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. Episode 59: Leading as a Learner: Dr. Jess Quinter on MTSS, School Culture, and Principal Leadership

    5D AGO

    Episode 59: Leading as a Learner: Dr. Jess Quinter on MTSS, School Culture, and Principal Leadership

    Send us a text What does it take to lead a single school so well that your influence reaches across a district, and into state and national conversations? We sat down with Dr. Jess Quinter, Principal of Park Forest Elementary in Pennsylvania and NAESP Zone 2 director, to unpack a career built on learning, trust, and steady systems that actually help kids. Jess shares how teaching across grades and serving as a Title I reading specialist shaped her leadership lens, and why becoming principal in the same building where she taught demanded radical clarity and patience. We explore the daily habits that build credibility, modeling professional learning alongside teachers, helping with benchmark assessments, and narrating the why behind every change. Her “lead learner” mindset isn’t a slogan; it’s the backbone of culture. We dig into MTSS and PBIS as the engine of equity across eight elementary schools: aligning Tier 1 instruction, defining entry and exit criteria, and creating common processes without silencing local voice. Jess explains how district teams move from siloed efforts to consistent support, and how data becomes a tool for compassion rather than compliance. Then the conversation widens to advocacy, why association membership matters, how NAESP elevates principal voices, and practical ways to work with legislators, from rapid-response feedback on bills to inviting them into classrooms to see programs in action. Aspiring administrators will hear blunt, generous advice about timing opportunities, finding mentors, and staying human through change. Veteran leaders will recognize the power of small, visible acts that compound into trust. If you care about instructional leadership, literacy training, school culture, and real-world advocacy, this conversation offers a blueprint you can use tomorrow. If you enjoyed this conversation, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a colleague who’s ready for their next step. What’s one move you’ll make this week to lead as a learner? Connect with Dr. Jess Quinter: LinkedIn: Jess Quinter Email: jlq11@scasd.org New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    38 min
  2. Episode 58: Dr. Danny Steele on Becoming an Instructional Leader: How Principals Reclaim Time, Support Staff, and Strengthen School Culture

    JAN 19

    Episode 58: Dr. Danny Steele on Becoming an Instructional Leader: How Principals Reclaim Time, Support Staff, and Strengthen School Culture

    Send us a text Feeling stretched thin by the demands of school leadership yet determined to move learning forward? We sit down with Dr. Danny Steele; teacher, AP, principal, and author of The Instructional Leader in You; to unpack the practical mindset shifts that turn busy administrators into true instructional leaders. Danny shares how his path from urban high school classrooms to award-winning principalship forged a central insight: to help students, you must first win the adults. He explains the moment that transformed his leadership recognizing that principals are defined by their ability to support staff. From backing teachers in tough parent meetings to simplifying systems that steal time, he shows how culture becomes a daily practice that lifts both morale and outcomes. We dive into three cornerstone strategies: lead with curiosity, operate with intentionality, and delegate with precision. Hear how asking better questions about curriculum, assessment, and schedules builds collective intelligence; how calendar discipline and focused agendas keep learning at the center; and how elevating teacher leaders accelerates change. Danny also tackles AI with nuance, why it won’t replace teachers, how it can reduce drudgery, and where human connection remains irreplaceable. Along the way, we discuss redesigning bell schedules to carve out intervention and enrichment time, building trust across departments, and combating passion drift with small daily wins. If you’re ready to reclaim your time, strengthen your staff, and find joy in the work again, this conversation offers grounded strategies you can use tomorrow. Listen, share with your team, and leave a review to help other leaders discover the show. Then tell us: which leadership shift will you make first? Connect with Danny Steele: Click for Website:  Email: danny@steelethoughts.com Instagram: @steelethoughts New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    43 min
  3. Episode 57: Nebraska Education Advocacy: How the 2026 Legislative Session Will Impact Schools with Dr. Mike Dulaney & Tim Heckenlively

    JAN 12

    Episode 57: Nebraska Education Advocacy: How the 2026 Legislative Session Will Impact Schools with Dr. Mike Dulaney & Tim Heckenlively

