Educational Leadership with Principal JL

Episode 61: Stop Eating Our Own: How Educator Language Shapes School Culture and the Future of Teaching

Send us a textWhat happens when the stories educators tell about their work turn into the strongest recruiter, or the loudest warning, about our profession? We dive into Stop Eating Our Own by Robert Hinchliffe and Shawna Quenneville and unpack how a single choice of words online can shape school culture, public trust, and the pipeline of future teachers who are watching us closely.We explore the difference between honest critique and public venting, why negativity travels faster than hope, and how leaders at every level can flip the script without turning fake or ignoring real challenges. From hallway conversations to social media posts, we map practical shifts: amplify excellence instead of outrage, move problems to solution spaces, and narrate purpose so students, families, and aspiring educators see why this work matters. You’ll hear how two people can live the same school day and leave with opposite stories and how that mindset gap becomes contagious in a building and online.Along the way, we share simple, repeatable practices: swap countdowns for gratitude snapshots, preview meaningful learning instead of dreading Mondays, celebrate colleagues publicly while handling conflict privately, and document policy impact with data and proposed fixes. The result is a leadership approach that is bold, honest, and deeply pro-education. If we believe teaching changes lives, our language should prove it especially in the places where the next generation is listening.If this conversation sparks something, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more research-informed leadership talks, and leave a review to help other educators find us. Then tell us: what positive story about your students or teammates will you share this week?Get the Book: Stop Eating Our OwnNew and Improve  Support the showClick Here to Connect with Principal JL:

Episode 60: School Culture Over Programs: Robert Hinchliffe on Principal Leadership That Actually Works

Send us a textWhat if the fastest way to better scores isn’t another program, but a stronger culture? We sit down with Las Vegas principal and author Robert Hinchliffe to unpack how trust, clear systems, and teacher autonomy transform schools into places kids and adults love. Robert’s journey from a high-school aide to AP to founding principal reveals what leadership really looks like behind the scenes: managing personalities, making uncomfortable decisions, and building structures that let great people do great work.We dig into the daily realities leaders carry that most never see—budget puzzles, hallway dynamics, policy thresholds, and how “guardrails” like MTSS, PBIS, and attendance systems create freedom, not red tape. Robert explains why micromanagement fails, how to design for teacher strengths, and what happens when you put morale ahead of the latest initiative. Expect candid takes on cell phone expectations, the myth of one right instructional path, and the honest truth that principals must be okay with being disliked when they choose what’s best for the school.Robert also shares the heart behind his books, More Than Just Teaching, More Than Just Support Staff, and More Than Just Principals; and the consistent lesson across small towns and big districts: relationships are the multiplier. When people feel seen and supported, they try more, risk more, and grow faster. If you’re an aspiring AP or principal, you’ll walk away with a practical blueprint: seek experiences, study leaders, manage personalities with care, and measure belonging alongside academics. Most of all, build a school you’d want your own kids to attend.If this conversation sparks ideas, follow Robert’s work and grab More Than Just Principals. Then share the episode with a colleague who needs a lift, subscribe for future interviews, and leave a quick review to help more school leaders find the show.Connect with Robert Hinchliffe:Website: https://roberthinchliffe.com/Tik Tok: @rhperspectiveNew and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the showClick Here to Connect with Principal JL:

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

Send us a textWhat 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 QuinterEmail: jlq11@scasd.orgNew and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the showClick Here to Connect with Principal JL:

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

Send us a textFeeling 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.comInstagram: @steelethoughtsNew and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the showClick Here to Connect with Principal JL:

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

Send us a textLaws 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.orgEmail Tim Heckenlively: tim.heckenlively@ncsa.orgNew and Improve  Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad Support the showClick Here to Connect with Principal JL: