rival high schools can share a zip code and still feel like different worlds. When consolidation finally becomes real, leaders inherit decades of pride, fear, and unfinished arguments, and the smallest decision can feel personal. We sit down with Derek Cantrell, principal of Alleghany High School in Covington, Virginia, recently named the 2026 Virginia Outstanding High School Principal, to unpack how he helped bring two communities into one school without erasing what people loved about the past.  We dig into what made the merger possible, what made it hard, and the specific trust building moves that mattered most: advisory meetings that surfaced real concerns, student shadowing and tours to reduce anxiety, summer events designed to create low pressure connection, and a communication roadmap built on intentional “over communication.” Derek shares how they honored key traditions while creating new systems that helped staff and students feel like one team, not two groups forced to share a building.  Then we shift into instructional leadership and the day to day reality of being present in classrooms while managing nonstop demands. Derek explains his “people over paperwork” mindset and how he uses AI in school leadership to reduce repetitive work, including custom GPTs that turn observation notes into actionable feedback, plus tools for standards alignment, assessment rigor checks, and faster data review. He also shares practical advice for administrators who want to lead change, build culture on purpose, and use systems to move attendance and engagement.  If you want the full playbook, Derek also points listeners to Better Together and his resource hub at bettertogetherleadership.org, and you can connect with him on LinkedIn or X at Derekcatch19. Subscribe, share this with a leader who’s navigating big change, and leave a review so more educators can find the show. Connect with Derek Cantrell: Website:  Bettertogetherleadership.org Book: https://a.co/d/0d4btKQ1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekcantrell19/ X: https://x.com/Derekcatch19 New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 77: How to Successfully Merge Two Rival High Schools: Leadership Lessons with Virginia Principal of the Year Derek Cantrell

  2. Jul 21

    Episode 76: AI in Education, SMART Habits, & Student Engagement with Kendall Terry (Part 2)

    Connect with the Show Here! The fastest way to damage trust as a school leader is to make a big decision before you truly listen. Kendall Terry joins us for part two and gets honest about the leadership lesson he had to learn the hard way: slow down, gather more perspectives, and ask one more question before you drop the hammer. We also talk about what he’s most proud of, creating the kind of environment where teachers feel supported to build bold, creative learning experiences that students actually want to show off. Then we go deep on two tools every educator can use right now. First, Kendall shares the thinking behind his upcoming book, Smart Habits in Education, and why SMART goals often fail in real schools. Goals are the destination, but habits are the system that gets you there. We unpack tiny habits, if-then statements, and how to reduce decision fatigue so progress becomes manageable, repeatable, and trackable. We also explore the BRACE framework for engagement: Belonging, Relevance, Agency, Challenge, and Engaged Response, and how it applies not only to students but to adult staff learning too. Finally, we tackle AI in education with a clear stance: AI is a tool that can save time and spark creativity, but it cannot replace relationships or the human work of teaching. Subscribe for more practical educational leadership conversations, share this with a colleague who needs a boost, and leave a review so more school leaders can find the show. Connect with Kendall Terry: Terry Leadership Group Website: LinkedIn: New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 76: AI in Education, SMART Habits, & Student Engagement with Kendall Terry (Part 2)

  3. Jul 14

    Episode 75: Building a High School From the Ground Up: Leadership Lessons with Kendall Terry (Part 1)

    Connect with the Show Here! What would you change if you could design a high school from the ground up and actually make it real? Kendall Terry has lived that challenge, moving from high school science teacher to department chair to STEM coordinator, and then into schoolwide leadership at Clayton Bradley Academy in Tennessee. We swap stories that are fun on the surface, but quickly turn into the deeper work of educational leadership: building systems, earning buy-in, and creating learning that feels meaningful for kids and adults. We get into what makes students lean in rather than check out, especially in subjects like science where “memorize and move on” has become the default. Kendall shares how hands-on learning, real-world experts, and authentic problems can turn reluctant students into curious learners. Then we flip the lens to teachers: professional development works best when it respects time, stays interactive, and connects to the real world. One powerful example is giving educators opportunities to shadow professionals outside school so they can bring fresh relevance back to the classroom. We also unpack what it takes to build a STEM program that sticks, including cross-curricular collaboration with CTE, scheduling realities, and projects that instantly create engagement like a full crime scene investigation. Finally, Kendall explains Clayton Bradley Academy’s brain-based learning approach, the Learning Centered Schools model, and why life skills and lifelong guidelines matter as much as content mastery for long-term success. You’ll hear outcomes ranging from Ivy League pathways to entrepreneurship, student-built 3D printed prosthetics, and national recognition for student history work. If you’re a principal, aspiring administrator, instructional coach, or teacher leader looking for practical ideas on school design, faculty development, and brain-based learning, hit subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators can find the show. Connect with Kendall Terry: Terry Leadership Group Website: LinkedIn: New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 75: Building a High School From the Ground Up: Leadership Lessons with Kendall Terry (Part 1)