    Send us a text Laws that feel distant in a statehouse become very real in a classroom. We sit down with Dr. Mike Dulaney of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators and consultant Tim Heckenlively to map what the new legislative session actually means for students, teachers, and leaders, and how your voice can change it. From a projected $470M budget shortfall to hot-button bills on option enrollment and school surveillance, we walk through the decisions most likely to hit your building and the strategies that help you influence them. We dig into school finance pressures and the hard truth that education sits among the largest appropriations, making it vulnerable when revenue dips. Mike and Tim outline why one-size-fits-all mandates fail districts with very different realities, and how to frame a clear, local case for flexibility, especially on complex issues like accepting high‑needs students when services are already at capacity. We also explore a potential shift in retirement rules from a 180‑day to a 120‑day separation, the strong funding status of Nebraska’s plan, and what that means for contributions and staffing. Safety and privacy take center stage in a thoughtful look at cameras, data governance, and parent expectations. You’ll hear why coalitions among administrators, boards, and teachers drive credibility, and how term-limited senators create urgency around legacy proposals, including culture-war topics likely to resurface. The conversation closes with solutions to the teacher shortage: practical grow‑your‑own pathways that pair content expertise with structured, on‑the‑job training so schools can staff hard‑to‑fill roles without lowering standards. The throughline is agency. Invite your senator to tour classrooms. Share specific impacts, not abstractions. Keep it civil, local, and actionable. Subscribe for more policy-to-practice conversations, share this with a colleague who cares about schools, and leave a review to help others find these insights. Your story can steer the next vote. Connect with NCSA (Nebraska Council of School Administrators): NCSA Website: NCSA Legislative Website: Email Dr. Mike Dulaney: mike.dulaney@ncsa.org Email Tim Heckenlively: tim.heckenlively@ncsa.org New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    1h 3m
  4. Episode 56: Lindsey Allen’s Leadership Journey: How a Principal Scaled Influence, Protected Teacher Time, and Boosted Student Achievement

    JAN 5

    Episode 56: Lindsey Allen’s Leadership Journey: How a Principal Scaled Influence, Protected Teacher Time, and Boosted Student Achievement

    Send us a text A school changes course when leadership starts by listening and then protects what matters most: time, clarity, and opportunity. We sit down with Lindsey Allen, Georgia’s 2025 Principal of the Year and principal of Walnut Grove High School, to unpack the simple, rigorous moves that drive real results. From ten years in the classroom to district hearings and a Title I turnaround, Lindsey shows how credibility is earned, standards are set, and culture shifts when you hire for belief and hold the line with care. We dig into his three-part rallying cry, every student should have a meaningful school experience, graduate on time, and leave enrolled, enlisted, or employed, and how it reshaped decisions. That led to expanding AP from five to eighteen courses so students could truly compete for UGA and Georgia Tech, while growing career pathways in construction, healthcare, and engineering to match Georgia’s job market. The goal isn’t a handshake at graduation; it’s a real plan for the next step. Lindsey also shares why safeguarding teacher time is a leadership superpower: purposeful pre-planning, fewer and better meetings, and a calendar built to be canceled when staff need margin. We talk about mentoring new leaders, reading as a non-negotiable habit, hiring to complement your blind spots, and using tools like StrengthsFinder and DiSC to build a balanced team. Looking ahead, we explore AI as a practical classroom ally, returning hours to teachers, supporting differentiation, and elevating the human work of feedback and relationships. If you care about educational leadership, teacher time, AP access, college readiness, workforce pathways, and using AI to improve instruction, this conversation is a blueprint you can use tomorrow. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a lift, and leave a review telling us the one change you’ll make this week. Connect with Lindsey Allen: Email: lindsey.allen@walton.k12.ga.us  New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    58 min
  5. Episode 55: Year-In-Review 2025 (Part 2): Leadership Lessons From 12 School Leaders

    12/29/2025

    Episode 55: Year-In-Review 2025 (Part 2): Leadership Lessons From 12 School Leaders

    Send us a text Ready for a fast, no-fluff leadership reset that actually translates? In this 2025 Year in Review, we highlight twelve standout leaders and the single move from each that shifted trust, culture, and learning in real schools. You’ll hear how visibility strengthens belonging, why behavior is communication, and how a “no visible student” mindset transforms climate. We unpack the systems that steady culture—clear expectations, reinforced routines, and a peer-observation engine that generated thousands of teacher visits to boost collective efficacy. We also explore the inner work: identity statements that keep you authentic, deep listening that accelerates trust, and purpose that protects your passion when the job gets hard. Plus, stories from classroom leaders who prove you don’t have to leave to lead and student models that turn responsibility into a shared habit. Walk away with a simple plan: pick one idea, make it visible, make it consistent, then stack the next one. Leadership shifts through compounding wins—not big gestures. What’s the one action you’ll take first? Episode 37: Josh Tovar Episode 39: Dr. Dana Goodier Episode 40: Erin Jones Episode 41: Jerry Mack Episode 42: Jayme Braida Episode 43:Bill Curry Episode 45: Beyond the Classroom: Dr. Donovan Smalls II Episode 46: Shannon Seale Episode 48: Dr. Salome Thomas-EL Episode 49: Tony Cattani Episode 51: Dr. James Lane Episode 53: Dr. New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    27 min
  6. Episode 54: Year-In-Review 2025 (Part 1): Leadership Lessons From 14 School Leaders

    12/23/2025

    Episode 54: Year-In-Review 2025 (Part 1): Leadership Lessons From 14 School Leaders

