Responding versus Reacting
9/15/25 by William D. Parker This morning when I woke up, I checked my phone to see what was going on in the world. This was probably a mistake, as the first thoughts that I encountered involved wars, murder, and…
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Read MoreResponding versus Reacting
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Trust with Students
: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on Monday Matters, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker are talking about building trust with students. Their conversation is a follow-up to last week’s episode, where they talk about what kills trust with…
PMP465: Better Together with Derek Cantrell
: Play in new window | DownloadDerek is the principal of Alleghany High School in Covington, Virginia, where he led the merger of two rival schools into a unified school community. Instead of allowing division to define the transition, he…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust Killers with Students
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Monday Principal Matters listeners! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing a topic from Jen Schwanke’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Today’s conversation…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Trust with Parents
: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke talk more about a concept from Jen’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. The topic of conversation…
PMP463: Leaning into Leadership with Darrin Peppard
: Play in new window | DownloadA quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What feedback do you have for an AP who feels like…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust with Teachers
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are talking about building trust with teachers. Competency, openness, and honesty are three key building blocks to building trust…
PMP462: Supporting New Teachers, Part 2, with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall
: Play in new window | DownloadA quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to share some feedback that Will has recently received after a PD session with teachers and…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trust Pillars and Trust Killers
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back, Principal Matters listeners! This week on Monday Matters, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are talking about trust pillars and trust killers, a concept covered in Jen’s new book. When it comes to…
PMP461: Supporting New Teachers with Jenn David-Lang and Kim Marshall
: Play in new window | DownloadA quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What would a spouse tell a principal stepping into their first…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trustworthy vs. Trust-willing
: Play in new window | DownloadHello, Principal Matters Listeners! Welcome back to another conversation about Jen’s new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, available August 17th. Pre-order your copy now! Today, Jen Schwanke…
PMP460: Digital for Good with Richard Culatta
: Play in new window | DownloadA quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following listener question: What other practical ways (like your student handbook) can you…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Trusted: A New Book by Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadHi, friends. Jen Schwanke is excited to announce that her new book, Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools, will be released on the 17th of this month! Over the…
PMP459: Unlocking Academic Achievement with David Young
: Play in new window | DownloadA quick note to listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following listener question: As I step into a new role at a new…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Lessons From Climbing Mt. Massive
: Play in new window | DownloadLessons from Climbing Mt. Massive On June 26, 2025, my son Jack and I summited Mt Massive, at 14,429 feet, the 2nd tallest peak in Colorado. That one sentence sums up an impossibly difficult-to-describe…
PMP458: Permission to S.H.I.N.E. with LaVonna Roth
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take a few minutes to discuss the following question: What should I be thinking as I step into the school…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Your Greatest Joy Is Not What You May Think
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to another installment of Monday Matters! This week, Dr. Jen Schwanke and I are discussing chapter 13 from my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing…
PMP457: Listening To Your Teachers with Karen Borchert
: Play in new window | DownloadMeet Karen Borchert: Karen Borchert is the founder and CEO of Alpaca, a company with a mission to make it easier to support teachers. Karen started off in secondary education, but most of her…
MONDAY MATTERS BONUS with Ohio Academy Grads Mastermind
: Play in new window | DownloadIn this episode, I wanted to share some feedback from another Mastermind group I’ve met with in 2024-25. These leaders include: Julieta R. Flowers – Principal, Discovery Community School, Toledo, OH Kelly Brodzenski –…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Life Liturgies
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Monday, Principal Matters listeners! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about chapter 12 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love.…
PMP455: Cybersecurity in Schools: Risks, Prevention, and Best Practices with Mike Fitzpatrick
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke spend some time talking about Jen’s upcoming book: Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools. Listen…
MONDAY MATTERS Bonus Episode – Mastermind Lesson with Legacy Leaders
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to another Monday Matters! I can’t believe it is already summer. This week, our Monday Matters Podcast is going to be a little different than usual. As listeners may already know, the…
PMP454: Maximizing Systems, Focus, and Impact with PJ Caposey
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: From your experience as a podcaster, what…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Coaching
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to another Monday Matters. As school leaders across the country are wrapping up their school years, Jen and I are wishing everyone a happy summer! This week’s episode is a discussion of…
PMP453: Leading with Wellness in Mind with Dr. Angela Diggs
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: Through your consulting work, what common human…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Cycles of Reflection
: Play in new window | DownloadHi, Principal Matters listeners! Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Monday Matters. This week, Jen Schanke and I are talking about chapter 10 from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting…
PMP452: Reaching Every Student with Dr. Tracie Anderson Swilley
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: How did you ensure equity and fairness…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Building Systems That Produce Outcomes You Want
: Play in new window | DownloadHi, Principal Matters listeners, and welcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about building systems that produce the outcome you want (Chapter 8 in Whose…
PMP451: What is My Value Instructionally with Baruti Kafele
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU. The question is: What practical strategies did you use to…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Let’s Talk About Money
: Play in new window | DownloadIt’s Monday, so that means it’s time for another Monday Matters episode! This week, Jen and I are continuing a series of conversations that revolve around the chapters from my new book, Whose Permission…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP287: Chasing the Show with Pete Hall
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday, Principal Matters listeners! This week’s encore episode is a conversation between myself and Pete Hall from 2022. Pete is a veteran school administrator and education consultant who has authored many books and…
PMP450: Instructional Excellence with Michelle Steingart
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Will It Fly?
