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

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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:

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Email: danny@steelethoughts.com

Instagram: @steelethoughts

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