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

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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

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