: Play in new window | DownloadHi, Friends! Welcome back to another installment of Monday Matters! This week, I am joined by Jen Schwanke to talk about a chapter called “Will It Fly?” in my new book, Whose Permission Are…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP291: Growing Leadership Teams with Dr. Keri Launius
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday! We’re back this week with another encore episode. This one is an interview from 2022 with Dr. Keri Launius, an administrator who has served in various roles throughout her education career. At…
PMP449: Inclusive and Supportive Schools for Every Learner with Dr. Eric Mace
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Jen and I are talking about chapter 6 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP274: 6 Literacy Levers with Brad Gustafson
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday! We’re back this week with another encore episode. This week’s pick is from 2022, when I talked with Brad Gustafson about his book The 6 Literacy Levers. Our conversation is filled with…
PMP448: The Antiracist School Leader with Dr. Daman Harris
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Consistency
: Play in new window | DownloadHi, friends, and welcome back to Monday Matters! Today Jen and I are discussing the value of consistency, which is one of the chapters in my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For?…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP279: Support, Empower, Engage with Chris Jones
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday! This week’s Encore Episode is one from 2022, a dynamic interview with Dr. Chris Jones. We discuss teacher-centric leading and supporting teachers, to name a few discussion areas. I feel like this…
PMP447: The Blueprint for Administrators with Todd Bloomer
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Curiosity Plus Inquiry Equals Discovery
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to another episode of Monday Matters! This week, Will and Jen are talking about another chapter from Will’s new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP278: Encouraging & Motivating Staff with Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday! This week our encore episode is a conversation between Jen Schwanke and I, focused on encouraging and motivating staff. Listen in to hear us discuss the following reminders for education leaders: Tune…
PMP446: Recovering After Fire with Lana Penley & Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Avoiding the Binary
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to Monday Matters! This week, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke are discussing a chapter from Will’s new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love.…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP271: Answering Questions on School Discipline with Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday! This week’s encore episode is one from 2021, a conversation between Will Parker and Jen Schwanke about school discipline. Listen in to hear them talk about several different ways to approach consequences…
PMP445: Powerful Voices in Education with Donna Hayward and Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Professional Pathways for Educators
: Play in new window | DownloadThis week on Monday Matters, Will and Jen talk about professional pathways for educators and getting through the end of the school year. They discuss strategies for powering through what Will and Jen call…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP253: 10 Lessons from a First Year Assistant Principal with D.J. Klein
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Friday! Our encore episode this week is one from 2021, another interview with D.J. Klein. His interviews on this show are popular for a reason; he always has sage advice to offer listeners!…
PMP444: Leading with Simplicity and Harmony with John Marinucci
: Play in new window | DownloadA Quick Note to Listeners: —- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks. Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math…
MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Catching Up
: Play in new window | DownloadHappy Monday, friends! This week for Monday Matters, Jen and Will are taking some time to catch up and talk about the exciting work we have been doing recently. Jen talks about a presentation…
ENCORE FRIDAY – PMP270: Gaining Buy-In & Building Leadership Teams with Jen Schwanke
: Play in new window | DownloadWelcome back to Encore Friday! This week’s episode is one from 2021, a conversation with Jen Schwanke about gaining buy-in and building leadership teams. Tune in to hear us answer the following questions from…