The Principal Exchange Podcast

Episode 24: 5 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

Beating the winter blues in schools isn’t about grand gestures or big initiatives — it’s about the small things that bring energy, novelty, and connection during the hardest stretch of the year.
In this episode, we talk about why January and February feel so heavy for schools and what principals can do to lift morale without adding more to their already full plates. From quick staff laughs, to low-prep student engagement, to simple culture builders, this conversation focuses on practical moves that actually make a difference when everyone’s running on less.
Because great leadership in winter has nothing to do with being “high energy” — it’s about injecting the right kind of spark.
To make it even easier, we highlight a handful of educator-made resources from The Principal Exchange Marketplace that are already done and ready to use, including:
Impromptu White Elephant — The Beam Team
Music Bingo  — Enharmonic Education
Staff “Would You Rather?” Cards — The Principal Exchange
Critical Thinking Task Cards — Kate Hunter
Valentine’s Door Signs — Massively Small Steps
If you’ve ever felt the midyear slump and needed simple ways to add lightness and momentum — without planning something new at 10pm — this episode is for you.
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Episode 23: If Students Ran the School: 5 Things They'd Fix First

Students experience school differently than adults do — not through initiatives or plans, but through systems, routines, and daily interactions.
In this episode, we explore what students would fix first if they were principal for a day — and what those fixes reveal about clarity, consistency, and meaning inside a school. This isn’t about student surveys or committees. It’s about using student perspective as a leadership lens to identify friction points adults often miss.
If you want clearer systems, stronger culture, and fewer behavior issues, start by seeing school the way students do.
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Episode 22: The Principal’s Algorithm: What Schools Can Learn From TikTok

Your school already has an algorithm.
It determines what gets attention, what gets repeated, and what quietly fades away. And whether you realize it or not, leadership behavior, systems, and reactions shape that algorithm daily.
In this episode, we break down how school algorithms form, the unintended behaviors they often reward, and how principals can retune them — without adding initiatives or burning people out.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain behaviors spread while others disappear, this episode gives you a new lens to see — and lead — your school differently.
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Episode 21: When the School Year Is Really Three Separate Years

The school year isn’t one long stretch — it’s really three separate years, each with its own energy, challenges, and leadership demands.
In this episode, we break down the three phases of the school year and what principals can do in each one to lead more effectively without burning out themselves or their staff. From the high-energy launch, to the midyear grind, to the final stretch, this conversation helps leaders stop reacting and start leading with intention.
Because great leadership isn’t about doing the same thing all year — it’s about knowing when to shift.
If you’ve ever felt like your leadership moves worked in August but fell flat later in the year, this episode will help you reframe the work and lead the season you’re actually in.
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Episode 20: Five Moves to Start Second Semester Strong

The calendar might flip to January, but the second semester doesn’t reset itself. Culture drifts, systems loosen, and people come back carrying everything from exhaustion to new-year hope.
In this episode, we’re breaking down five practical leadership moves that help principals start the second half of the year with clarity, calm, and momentum. From re-anchoring culture and tightening systems to refocusing instruction and reconnecting with your people, these simple shifts create the strong, steady foundation your school needs right now—not in March when everything feels urgent.
Because teachers and students don’t need a brand-new plan in January—they need renewed leadership direction.
If you’re ready for a smoother, more focused, more aligned second semester, start here.
 
As mentioned in the pod - here is the Semester Success Mini Course
 
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Principal Pause: Soft Starts & Slow Mornings

There’s something special about this in-between week—the one where no one is totally sure what day it is, pajamas count as real clothes, and leftovers become every meal. It’s quiet enough for your mind to finally slow down, but not busy enough to pull you back into the rush. In other words… it’s the reset you actually needed.
In this mini-episode, we’re talking about gentle reflection—not resolutions, pressure, or an overhaul of your life before January. We share our own “word of the year” ideas and the small intentions we’re carrying into the new semester: routines that feel grounding, habits that help us be present..
Because this week isn’t about becoming someone new.It’s about reconnecting with who you already are.
Take the space you need this week—and the nap you deserve.We’ll see you next week with a full episode.
 
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Principal Pause: The Pause You've Earned

It’s the first week of Christmas break, and we’re doing what we always tell principals to do—rest when your school rests. But before we step back, we wanted to drop in with a short, cozy moment of connection.
In this mini-episode, we’re taking you back to the Christmases that shaped us—childhood memories filled with slow mornings, twinkling lights, holiday traditions, and the kind of nostalgia that reminds us we’re more than our inboxes and responsibilities. Sometimes, revisiting who we were helps us reconnect with who we still are beneath the daily weight of leadership.
This one isn’t about strategy. It’s about grounding. Presence. Permission to be human.
If you need a quiet pause in the middle of the holiday rush, this episode is your invitation.
 
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Episode 19: What Would Happen If You Took a Friday Off?

Principals wear busyness like a badge of honor. But here’s the real question: what would actually happen if you took a Friday off? Would everything fall apart—or would it show you something about the systems and culture you’ve built?
In this episode, we’re unpacking why leadership isn’t about being everywhere all the time—and how stepping back can actually make your school stronger. From loosening the “control mindset” to testing your systems with micro–Fridays, these strategies help you shift from being the firefighter to being the builder of a self-sustaining team.
Because if your school can’t run without you for a day, that’s not proof of your value—it’s proof of weak systems.
If you’re craving breathing room but afraid to step away, start here. This episode will help you lead with trust, not presence—and build a school that stands strong even when you’re not there.
 
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Episode 18: Tackling Teacher Resistance with Becca Silver

This week, we’re bringing you something a little different—our very first guest interview! We sat down with Becca Silver, founder and CEO of The Whole Educator and one of our keynote speakers for the upcoming Principal Exchange Winter Conference. Together, we’re digging into a topic every school leader knows all too well: teacher resistance.
Becca shares why resistance happens, why it’s normal, and why the real issue isn’t “difficult teachers” but unmet needs, mindsets, and task-centered leadership approaches that unintentionally create pushback. From human-centered coaching to understanding different motivation profiles, Becca breaks down what’s really happening beneath the surface—and how principals can lead change more effectively and compassionately.
If you’ve ever rolled out a curriculum, launched an initiative, or simply asked your staff to try something new, this conversation will help you see resistance through a whole new lens.
About Today’s Guest: Becca Silver
Becca is the founder of The Whole Educator, a coach-of-coaches, leadership trainer, and expert in human-centered instructional leadership. Her keynote, “It Shouldn’t Be This Hard: Why Resistance Happens and What to Do About It,” will kick off our Winter Virtual Conference.
Learn more about Becca:
Website: thewholeeducator.com
Instagram: @thewholeeducator
LinkedIn: Becca Silver
Podcast: Coaching the Whole Educator
Conference Bonus
Loved what you heard? Use the code RESISTANT for 10% off your Winter Conference ticket and join Becca—and a powerhouse lineup of speakers—for a full day of practical strategies and leadership support.
 
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Episode 17: What January You Needs From December You

The holidays in schools are a mix of joy, chaos, and exhaustion. Kids are hyped, staff are stretched, and the calendar is packed.
In this episode, we’re breaking down quick, practical strategies to help you finish December strong—and set January-you up for success. From prepping for sub shortages and organizing parent help, to rethinking staff gifts and anchoring fun in learning, these simple moves will help you keep things steady now and start the new year with momentum.
Because December-you is tired. But January-you? They’ll thank you for what you do this month.
If you’re ready to make it through the holiday stretch without burning out, start here. This episode will help you lead with clarity, calm, and just enough cheer to carry your school across the finish line.
 
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