The Principal Exchange Podcast

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 change if you want problems to stop recycling. Spoiler: it's not about working harder.
Check out TPE Lead (now free!): tpe-lead.com
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 before August chaos normalizes everything.
If you start the year with ten intentional commitments instead of twenty scattered ones, everything changes.
 
Audit Checklist:
Step 1: List Everything You Actually Do: Dump it all, don't filter. (Observations, Staff meetings, PLC meetings, Parent events, Newsletter, Data analysis, etc.)
Step 2: Sort Into 3 Buckets
ESSENTIAL (Keep these): Directly impacts learning, safety, or teacher growth.
IMPORTANT BUT DELEGABLE (Can someone else own it?): Matters but doesn't have to be you.
ENERGY DRAINS (Consider cutting): Steals time but doesn't move the needle.
Step 3: Ask the Three Questions
For anything in ENERGY DRAINS, ask:
"If I stopped this tomorrow, what actually happens?"
"Who cares about this besides me?"
"Could someone else do this?"
Step 4: Cut 3-5 Things
 
Check out TPE Lead (now free!): tpe-lead.com
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 ways to finally create uninterrupted time for the work that actually moves your school forward, listen in.
Check out TPE Lead (now free!): tpe-lead.com
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 without constant disruptions. The myth? Good leaders are always available. The truth? Good leaders do the strategic work that moves schools forward—and that requires closing the door sometimes.
The trap: busyness feels productive but it's not leadership. Real leadership is the deep work that prevents future problems and builds sustainability. It requires uninterrupted thinking time.
This episode gives you permission to protect your deep work and shows why it's essential, not selfish.
Check out TPE Lead (now free!): tpe-lead.com
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 want.
In this episode, Sarah and Andra break down what actually moves the needle: daily interactions, consistency, and alignment between your stated values and what you actually reinforce. Culture compounds. A strong August becomes an easier November. A weak August becomes a March crisis. This conversation offers a framework for being intentional about culture before the year picks up speed.
See you back live next week!
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 to be broken, what if we built cultures grounded in values that actually stick? Think about it: we don't avoid murder because of a law. We avoid it because we value human life. But we drive 67 in a 60 mph zone because rules are meant to be pushed. This conversation will make you rethink discipline, culture-building, and what it means to teach kids to make good choices because they understand why.
See you back live in a couple weeks!
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 and end up making none. They break down the real traps and share a practical fix: organize everything into three columns—Keep, Fix, and Pause. Do your Keep items. Move to your Fix items. Leave Pause items alone. This simple shift is the difference between a scattered summer and a strategic one.
If you're drowning in possibilities, this episode will help you find your focus.
Make sure you're following us: @theprincipalexchange

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 and Andra ask Matt what keeps him there. Spoiler: it's not money. Matt's had plenty of opportunities to leave for more. What kept him was purpose—and the people. Matt speaks about mission-driven leadership, building relationships across generations, and his hiring philosophy: hire for character, train for skill. He shares real examples—like teachers quietly paying for students' trip insurance out of their own pockets. That's the culture he's built.
For principals feeling burned out or wondering if they can actually build a sustainable team, Matt's story offers clarity: the people matter. The mission matters. Align those two things, and you can build something that lasts.
Check out Matt’s website:
https://sites.google.com/view/from-the-principals-office-mat/social-media-pages
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