The Modern Principal Podcast themodernprincipal

On this week's episode, Karen and Christy discuss the idea that conflict is natural - and even necessary - in a school culture. 
Listen to hear more about: 
- how to use personality tests to create common language and understanding- normalizing conflict- creating a safe environment for conflict to occur
This episode was sponsored by Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD. 

Ever had a staff member who shares lots of opinions on things that maybe don't apply to her? You probably want to acknowledge her concerns but also encourage her to "stay in your lane!" On this week's episode, Karen and Christy talk about:
- why you should feel grateful when staff bring complaints out of their "lane"
- how to use teams to improve decision-making and reduce complaints
- setting ground rules for sharing feedback
This podcast is sponsored by Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD. 

It can be anxiety-inducing for a principal to relay negative information to parents but especially when their child has made a mistake or engaged in a major behavior. On this episode of the pod, Karen and Christy talk about: 
- how to get on top of behavior communication before the behavior even occurs
- tips to prepare for a calm conversation
- writing communication plans into behavior plans
and more! 
Check out our website at www.themodernprincipal.com and on social media @themodernprincipal.
This episode is sponsored by: Just Right Reader and Peer-Driven PD.

In this episode, Christy and Karen interview Dr. Samantha Keppler, Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations, who studies education operations, or the management of human and material resources, in public schools. 
In this episode Dr. Keppler helps principals:
- understand the current data (or lack thereof) regarding how teachers are supplementing resources in their classrooms
- the correlation of funded crowdsourcing projects and student achievement
- the correlation of funded crowdsourcing projects on teacher retention
- the complicated role of the principal in providing physical resources to staff
Samantha M. Keppler received her PhD in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Technology and Operations at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on resource operations and management in public education. Before graduate school, she was a public school math teacher in New York City. Learn more about her work at www.samanthakeppler.com or email her at srmeyer@umich.edu.

On this week's pod, Karen and Christy chat with Kyle Pearce and Jon Orr, the math instructional experts behind MakeMathMoments.com. 
You'll find:
- the best thing a principal can do to improve math instruction
- the importance of content knowledge
- offerings from Kyle and Jon that can help your school
Check them out here: www.makemathmoments.com - Math Math Moments Academy, District Improvement Planning, Courses
https://makemathmoments.com/podcast/ - Make Math Moments Podcast
https://makemathmoments.com/districtassessment/  - Mathematics Program Assessment Screener for Leadership Teams
Kyle is the K-12 Mathematics Consultant with the Greater Essex County District School Board and Jon is a high school math teacher at John McGregor Secondary School in the Lambton-Kent District School Board in Ontario Canada. Together, they co-founded Make Math Moments where they develop professional development and classroom resources for K-12 educators and district leaders to spark curiosity, fuel sense making and ignite teacher moves.

This week's pod welcomes Dr. Danielle Ricci, a high school principal and an educational leader with an expertise in cultivating collaborative cultures. Her research focuses on how school administrators lead teacher collaboration. Her background as an athlete has helped her to keep the concept of team at the heart of her work. Danielle is a wife, a mom to five, including newborn twins, and a cold-water enthusiast who swims in the Atlantic Ocean year-round to save her principal sanity! Danielle shares with us:
- scheduling strategies to optimize staff collaboration
- parent engagement solutions
- student culture considerations!