The Principal Exchange Podcast

Episode 40: 7 Quick Tips to Close Out Your School Year Strong

As the school year comes to an end, many principals immediately shift into planning for next year. But before jumping ahead, there’s value in slowing down long enough to intentionally close out the year you’re still in.
In this solo episode, Andra shares seven simple but powerful ways principals can reflect, reset, and finish the year with purpose. From walking the building with fresh eyes to identifying what worked, what didn’t, and what needs attention before summer fully begins, this conversation is a reminder that strong leadership includes how you close a season—not just how you start one.
Because the end of the school year isn’t just about surviving the finish line. It’s an opportunity to notice, reflect, and prepare more intentionally for what comes next.
If your year is wrapping up and your brain is already racing toward August, this episode will help you pause long enough to close this chapter well before starting the next one.
 
Check out TPE Lead at: tpe-lead.com 
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Real Talk: Why You Can't Get into Classrooms with Mary Baker

Most principals didn’t step into leadership to spend their days buried in emails, meetings, discipline, and constant interruptions. They stepped into leadership to support teachers, strengthen instruction, and impact students. But somewhere along the way, the work that matters most started getting pushed aside.
In this Real Talk episode, we sit down with school leader Mary Baker to talk about why instructional leadership feels harder than ever, what keeps principals out of classrooms, and how leaders can begin reclaiming their time, visibility, and impact.
 
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Episode 39: Engagement Isn't Entertainment — Why Real Student Engagement Matters

Student engagement is one of the biggest conversations happening in schools right now — and honestly, we understand why.
Between behavior challenges, short attention spans, constant distractions, and increasing student disengagement, many teachers and principals are asking the same question:
How do we get students genuinely connected to learning again?
This week, we’re bringing back one of our earlier episodes because the conversation feels even more relevant now than when we first recorded it.
In this replay of Episode 14, we dive into:
why engagement and entertainment are NOT the same thing
what true student engagement actually looks like
why disengagement impacts behavior, culture, and instruction
how principals can support teachers without adding more pressure
practical shifts that make classrooms more connected and meaningful
If student engagement is something your school is wrestling with right now, we hope this conversation gives you encouragement, perspective, and practical ideas you can take back into classrooms immediately.
 
Check out Bashing Boredom here! 
 
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Real Talk: Reclaiming a Student-Centered School with Superintendent Eric Griffin

Every student. Not most students. Not the ones who are easiest to serve. Every single one.
In this episode, Sarah and Andra sit down with Eric Griffin — superintendent, former principal, and opening keynote speaker at this summer's Built Different conference — for a conversation that gets to the heart of why so many educators feel like they're drifting away from the reason they got into this work in the first place.
Eric was literally born into education. With parents and grandparents who were teachers, he grew up seeing the inner workings of the classroom long before he ever stood in front of one. That perspective — grounded, accountable, never too far removed from the classroom floor — shapes everything about how he leads today.
From the accountability movement and the pendulum swings of curriculum trends, to the way over-assessment can quietly rob teachers of momentum, this conversation names what a lot of educators are feeling but don't always say out loud: the system sometimes makes it harder to do the very thing we're all here to do.
But Eric doesn't stop at the problem. He brings practical, principal-level strategies for cutting through the noise — from eliminating assessments that serve no one, to comprehensive student reviews, to the simple but powerful idea that support must come before accountability.
Because when the mission on the wall doesn't match what's happening in the hallways, something has to change. And it starts with leadership that never forgets who it's all for.
If you don't have your conference ticket yet, grab it here — you won't want to miss Eric's keynote or his Day 2 session.
 
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Episode 37: The Communication Tool That Actually Gets Families to Show Up

You've built a community. 26,000 downloads, hundreds of principals connecting weekly, a movement that grew because it felt real — that's TPE Nation. And somewhere in celebrating that milestone, we started thinking about the schools that need this same energy with their families. 
In this episode, we talk about what makes community actually work, why most school communication falls flat, and an idea we couldn't stop thinking about: what if your school had its own podcast? Not as a tech project — as a relationship strategy. One that builds family connection before you ever need to make an ask.
 We also share something we built for schools ready to make this happen. Because you shouldn't have to figure it out from scratch.
 
If you've ever sent a message to 400 families and felt like you whispered it into the wind — this one's for you.
 
Links mentioned:
 Podcast launch service: Here
 TPE Lead: Here
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Connect on LinkedIn: Here

Real Talk: Humor, Heart, and Why Schools Need More Laughter with Sara Ajisafe

Schools are serious places filled with serious work. But they’re also full of hilarious moments, unforgettable stories, and the kind of joy that can easily get lost when stress takes over.
In this episode, Sarah and Andra sit down with Sara Ajisafe, educator, conference sponsor, and author of Humor and Heart: From the Halls of Elementary School, to talk about why laughter matters more in leadership than many people realize.
From the funny things students say to the leadership moments that only make sense years later, this conversation is a reminder that not every lesson comes through data, discipline, or meetings. Sometimes it comes through perspective.
Because leadership doesn’t always need more pressure. Sometimes it needs more lightness.
 
Check out Sara's book: Humor and Heart: From the Halls of Elementary School it would be a great gift for your teachers! 
If you haven't already registered for the conference, make sure to grab your ticket here! 

Episode 36: 5 Strategic Themes for Next Year That Spark Change

When it comes time to choose a school theme, many leaders focus on decorations, shirts, and a catchy slogan. But the best themes do much more than look good in August.
In this episode, we explore how a school theme can become a strategic tool that shapes culture, guides decisions, and gives staff a shared language throughout the year. From building belonging and resilience to encouraging growth, innovation, and positive impact, this conversation shares five out-of-the-box themes that are simple to implement but meaningful in practice.
Because a theme shouldn’t just decorate the year — it should direct it.
If you’re already thinking about next year and want a theme that actually supports your goals, this episode will help you choose one that goes beyond the bulletin board.
Check out TPE Lead here: tpe-lead.com
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Real Talk: Building Strong Leaders and Schools with Dinah McMichael

Leadership can feel heavy. The decisions, the pressure, the constant pull between your school and your life outside of it—it adds up quickly.
In this episode, Sarah and Andra sit down with Dinah McMichael to talk about what it really looks like to lead through that weight and come out on the other side with clarity and joy.
From building leadership across your entire school to creating a culture where staff and students take ownership, this conversation reframes leadership as something that doesn’t sit on one person’s shoulders—but is shared across the building.
Because strong schools aren’t built by one leader—they’re built by many.
 
Listen to Dinah's podcast here and check out the awesome work shes doing here!
 
 Dinah will also be joining us as a keynote speaker at Built Different, where she’ll go deeper into her leadership journey and share practical ways to lead with clarity, build strong teams, and find joy in the work again. Make sure you grab a ticket here!