  4. Jul 7

    Episode 74: Principals' Perspectives: Building School Culture, Leading Teachers, and Preparing for a New School Year

    Connect with the Show Here! Two principals sit down with no script and compare the real, messy, meaningful work of educational leadership. Robert Hinchliffe, Nevada Elementary Principal of the Year, brings the metro elementary lens from Las Vegas. Principal JL brings the rural secondary lens from a comprehensive high school. Different contexts, same mission: help adults grow so students win. We start with what it takes to set the school year on the right foot: principal messaging, a clear theme, and the habits that actually move a staff forward. We talk about why “fun” themes fall flat when they don’t connect to a shared goal, and how themes like habit building or “be the change” give you something you can reinforce all year through recognition, coaching, and modeling. Then we get practical about systems. We unpack the shift toward inclusive special education, what co-teaching should look like (and what it looks like when it’s pretend), and why access to high-quality instruction and HQIM matters for every learner. We also dig into team-building moves, PLC structures, staffing changes, and the secondary reality of managing many departments while keeping one common purpose. Along the way, we tackle competitiveness, accountability, trust capital, and the truth every principal knows: adults can be harder than kids. If you’re a principal, assistant principal, or teacher leader looking for grounded leadership ideas you can use this year, hit play. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review so more educators can find the show. Connect with Robert Hinchliffe: Website: https://roberthinchliffe.com/ Tik Tok: @rhperspective New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 74: Principals' Perspectives: Building School Culture, Leading Teachers, and Preparing for a New School Year

  5. Jun 23

    Episode 73: Tough Conversations That Transform School Culture with Erika Bare & Tiffany Burns

    Connect with the Show Here! The conversation you keep delaying is probably the one shaping your school culture right now. We talk with superintendent Erika Bare and instructional leadership coach and former principal Tiffany Burns about how educational leaders can handle tough conversations with students, staff, and caregivers without slipping into power struggles, mixed messages, or avoidance. We dig into what “caring out loud” really looks like in classrooms and hallways, especially for students who walk in guarded, overwhelmed, or unsure they belong. Erika and Tiffany share practical communication strategies that protect student dignity while still driving behavior change, including how to separate behavior from identity, use language that builds a positive student self-story, and create routines that make care visible and believable. Then we move to the harder side of the job: adult conversations that feel uncomfortable but are necessary for instructional improvement and a healthy workplace. We unpack why leaders often talk themselves out of the conversation, how planning creates clarity, and why empathy and accountability are not a trade-off. You’ll hear concrete ways to name concerns, focus on impact vs intention, and pair clear expectations with real supports like coaching and scaffolds so people have a fair shot at success. We also share advice for new principals and aspiring administrators on handling the loneliness of leadership, finding your “person,” and protecting time outside the job so you can lead with steadiness. Subscribe for more leadership conversations, share this with a colleague who needs it, and leave a review with the toughest conversation you’re working up the courage to have. Connect with Erika and Tiffany: Website: https://www.connectingthroughconversation.com/ Connecting Through Conversations: A Playbook for Talking with Students A School Leader's Playbook for Tough Conversations New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 73: Tough Conversations That Transform School Culture with Erika Bare & Tiffany Burns

  6. Jun 8

    Episode 72: Principal Mo on AI, Leadership, and the Future of Education: Practical Strategies for Today's School Leaders