    Send us a text This episode distills one powerful insight from each of our standout guests this year, practical moves you can use the moment you’re back in the building. From consistency and clarity to purpose, recognition, and sustainable habits, these strategies strengthen culture and improve outcomes fast. If it helps, share with a colleague and subscribe for Part 2 of our Year-End Review Series. Click below to listen to all the Part 1 episodes mentioned: Episode 14: Principal Mo Episode 18: Angela Kelly Episode 21: Dr. Joe Sanfelippo Episode 22: Kurtis Hewson  Episode 23: Coach Tony Kimble Episode 26: Dr. Josh Wilken Episode 28: Dr. Cynthia Rapaido Episode 29: Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket Episode 31: Dr. Darrin Peppard Episode 32: Leroy Slanzi Episode 33: Dr. Frank Buck Episode 34:Josh Rowan Episode 35:Todd Bloomer Episode 36: Casey Watt New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    31 min
  7. Episode 53: You Don't Have to Leave to Lead: Dr. Chris Jochum's Leadership Journey

    12/15/2025

    Episode 53: You Don't Have to Leave to Lead: Dr. Chris Jochum's Leadership Journey

    Send us a text What if the most powerful leaders in a school aren’t the ones with the titles? We sit down with Dr. Chris Jochum department chair, coach, and author of You Don’t Have To Leave To Lead, to unpack how everyday teachers can move culture, improve learning, and lift colleagues without stepping out of the classroom. Chris traces his journey from rural roots and language classrooms to higher education, highlighting mentors who asked bigger questions at pivotal moments. We break down the research connecting teacher leadership to student achievement, morale, and retention, then translate it into concrete practices: craft a clear personal mission, align core values to daily actions, navigate conflict with calm, and use small, compounding habits to build a resilient culture. You’ll hear why shared leadership outperforms command-and-control, and how a coaching mindset, support, feedback, and trust frees teachers to take smart risks. For Principals and APs, Chris lays out practical moves you can implement this week. Know your roster so you can align strengths and goals. Run stay interviews to get ahead of attrition. Celebrate small wins, coach privately, and make data human by pairing outcomes with experience. For teachers weighing their next step, we explore the bell curve test: are you one tough day from quitting or ready to serve at a larger scale? Either way, a personal leadership mission can anchor your choices and multiply your impact. If you care about teacher retention, school culture, and student success, this conversation offers a clear playbook. Listen, take one habit into practice tomorrow, and watch the 1% gains add up. If the ideas resonate, follow Chris at cjleadership.com, share this episode with a colleague, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Connect with Dr. Chris Jochum: Dr. Chris Jochum's Website: email: chris@cjleadership.com  Dr. Chris Jochum's Books: You Don't Have to Leave to Lead: A Practical Guide to Teacher Leadership (Amazon) The Department Chair: A Practical Guide to Effective Leadership (Amazon) New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    41 min

  8. 12/09/2025

    Episode 52: The Principal’s Playbook: Building Trust, Retaining Teachers, and Driving Change (Unfiltered)

    Send us a text Culture is not a poster on the wall, it’s the engine that determines whether any strategy, policy, or program actually works. We walk through a practical, field-tested playbook for principals who want to build trust, retain great teachers, and lead lasting change without burning out or micromanaging. First, we break down a 60–90–30 transition plan that starts with a building-wide listening tour. You’ll hear how five-minute conversations with every staff member surfaced the real patterns, wandering halls, phone distractions, and inconsistent expectations; and how a representative school improvement team turned those insights into smart, co-created systems. Together we launched an e-hall pass, hall monitor duty, and a personal device policy that removed phones from instructional time and restored focus. Because teacher leaders owned the rollout, buy-in came from the ground up. We also go inside the practices that kept momentum: PLCs that compare learning by target and swap strategies, daily emails that create clarity, and a simple mantra, Be 1% Better, that encourages responsible risk-taking. The impact was measurable and human: higher daily attendance, a sharp drop in chronic absenteeism, calmer hallways, safer classrooms, and teachers who feel seen, valued, and trusted. You’ll learn how tiered attendance supports engage deans, liaisons, diversion partners, and families to reframe accountability as care. Along the way, we share retention moves you can use tomorrow—protecting workdays from unnecessary meetings, honoring veteran expertise, and investing in appreciation that brings teams together. If you lead a rural 7–12 or a thousand-student high school, the sequence scales: listen widely, co-create solutions, define purpose, communicate clearly, and let staff lead. Grab the free toolkit and templates, try the 60–90–30 day transition plan, and start one change that compounds. If this playbook helps, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more leadership episodes, and leave a quick review so others can find us. What’s the first system you’ll strengthen this week? Principals' Playbook Toolbox: Podcast Recommendations: New and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the show Click Here to Connect with Principal JL:

    43 min
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5
out of 5
45 Ratings

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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