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Transformative Principal

Jethro Jones
Education
Universal Design For Learning
Educational Leadership
School Leadership
Literacy
Professional Development
Leadership
Educational Technology
Community Engagement
Artificial Intelligence
Student Engagement
AI In Education
Education Technology
Science Of Reading
Mental Health
Coaching
Leadership Development
Reading Proficiency
CAST
Fundraising

Jethro Jones interviews instructional leaders from around the nation to learn and teach what it takes to become a transformative principal. Episodes address topics like Response to Intervention (RTI), Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), the latest advances in educational research, standards-based grading, and interviews with industry leaders ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes874Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementEducation

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Artwork for Transformative Principal

Latest Episodes

Summary

Improvement plans often create a second job for the principal: tracking every action, checking every artifact, and carrying the responsibility for someone else's growth. In this episode, Jethro shares a clip from My First Million featuring e... more

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In this episode, I talk about Project Paideia, an effort by a group of dads to create better learning opportunities for our kids. Our AI build-a-thon gives teens a chance to make something meaningful to them, solve a problem, and experience what they... more

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Developing the Leader Within with Christopher Grode

School leaders can spend an entire day solving problems and still have little time for the leadership work they want to do. Mike Caldwell talks with Christopher Grode, Ph.D., about creating routine... more

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Summary

Elizabeth Cushing, CEO of Playworks, joins Jethro Jones to talk about how play builds belonging, emotional resilience, leadership, and attendance at school. They discuss what changes when recess becomes a predictable, inclusive place where e... more

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Recent Guests

Christopher Grode
Retired Illinois superintendent, former teacher and principal, and author of The Leader Within
Managing Leadership LLC
Episode: Developing the Leader Within with Christopher Grode
Elizabeth Cushing
CEO of Playworks
Playworks
Episode: How Play Builds Belonging and Resilience with Elizabeth Cushing
Suzanne Myers
Co-director of the Center for Research on Learning at University of Kansas
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
Episode: ISTE 2026: Inside the iSTAR Writing Tool
Jocelyn Washburn
Co-director of the Center for Research on Learning at University of Kansas
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
Episode: ISTE 2026: Inside the iSTAR Writing Tool
Bonnie Palysak
Educator and contributor discussing instructional delivery and materials
University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning
Episode: ISTE 2026: Inside the iSTAR Writing Tool
Nanette Merrill
Executive Director for the Idaho Charter School Network
Idaho Charter School Network
Episode: Lessons from Dozens of Charter School Visits with Nanette Merrill
Kip Glazer
Principal at Mountain View High School (Mountain View, California)
Mountain View High School
Episode: ISTE 2026: Ready to Lead with AI with Kip Glazer
Kevin Donohue
Co-presenter on AI in PLCs, FACTS Education Solutions executive
FACTS Education Solutions / ISTE sessions
Episode: ISTE 2026: Practical Tools for Teacher Collaboration with Kevin Donohue
Evin Schwarz
Founder of Thinkering and BE Podcast Network
Thinkering, BE Podcast Network
Episode: ISTE 2026: Inside Thinkering's Mission to Empower Teachers with Evin Schwartz

Hosts

Jethro Jones
Host of Transformative Principal
Mike Caldwell
Host of Transformative Principal

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 120 ratings
  • Incredible!

    A must listen for all school leaders. Jethro has the experience necessary to ask really good questions and give incredible advice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C:::J
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Podcast

    This is one of the first principal podcast I listened to as an educational leader. Jethro always has great advice and brings on amazing leaders in education. I highly recommend this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Barb22222
    United States3 years ago
  • So helpful

    I am actually a teacher and have hopes to be an AP at some point when it works out in my personal life. I believe strongly in professional development and have really enjoyed listening. I especially find the coaching sessions between Jethro and Eric useful as I gain so much insight into the realities of being a new principal and then hearing and learning experienced insights. The interviews are also interesting. I really can tell that you value what you do and I am furiously taking notes as I li... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SarahWieczorek
    United States4 years ago
  • This podcast helps me be a principal

    Been listening since the beginning. This podcast continues to deliver after 10 years, every week. Awesome work, Jethro. Congrats on continuing to deliver value every week for so long! Here’s to seven more years!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tehjunction
    United States4 years ago
  • Karen Dudek-Brannan

    I learn so much from this show about what's it's like to be in a position of leadership; as well as how to level up in my career. Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Karen-DB
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The show is a reliable source of high-quality conversations with diverse education leaders.
Fans appreciate a mix of practitioner-focused episodes and insights into leadership and school culture.
Listeners praise practical, actionable leadership tips for principals and administrators.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Developing the Leader Within with Christopher Grode
Q: What would you hope that they take away from it?
Grode hopes readers recognize that they cannot develop as leaders alone. He recommends finding a coach or a trusted friend or peer who will listen, ask questions, and offer an honest outside perspective.
Developing the Leader Within with Christopher Grode
Q: What did you see as the support system that you put in place for developing and supporting your school-level leaders?
Grode said he did not develop leaders well during much of his superintendency. His later doctoral research on executive coaches informed his book and his work through Managing Leadership LLC, focused on identity formation, leadership development, culture, and relationships.
Project paideia
Q: Is AI-assisted coding, or vibe coding, a passing fad, or is it a feature of software development and tool development that's here to stay?
Jones believes AI will remain an important technology, comparing its adoption to the internet. He says young people should learn to use it to create value for themselves and others, rather than only consume content.
Project paideia
Q: What is Project Pidea?
Jones describes it as an effort by a group of fathers to create better educational experiences for children, including an AI Buildathon where teens build something useful or meaningful.
How Play Builds Belonging and Resilience with Elizabeth Cushing
Q: What are the funding sources for Playworks in schools?
Funding comes from a mix of Title I and Title IVa dollars, with additional support from PTAs and philanthropic funds; districts often combine multiple sources and may also invest in professional development for staff.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Transformative Principal

What is Transformative Principal about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on instructional leadership and school transformation, featuring principals, district leaders, authors, and education innovators. Episodes blend practical leadership strategies with deep dives into RTI/MTSS, PBIS, classroom equity, student voice, and innovative school models like charter networks and micro-schools. Guests range from seasoned administrators to authors and researchers, with sponsorships weaving through conversations. The format is consistently actionable, focused on real-world implementation, and often explores how leadership choices shape culture, staffing, and student outcomes. A notable strength is its breadth across traditional public-school topics and broader education reform ideas, which can help liste... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Transformative Principal?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Transformative Principal:

1. The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast
2. Maxwell Leadership Podcast
3. Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker
4. Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
5. The Mel Robbins Podcast

How many episodes of Transformative Principal are there?

Transformative Principal launched 13 years ago and published 874 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 Transformative Principal?

Recent guests on Transformative Principal include:

1. Christopher Grode
2. Elizabeth Cushing
3. Suzanne Myers
4. Jocelyn Washburn
5. Bonnie Palysak
6. Nanette Merrill
7. Kip Glazer
8. Kevin Donohue

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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