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Artwork for Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast

Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker
Education
Leadership
Professional Development
School Leadership
Educational Leadership
School Culture
Education Leadership
Trust
Community Engagement
Teacher Retention
Student Engagement
Instructional Leadership
Mental Health
Leadership Development
Teaching Strategies
Collaboration
Conflict Management
Growth Mindset
Leadership In Education
Student Achievement

With William D. Parker and Friends

PublishesDailyEpisodes500Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationBusinessSelf-Improvement

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast

Latest Episodes

First Days of School Reminders

William D. Parker

This post is reprinted from an archived one we shared in 2019.

Jenny is a returning student at her high school. She has a part-time job, which keeps her up late most nights.

When she arrives la... more

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker takes some time to ask Jen Schwanke about recording an audio book version of her book, You’re the Principal Now What?

Here is a link to purchase the book! www.echopointb... more

YouTube

In this week’s Monday Matters episode, Jen and I grabbed four of the last books we’ve read, and shared a few takeaways from each for listeners looking for good reads this summer: Will’s List:

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

A compelling n... more

YouTube

A Quick Note to Listners:

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is:

 I’m thinking about retiring in a year, but I want to do something part time. What are som... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Brad Johnson
Educator, author of Relational Intelligence; keynote speaker
Dr. Brad Johnson
Episode: PMP510: Redefining Leadership Through Relational Intelligence with Brad Johnson and Rachel Edoho-Eket
Rachel Edoho-Eket
National Blue Ribbon School Principal, TEDx speaker, president of Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals
Relational Intelligence co-author group
Episode: PMP510: Redefining Leadership Through Relational Intelligence with Brad Johnson and Rachel Edoho-Eket
Dave Sandowich
Retired principal and longtime listener who invited the guest's son on the sailing trip
Former Principal (New Jersey)
Episode: MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Lessons in Sailing Upwind
Will Bowen
International speaker, author, founder of A Complaint Free World
A Complaint Free World
Episode: PMP509: A Complaint Free World with Will Bowen
Dina Langston
Principal of Armwood High School
Armwood High School, Hillsborough County, Florida
Episode: PMP508: Rigor, Routines, and Relationships with Dina Langston & Stacey James
Stacey James
Magnet Lead at Armwood High School
Armwood High School, Hillsborough County, Florida
Episode: PMP508: Rigor, Routines, and Relationships with Dina Langston & Stacey James
Payden Morris
Principal of Tyler Consolidated High School
Tyler Consolidated High School, West Virginia
Episode: PMP507: Steady Leadership with Paden Morris
Jamie Meade
Educational leader and expert on the science of hope
Battelle for Kids; Speaker and Consultant
Episode: PMP506: Hope Is A Strategy with Jamie Meade
Erika Bare
District leader and co-author of Connecting Through Conversation
District Leadership
Episode: PMP505: A School Leader’s Playbook for Tough Conversations with Erika Bare & Tiffany Burns

Hosts

Will Parker
Host of the show; a central figure in school leadership discourse with a practical, collaborative approach.
Jen Schwanke
Co-host and education expert contributing leadership insights and practical strategies.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 144 ratings
  • Good listen

    Will and Jen provide some good information. There are some nuggets in their stories. Aside some content I would urge Will to fix the audio level. His volume is so low compared to Jen’s - sometimes really hard to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Loreleijane
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excited about new content for school leaders!!

    Jen and Will are piloting unique episodes for school leaders on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in 2025. Check it out and share with other education leadership friends!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    williamdparker.com
    United States2 years ago
  • Great reflective coach

    Thanks for the WWPN 2023 shout out in your December episode Will! Will helps leaders reflect on their practice. He also walks the walk and regularly practices his own reflection. I appreciate how he guides our admin team through reflection so that we build stronger connection which leads to us better serving our staff and students. Wishing Will and his team a wonderful 2024. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CaTeamPA
    United States3 years ago
  • Celebrating 1.2 million downloads

    Thank you listeners for the the ongoing learning we are doing together!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    williamdparker.com
    United States3 years ago
  • the podcast was informative. Sometimes it is difficult to decide what feedback is most valuable.

    Audible
    5
    Davidb734
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are consistently high-caliber education leaders offering actionable strategies.
Listeners appreciate practical, battle-tested leadership advice.
Many find inspiration and tangible takeaways for day-to-day leadership and staff wellbeing.
Quality and depth of conversations are often highlighted, though audio levels can be uneven at times.
Community and peer-learning aspects are frequently praised.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#102
Ireland/Education/Self-Improvement
Apple Podcasts
#210
Ireland/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

PMP510: Redefining Leadership Through Relational Intelligence with Brad Johnson and Rachel Edoho-Eket
Q: How could people get ahold of you if they want to engage your consulting or speaking services?
Will provides contact options: reach via the website williamdparker.com or email Will at williamdparker.com; Jen cites her site jenschwanke.com and email Jen at jenschwanke.com for connection, with both sides inviting outreach for collaboration.
PMP510: Redefining Leadership Through Relational Intelligence with Brad Johnson and Rachel Edoho-Eket
Q: This person is thinking about retiring in a year, but says, I want to do something part time. What are some options you've learned about consulting that I might be able to develop for me?
Brad explains that you typically start by volunteering at conferences or local events to build visibility, then gradually create a value proposition, develop a presence (website or LinkedIn), and explore groups with existing consulting operations to join, which can evolve into part-time or larger opportunities as you establish credibility and relationships.
PMP509: A Complaint Free World with Will Bowen
Q: Would you mind walking through the GRIPE framework with us?
Bowen breaks down GRIPE into Get Attention, Remove Responsibility, Inspire Envy, Power, and Excuse Poor Performance, and then explains practical coaching responses for each category to reframe complaints into productive discussions.
PMP506: Hope Is A Strategy with Jamie Meade
Q: What is the difference between systems and procedures, and why does it matter for leaders?
Systems provide the overall structure and purpose, while procedures are the step-by-step actions within that system. Understanding the distinction helps leaders identify where to tweak for improvement and ensures people see how each part connects to the larger outcome.
PMP505: A School Leader’s Playbook for Tough Conversations with Erika Bare & Tiffany Burns
Q: What are some favorite sentence stems or phrases leaders can start using today to diffuse tension?
Phrases like, 'This conversation is so important, and I want to make sure we give it the time it deserves,' help set the tone and respect, followed by concrete steps and follow-up actions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on school leadership, focusing on practical strategies for principals, district leaders, and education teams. Episodes frequently cover identity-affirming leadership, equity-centered practices, distributed leadership, coaching, trauma-informed cultures, and wellness for leaders. Guests range from experienced principals to university-affiliated education experts, offering frameworks, real-world coaching tips, and reflections on sustaining humane, effective leadership in schools. A notable strength is how conversations blend personal leadership journeys with actionable takeaways, often anchored in collaborative networks, mentorship, and peer-to-peer learning. The format and guest mix make it a strong resource for leaders see... more

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this podcast launched 11 years ago and published 500 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Brad Johnson
2. Rachel Edoho-Eket
3. Dave Sandowich
4. Will Bowen
5. Dina Langston
6. Stacey James
7. Payden Morris
8. Jamie Meade

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