Urban Principal: Leadership Lessons
Bret Anderson
This podcast is based upon lessons learned in my 31 years of experience in education--21 as a principal. I spent 10 years turning around a high poverty school, and left to start Nebraska's first focus school--a year-round extended day program centered on leadership, technology and communication. It was named by Harvard's One Nation, Indivisible publication as one of the most innovative and successful schools in the country.
Episodes
Give Credit!
As a leader one of the best things you can do is give credit to others for what they have accomplished and what they are doing to help the organization. Acknowledge and catch the good, celebrate successes!
Learning Mindset
Leaders often fail and make mistakes. You can turn these mistakes into learning experiences if you maintain the right mindset.
The Principal Effect
This episode reviews a fact sheet released by the Learning Policy Institute on the Principal Effect : How School Leaders Address Education’s Biggest Challenges.
Literacy Through Imagination
This episode highlights the work Dolly Parton did through her imagination Library to improve literacy for children worldwide.
Honoring September 11
Leadership is challenging, what were you doing on this day in history? This episode pays tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. As we remember the victims, heroes and reflect on the unity of the nation.
Relationship Growth Pt. II
Leaders drive the culture! Relationships can help create the positive culture you desire and enable a leader to motivate staff. Accentuating the positive can move people in the right direction. Checkout part two of the podcast!
Relationship Growth Pt. I
Relationships can help create the positive culture you desire and enable a leader to motivate staff. Accentuating the positive can move people in the right direction.
Connect!
Connecting with staff, students and community can make the difference in being successful together. It is better to connect, provide hope and help light the way!
Effective School Leaders
What makes effective school leaders? What are the areas principals can focus on to have the most impact and cultivate a positive culture.
Time to Up the Vision
A collaborative vision can set the course for success with a clear target. It is time to review or reset your vision.
New School Year, Fresh Start!
Opening meetings and professional development need to be relevant and created around the needs of the building, including students and staff. Developing staff capacity to work with students and move instruction is paramount while creating a positive culture of collaboration and teamwork.
Principals Coach
Leaders build people up! As a principal it is important to develop a positive atmosphere of constructive dialogue. Classroom visits and coaching is a must! The trust to openly discuss and meet any challenges together can make the difference!
Leaders Motivate!
As a leader what are ways to motivate people and keep moving forward? Building a positive productive culture helps everyone succeed.
The Power of Hope!
A recent Gallup worldwide study just identified hope and trust as the top priorities people are needing from a leader. Hear more by listening to the podcast The Power of Hope!
Leaders Don’t Settle!
Leaders continually work at improving the culture, they don’t settle. They follow a leadership lens grounded in equity, urgency and hope. As a principal you have an opportunity to move the status quo in a positive way.
Principals Are Key!
This episode discusses the critical role principals play in the success of a building. Effective leadership is the key to bringing out the best in everyone!
Leaders Adapt
True leaders adapt as needed and are able to problem-solve to bring out the best in their team. Obstacles are just another challenge along the journey!
Teams Need Trust-Not Permission
Leadership is about dialogue. Building a positive culture is about building trust and about giving teams and staff the freedom to act. It’s about working towards a shared vision.
Where Are Teachers Going?
This episode reflects on a recent article from Flatwater Free Press called The Breaking Point: Nebraska teachers are quitting, saying they have little choice, by Emma Croteau.
Positivity Reboot! Pt. II
As a leader it can be a challenge to keep your positivity up. This episode continues our look at tools from the book Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson, PHD, you can use to boost positivity and reboot!
Positivity Reboot! Pt. I
What are some ways you can increase your positivity as a leader? In this episode we look at tools from the book Positivity by Barbara Fredrickson, PHD, you can use to boost positivity up and reboot for a new year!
The Learning Recession
This episode looks at a recent major study by Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth that found the US has been in a learning recession since 2013. What are the implications?
Oh No! It’s PD Time!
As we wrap up a school year we get into professional development and the planning of PD for a new school year. What are some ways to improve the professional development you offer?
Principals are Heroes!
Principals are involved in heroic deeds daily. Let’s check out principals who are making a difference! Looking after future generations and empowering others creates a positive culture of success!
Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. V
Improving instruction and academic success can happen! This episode completes our dive into Results Now 2.0 and highlights the way to increasing academic achievement! Yes, it’s Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. V
Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. IV
How do we improve instruction? This episode continues our dive into the book Results Now 2.0 and highlights ways to improve academic success! Yes, it’s Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. IV
Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. III
As leaders how do we increase academic success and how do we create effective instruction. This episode continues our dive into the book Results Now 2.0 and unpacks ways to increase student success! Tonight we look at literacy. Yes, it’s Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. III
Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. II
This episode continues our dive into the book Results Now 2.0 and unpacks ways to increase student success! Yes, it’s Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. II.
Schmoker with the Knockout! Pt. I
This episode dives into the book Results Now 2.0 and unpacks ways to make schools more effective. Yes, it’s Mike Schmoker with the knockout!
A Tribute to Grandma (Laverne) Harris
This episode pays tribute to Grandma (Laverne) Harris, a community leader who worked with me as a principal and someone who influenced my leadership. she became a lifelong friend and family member.
Conversations of Growth Pt. II
Every leader must deal with conversations of growth. This episode continues our dive into the book “Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to be Difficult” by Jon Gordon and Amy Kelly. Hear more by listening to part II.
Conversations of Growth Pt. I
Every leader must deal with conversations of growth. This episode looks at the book “Difficult Conversations Don’t Have to Be Difficult” by Jon Gordon and Amy Kelly.
Tone of a Leader
The words you use are important. Even more important is the tone. What you say and how you say it matters. How is your tone and tact as a leader?
Balancing Leadership & Management
This episode unpacks an article by Alex Schultz from Edutopia on “How to Balance Management and Leadership as a Principal.”
Professionalism?
What does it mean to use professionalism. Is it unprofessional to have fun at work? This episode talks about the impact and creating a positive culture.
The Olympic Spirit
This episodes highlights the positive spirit of the Olympics and how leaders can build stronger more effective teams. As a team there nothing people can’t overcome and accomplish together.
Education is the Super Bowl
Everyday educators cross stadium tunnels to reach the students that are our future. It would be amazing If educators were treated like star athletes. Today, I share the article “If Schools Were Run Like Football Teams” by Virginia MacDonald.
Bouncing Back
Leaders must be able to bounce back and remain positive when needed. Being able to employ the high road principle of John Maxwell can also help in defining your leadership.
Impact
This episode reminds leaders of the impact they can make and gives some stories of how to be a change agent that causes a ripple effect on others.
The Messages You Send
As a leader don’t underestimate the power of the messages you are giving and sending to your organization. Messages can deflate people or give encouragement and motivation. What messages are you sending as a leader?
New Year, New You!
What is your mindset in the new year? What are the goals you would like to achieve and how can you self-reflect to start off on the right path.
Wrapped 2025
This episode looks at our podcast stats from the year as we get ready to wrap up 2025.
Ten Most Important Studies of 2025
This episode does a quick review of Edutopia’s 10 Most Significant Education Studies of 2025.
Is It Break Yet?
This episode talks about the importance of maintaining structure as you get close to any student breaks. Thomas Courtney has some good tips as a veteran teacher to keep your sanity with a smooth transition into breaks (article from Edutopia).
Audit Time!
What initiatives is your organization undertaking? Where is your time focused? What are the results? What can you do to refocus and reduce?
Circle The Wagons
It is important to come together as a culture. This episode discusses how colleagues living in an atmosphere of trust, support and encouragement can drive a “we” culture that leads to success.
The Gratitude Factor
The episode focuses on the benefits of practicing gratitude and how it can impact your leadership, health and well being.
Chin Up!
This is the time of year when morale can dip and many problems can arise. As a leader you can look at all situations as opportunities and address them in a positive manner.
Leaders Support
What helps educators remain in the profession. Staff stay where they are valued and appreciated. The more you understand people as a leader the better you can build a culture of support.
A Culture of Belonging
Belonging is important for your whole school culture. How can teachers create a culture of belonging in the classroom. A recent article by Michael Hernandez in Educational Leadership gives five ways to foster belonging.