Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders

Dr. Mel Vandevort - Educational Leadership, Educational Consultancy, Teacher Transition Coach, Educational Administration, Educational Entrepreneurship
  • 5.0 (22)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Are you a passionate educator stepping into leadership—or thinking about making that leap? Maybe you just accepted your first admin role and feel the weight of leading well. Or you’re a classroom teacher who feels the calling to lead with purpose and impact. The Empowered Educator Show is your space to grow as a leader without losing who you are. I’m Dr. Mel—former administrator turned leadership and instructional coach, educational consultant, and now your guide to navigating the real work of school leadership. With over 25 years in education, I help new and aspiring leaders shift their mindset, strengthen their strategies, and build Confident Classrooms—where teachers feel supported, students are engaged, and learning thrives. Each episode I bring you real talk, practical tools, and heart-centered leadership support designed to help you: Create a school culture rooted in confidence, clarity, and trust Develop teachers who feel empowered, not overwhelmed Lead with boldness, even when the road gets bumpy It’s about becoming the kind of leader who creates ripple effects across classrooms, campuses, and communities. Let’s power up your purpose and put your leadership in motion.

  1. 6D AGO

    Power Surge⚡You Are More Than the Title on Your Door #214

    Send us a text In this Power Surge episode, Mel reminds school leaders that their role—principal, assistant principal, superintendent—does not define who they are. When leadership becomes tied too tightly to a title, burnout, insecurity, and pressure follow. This episode calls leaders back to what truly matters: character, values, and heart-led leadership. Grounded in Scripture and leadership research, this short but powerful message will help you lead anchored, steady, and confident—no matter the season.  Scripture Referenced: 1 Samuel 16:7 — God looks at the heart, not the outward appearanceColossians 3:23 — Leading and working with purpose and integrityLeadership Insight: Research on authentic leadership shows that leaders who anchor their identity in values rather than position experience higher trust, stronger relationships, and lower emotional exhaustion. When character leads, leadership lasts. Action Step: Before your next meeting or decision, pause and ask yourself: Who do I want to be in this moment—not what do I need to prove? Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    4 min

  2. DEC 12

    Choosing What Fits Your School: Because Not Every Idea Is the Right One #213

    Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Mel breaks down one of the most important — and overlooked — leadership skills for building principals: discernment. With so many podcasts, books, conferences, and PD sessions offering “must-try” strategies, it’s easy for leaders to feel pressure to implement everything they hear. But great leadership isn’t about collecting ideas — it’s about choosing the right ideas for your school, your staff, and your current season. Dr. Mel shares how to filter advice through a practical decision-making lens so you can lead with clarity, protect your staff’s capacity, and stay aligned with your mission. Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    13 min

  3. DEC 10

    Leading Through the December Dip #212

    Send us a text December has its own personality — kids are wired, staff are tired, and patience is thin. This stretch is real, and your leadership tone matters even more right now. Your team is watching your reactions, your pace, and your posture. The December Dip isn’t about perfection. It’s about steadiness. It’s about lifting the emotional weight your team is carrying just a little bit. Sometimes that looks like humor. Sometimes it looks like grace. Sometimes it looks like simply acknowledging, “Hey, this part of the year is tough. We’ll get through it together.” Power Points: December magnifies stress — your calm becomes the anchor.Acknowledging the struggle builds trust and connection.Small routines and small wins stabilize the climate.Encouragement is not optional right now — it’s essential.Power Quote: ✨ I will lead with steadiness and hope, even in the weary weeks. Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    4 min

  4. DEC 5

    The App That Makes Data Feel Easy: A Look at Teamchers Technologies with Lea Hickerson #211

    Send us a text In this episode,  I'm diving into a tool educators have been begging for — something that finally brings data, collaboration, and accountability into one simple, modern space. Teamchers Technologies is an educator-created app designed to help schools move from episodic data meetings to everyday data-driven practice. Along with creator Dr. Lea Hickerson, I explore how the platform lets teacher teams and administrators set goals, store documents, collaborate in threaded chats, and track progress with built-in reporting tools that actually make sense. Whether you’re on desktop or mobile, the app opens the door for real-time communication, ongoing adjustments, and stronger outcomes for kids. If your school is tired of juggling spreadsheets, email chains, and random notes, this episode gives you a fresh look at a tool built to streamline the way educators work — and strengthen the culture of collaboration on your campus. Website: TeamchersTechnologies.com Email: Connect@Teamchers.com We have Facebook and Instagram: @TeamchersTech Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    22 min

