The Empowered Principal® Podcast

Have you ever noticed how kids approach new experiences?

My 10-year-old niece came over the other night to bake brownies. When I asked if she'd found the recipe online, she said, "No, I just created it. I made it up and I want to try it." Her confidence in her creative ability stopped me in my tracks. Because here's what I realized: We're all born creators, but somewhere along the way, we forget.

Join me this week as I explore how we've all used this creative ability before. You'll hear why everything in life is a form of art, including leadership, how your feelings about yourself directly impact your leadership outcomes, and a powerful reframe for those moments when you feel like circumstances are happening to you rather than being created by you.

Have you ever been in a relationship where you know something's wrong, but you're too afraid to talk about it because you don't want it to end? That's exactly what's happening in education right now.

We're clinging to the old paradigm where we're the authority figures, students comply without question, and everyone understands the value of school. Deep down, we school leaders know that world doesn't exist anymore. We're struggling to articulate the value of what we offer, grappling with the very purpose of school itself, while students and families seem to be questioning whether they're buying what we're selling anymore.

Tune in this week to discover why it's time to have courageous conversations about education's future, how confusion might be at the root of our exhaustion and overwhelm, and what happens when we finally sit down to talk about what we really want school to look like and feel like. This isn't about going back to the way things were. It's about stepping up to the leadership table and navigating the discomfort of not having all the answers while still moving forward.

Have you noticed how the value of education is being questioned by everyone - students, parents, even some of your staff?

Since the pandemic, there's been an explosion of change in how people view school. Students question why they need to attend. Parents wonder if the curriculum still matters. And you're caught in the middle, trying to uphold standards while the ground shifts beneath your feet. The truth is, we're experiencing a massive disconnect between what educators believe school should be and what our communities actually want. And that disconnect? It's drowning us in doubt.

Join me this week as I explore why there's such a disconnect between educator expectations and community values, and how to recalibrate the purpose of school for today's reality. If you've been feeling like you're losing at the game of education, this episode will help you understand why, and show you a path forward.

Have you ever felt so exhausted that even a full night's sleep doesn't help? Maybe you're dragging yourself to school each morning, fighting back tears in the parking lot. Or sitting in your car for an hour after work because you just can't face going inside yet. I get it. As educators, we give everything to our students… often at the expense of our own wellbeing.

This week, I'm joined by Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh to explore her journey from burnout to balance, and how she discovered that teacher wellness isn't selfish - it's essential. And in this episode, she shares a revolutionary framework that changed everything for her, and could transform your teaching experience too.

Tune in to discover why you have to feel well to teach well, and how, when teachers model self-regulation and wellness practices, it creates ripple effects throughout classrooms, schools, and communities. Dr. Michelle shares the 7 areas of rest (and why you're probably deficient in at least 3 of them), and how to incorporate micro-moments of restoration throughout your school day.

Meet Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh:

Dr. Michelle Chanda Singh is a National Board Certified Teacher, CEO of LCT-E Learning Solutions®, and founder of Restful Teacher® and Empty2Empowered™. A globally recognized education leader, Michelle champions equity, innovation, and well-being in education. Her EQUAL Methodology™ equips educators and leaders with research-based strategies and emerging technologies to create inclusive and engaging learning environments.

As a Jamaican immigrant, Michelle's passion for cultural empathy and inclusivity has fueled over two decades of transformative impact as a teacher, district leader, professor, consultant, and speaker. Through her curricula, training programs, and keynotes, she provides actionable solutions to today's biggest educational and organizational challenges—from burnout to disengagement—helping schools, institutions, and organizations cultivate thriving leaders and empowered learners.

Veteran principals sometimes share a secret that newer leaders might not expect: the work can feel repetitive, uninspiring, even boring. When you've mastered the routines of observation cycles, behavior investigations, and IEP meetings, when you've successfully calmed the chaos and created systems that work, you might find yourself wondering if this is all there is to school leadership.

If you're a veteran principal feeling disconnected from your work, you're not alone. I recently coached a highly successful principal in her fourth year who confessed she felt bored. Not overwhelmed. Not stressed. Just... blah.

If you're catching yourself thinking, "What's the point?" as you face another round of observations or another behavior investigation, this episode is for you. You'll learn why you're feeling this way, and how to bring fresh energy to your role and rediscover the excitement you felt when you first landed this position.