The Principal Exchange Podcast

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!

Episode 35: Interviewing - How to Build Your Dream Team (Not Just Fill a Slot)

When hiring season arrives, many schools focus on filling vacancies as quickly as possible. Resumes, years of experience, and certifications often become the main deciding factors.
In this episode, we explore a different way to think about hiring — not as filling a slot, but as strengthening the ecosystem of your school. From identifying what a grade level team is missing to balancing attitude and aptitude, this conversation reframes hiring as one of the most important culture decisions a principal makes.
Because you aren’t just hiring for a classroom — you’re hiring for the future of your school. If you’re interviewing candidates or building teams for next year, this episode will help you think beyond the resume and make stronger long-term hiring decisions.
Check out TPE Lead here: tpe-lead.com
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Real Talk: Tracking Behavior Data with Danielle Baranishyn

Behavior can feel constant.
You’re handling what’s right in front of you all day… but rarely get the chance to step back and actually see what’s driving it.
In this episode, Sarah and Andra sit down with Danielle Baranishyn to talk about the shift from correcting behavior to understanding it. Because most schools already have the data… it’s just sitting there, messy or hard to use.
Danielle shares how to take what you’re already collecting and turn it into something that actually helps you make decisions—without adding more work or overwhelming your team.
This is a practical conversation about simplifying data, spotting patterns, and making behavior systems actually work in real time.
 
🎟️ Danielle will also be leading a Build With Me session at Built Different, where you’ll create your own behavior data dashboard you can use right away. Make sure you have your tickets! Get tickets here!
 
Connect with Danielle at: dataempowerededucator@gmail.com
 
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Episode 34: Conquer the Feedback Backlog - 5 Moves to Get Unstuck

Observations are done… but the feedback isn’t. Notes are sitting. Tabs are open. Conversations keep getting pushed.
In this episode, we talk about why feedback becomes one of the biggest backlogs for principals—and how to actually move through it without needing hours you don’t have. Because the challenge isn’t getting into classrooms. It’s turning what you saw into something that actually moves teacher practice forward.
If your feedback is piling up or feels bigger than where to start, this episode will help you simplify it and take the next step.
 
Check out TPE Lead here: tpe-lead.com
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Episode 33: The Video Game Effect: Why Students Persist in Play but Quit in Class

Students will try the same level in a video game again and again without giving up — yet in school, frustration can sometimes lead to disengagement much more quickly.
In this episode, we explore the psychology behind why video games are so effective at building persistence and motivation. From clear goals and instant feedback to visible progress and productive challenge, the design of games offers powerful insights for educators.
Because the issue often isn’t that students lack perseverance — it’s that the conditions for persistence aren’t always present in learning.
If you’ve ever wondered why students can spend hours improving in a game but struggle to stay motivated in school, this episode will help you see what’s happening beneath the surface and how small shifts in learning environments can make a big difference.
Check out TPE Lead here: tpe-lead.com
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Principal Pause: Spring Break

It’s spring break, and we’re doing what we always tell principals to do—rest when your school rests. But before we step back this week, we wanted to drop in for a quick check-in.
This time of year just feels different. The days are longer, the light shifts, and things start to feel a little lighter again.
In this mini-episode, we’re not talking strategy or systems. Just a quick reminder to step outside, get some fresh air, and spend a little time doing something that has nothing to do with school.
Because you’re more than your role, and this week is a chance to feel that a little more.
Happy Easter — see you next week.

Bonus: Build With Me: The Summer That Actually Prepares Your School Year

Summer starts with good intentions… and then it gets filled with everything else.
In this bonus episode, Sarah and Andra share what it looks like to actually build your next year on purpose—and  that's why this year's TPE Summer Virtual Conference is Built Different.
This isn’t sit and get.
It’s keynotes, real sessions, panels, and build-with-me work time focused on behavior, instruction, and staff support—so you leave with real systems and a plan, not just ideas.
🎟️ Grab your ticket here:Conference Tickets

Episode 32: March Madness - Why Upsets Happen in Schools Too

March Madness is famous for unexpected upsets — when an underdog team defeats a powerhouse program that everyone expected to win. But those wins rarely happen by accident. They’re the result of preparation, belief, teamwork, and momentum.
In this episode, we explore what schools can learn from the psychology behind March Madness. From the power of belief and preparation to the role of culture under pressure, this conversation highlights leadership moves that help schools build momentum during the final stretch of the year.
Because success in schools — just like in sports — isn’t determined by reputation or resources alone. It’s shaped by the expectations, culture, and encouragement leaders create every day.
If you’ve ever watched a March Madness upset and wondered how it happened, this episode will help you see the leadership lessons behind those moments and how they apply to your school.
Check out TPE Lead here: tpe-lead.com
Join us at our virtual TPE Summer Conference!
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