  5. DEC 3

    Power Surge Protecting Your Peace During Holiday Chaos #210

    Send us a text “Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 Episode: The holiday season hits different in schools — concerts, programs, discipline spikes, evaluations, data cycles, parent emails, and schedule changes. It’s a lot. But even when the pace is fast, your spirit doesn’t have to be. You can choose stillness even inside a storm. Protecting your peace isn’t selfish — it’s stewardship. Peace is leadership currency. When you’re calm, it allows everyone else to settle. When you’re overwhelmed, the building feels it instantly. Power Points: Peace is a leadership skill, not a luxury.Slowing your spirit helps you respond, not react.Chaos outside doesn’t have to become chaos inside.Modeling calm reduces building-wide anxiety.Power Quote: ✨ I will protect my peace so I can lead from a grounded, God-centered place. Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    4 min

  6. NOV 28

    10 Family Engagement Activities Every School Should Be Doing #209

    Send us a text In this episode, Mel breaks down ten high-impact, easy-to-launch family engagement activities that help schools build trust, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful partnerships with families. These ideas work in every school setting — public, private, charter, or Christian — and can be scaled up or down based on your resources. If you’re looking for fresh ways to bring families into the learning experience, this episode gives you the exact blueprint. What You’ll Learn How to shift from “events” to purposeful engagement experiences Activities that promote transparency, trust, and a sense of belonging Ways to get more families participating without adding stress to your staff Tips to make engagement more culturally responsive and equitable How to use student voice and student work to drive participation Simple steps to build momentum and boost turnout for future events Stay Connected Follow Dr. Mel for leadership strategies, instructional mastery tips, and empowerment for educators ready to lead. Join the Empowered Educator Community on Skool for resources, templates, and professional growth content. Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    13 min

  7. NOV 26

    Power Surge ⚡Don't Just Give Them Donuts, Give Them Gratitude #208

    Send us a text Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    5 min

  8. NOV 21

    10 Family Engagement Strategies That Transform Schools #207

    Send us a text Dr. Mel walks through ten research-backed family engagement strategies that help strengthen trust, boost achievement, and change the way families experience your school. Engagement isn’t about “getting parents to show up.” It’s about partnership — real, reciprocal, relationship-centered partnership that helps kids win academically, emotionally, and socially. Sources SchoolStatus — family engagement & communication best practices: https://www.schoolstatus.com/blog ParentPowered — research on family engagement outcomes: https://parentpowered.com/blog/family-engagement U.S. Department of Education — family engagement guidance: https://www.ed.gov/birth-grade-12-education/resources/families New Leaders — relationship-centered engagement research: https://www.newleaders.org/blog/family-engagement Panorama Education — family engagement frameworks: https://www.panoramaed.com/blog/family-engagement-comprehensive-guide Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. Calling All Educators! I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more. I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources. I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant. Join here: Empowered Educator Community Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success Grab a complimentary POWER Session With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery. email: melinda@empowere...

    17 min
See All (217)

5
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Are you a passionate educator stepping into leadership—or thinking about making that leap? Maybe you just accepted your first admin role and feel the weight of leading well. Or you’re a classroom teacher who feels the calling to lead with purpose and impact. The Empowered Educator Show is your space to grow as a leader without losing who you are. I’m Dr. Mel—former administrator turned leadership and instructional coach, educational consultant, and now your guide to navigating the real work of school leadership. With over 25 years in education, I help new and aspiring leaders shift their mindset, strengthen their strategies, and build Confident Classrooms—where teachers feel supported, students are engaged, and learning thrives. Each episode I bring you real talk, practical tools, and heart-centered leadership support designed to help you: Create a school culture rooted in confidence, clarity, and trust Develop teachers who feel empowered, not overwhelmed Lead with boldness, even when the road gets bumpy It’s about becoming the kind of leader who creates ripple effects across classrooms, campuses, and communities. Let’s power up your purpose and put your leadership in motion.

Information

You Might Also Like