    Connect with the Show Here! Your to-do list is not the job, and it definitely isn’t leadership. Principal Mo is back, and our catch-up turns into a real blueprint for how educational leaders can protect their time, build stronger systems, and still show up for kids and staff with energy. We talk about how Principal Mo went from a conference connection to co-hosting The Rules To Engagement, a live education show produced with Principal Amen Rahh. That leads into the bigger problem so many schools are trying to solve right now: chronic absenteeism. Principal Mo breaks down Knowleg, an AI-powered gamification platform that rewards students for showing up and engaging, using incentives students actually want. We dig into why engagement, belonging, and smart attendance systems matter more than ever as schools try to make “being here” feel worth it again. Then we get highly practical on AI for principals and educators. Principal Mo shares how she’s moved past basic prompting into automation and vibe coding, including tools for an AI-powered Eisenhower Matrix, streamlining email-driven tasks, and building coverage schedules that don’t feel like Sudoku at sunrise. We compare go-to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and NotebookLM for observation feedback, coaching questions, and fast policy and contract lookup with citations. We also talk guardrails, misconceptions about AI replacing teachers, and what responsible AI policies can look like for students and staff, including the wins Principal JL sees with MagicSchool AI. If you’re trying to lead without burning out, you’ll leave with ideas you can use this week. Subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more school leaders can find the tools and mindset shifts that make the work sustainable. Connect with Principal Mo: Website: https://www.principalmo.com/ KnowlegCom: https://www.knowlej.io/knowlejcon Knowleg: https://www.knowlej.io/ The Rules to Engagement Series:  New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 72: Principal Mo on AI, Leadership, and the Future of Education: Practical Strategies for Today's School Leaders

  7. May 18

    Episode 71: The Missing Link Between PLCs and MTSS: How Schools Improve Student Achievement with Kurtis Hewson

    Connect with the Show Here! PLCs can be strong and MTSS can be strong, and schools can still feel like they are missing the connector that turns good work into a coherent system. That “missing piece” is what Kurtis Hewson calls the collaborative team meeting, a simple but highly intentional structure designed to bring classroom practice and student supports into the same conversation. In this episode, we talk about why educators burn out when they work hard but cannot see impact, and how collaboration changes that equation. Kurtis shares the leadership mindset shift that separates good leaders from great ones: good leaders solve problems, great leaders build systems that solve problems. We dig into practical ways to build a true learning organization, including the idea of “tiering supports, not students,” so the focus stays on what adults can do next instead of placing labels on kids. Then we get specific about implementation. Kurtis explains how collaborative team meetings can serve as the bridge between PLCs and MTSS, bringing together cross-disciplinary teams every three to five weeks to share evidence, identify real classroom challenges, and exchange strategies that help everyone become 1% better over time. We also cover the practical structures that make meetings effective, including defined roles, strong facilitation, and protocols that keep conversations productive, focused, and psychologically safe. If you want clearer systems, stronger instructional leadership, and a school culture where every student has a team, this episode is for you. Subscribe, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a review so more educational leaders can discover the show. Get Connected with Kurtis:  Jigsaw Learning: New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 71: The Missing Link Between PLCs and MTSS: How Schools Improve Student Achievement with Kurtis Hewson

  8. May 4

    Episode 70: School Leadership, Culture, Social Media, and Comedy: How Nick Holtvluwer Builds Trust, Teams, and Impact

    Connect with the Show Here! A lot of leaders feel pressure to be polished, serious, and unshakable. I do not buy that, and neither does Nick Holtvluwer, Principal of Mammoth Heights Elementary in Parker, Colorado, who somehow manages to lead a school for a decade, build a huge online following, and still find time to do stand up comedy at Comedy Works in Denver. Nick shares his nontraditional path from television production into education, and why those “side quests” become real assets for educational leadership. We get into what he learned teaching in the primary grades, how relying on a team changes everything, and why strong systems like PLCs help teachers solve problems together instead of struggling in isolation. We also talk about the on-the-ground realities of administration, from learning to handle conflict to the moment you realize you cannot make everyone happy and should not try. We dig into school culture and climate as the foundation for everything else, including hiring. Nick explains the questions he asks in interviews to spot reflective educators who fit the mission of the school, plus how trust is built with staff and families over time. Then we shift to social media for schools: how to “put more positive out there,” strengthen community connection, and keep communication consistent, especially during disruptive seasons like COVID. If you care about school leadership, teacher support, student centered decision making, and building a healthy school community with a little humor, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe, share this with an educator who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Connect with Nick Holtvluwer: Tik Tok: @nickholtvluwer Instagram: @nick_holtvluwer X: @NickHoltvluwer New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    Episode 70: School Leadership, Culture, Social Media, and Comedy: How Nick Holtvluwer Builds Trust, Teams, and Impact
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About

Principal JL is an educational leader who explores various topics facing educational leaders today! The Mission of this podcast is to inform and inspire other Educational Leaders on how to be their best for their Schools by honing their skills and talents so they may impact their teachers, staff members, students, parents/guardians, and community members positively for their School District! Come with a Growth Mindset as we journey through Educational Leadership! 

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