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https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-8jesf-1b22452 Part of our “Systems That Free You” series New teachers either sink or swim based on how connected they feel early on. And it’s not about building some elaborate 30-day plan with checkboxes. In this episode, Sarah and Andra talk through what actually helps a new teacher in their first month—the handful of genuine…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-s2eyf-1b22443 Part of our “Systems That Free You” series You solve it. Two days later, it’s back. A behavior issue, a hallway expectation, a staff frustration—you handle it, and then somehow it just… resurfaces. In this episode, Sarah and Andra break down why principals feel stuck playing Whack-a-Mole all year, and what actually has to…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-f9nqu-1b1a0bf You’re carrying things that don’t matter. Old initiatives. Obligatory traditions. Meetings about meetings. Programs you inherited but never believed in. In this episode, Sarah and Andra walk you through a simple four-step audit to identify what’s actually essential versus what’s just stealing your energy. Because July is the only month you have to simplify…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-2fz6k-1b09b56 You know deep work matters. But principals keep saying: “I can’t. There’s always something. The walkie never stops.” In this episode, Sarah and Andra deliver five concrete, actionable strategies to actually protect that time. These aren’t theory—they’re systems that work in real school buildings. If you’ve been stuck in reaction mode and want practical…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-kd4tq-1b09b4a Your day is packed with emails, walkie calls, teacher requests, and crises. By the time the building empties, you finally tackle real leadership work—observations, planning, coaching. It’s 7 PM and you’re exhausted. In this episode, Sarah and Andra use the phone metaphor: just like airplane mode stops notifications, principals need designated deep work time…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-fyq42-1ae3a5c We’re on vacation and bringing back a fan favorite—especially timely as you head into the new school year. Culture isn’t just morale. It’s how people act when no one’s watching. The tricky part? Culture happens whether you set it or not. If you don’t define it intentionally, it will define itself—probably not how you…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-53ihd-1ae3a34 We’re on vacation, so we’re sharing one of our most downloaded episodes. School rules are everywhere. But most people can’t even recite them. So what are they actually for? In this episode, Sarah and Andra challenge traditional school rules entirely. They’re not calling for chaos—they’re calling for a reframe. Instead of rules that beg…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-qyh53-1ae3a1d Summer brings space to think—and immediately brings a different kind of overwhelm. Should you focus on behavior? Master schedule? Staff morale? Professional development? All of it feels urgent. None of it feels doable. In this episode, Sarah and Andra use the Netflix scrolling problem to explain summer planning paralysis. You have all these choices…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-6bmbm-1ae3a43 How does a principal stay in one building for 21 years when the average principal lasts just three? Matt Moyer, nationally distinguished principal at Rupert Elementary in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, has beaten the odds. He’s been principal for over two decades—at the very school he attended as a child. In this Real Talk episode, Sarah…

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-g3nus-1ae3966 You have the credential but feel completely unprepared. This is the reality for many principals—and the statistics show why. In this episode, Sarah and Andra tackle the crisis in principal retention: 42% are considering leaving, 64% cite administrative burden as the reason, and 86% report daily stress. The real problem? The job isn’t set…