While you might derive a lot of pleasure from your work, it is critical that your sense of fun and play come from other sources as well. Being able to check tasks off your to-do list, help a student, or mentor a teacher all feel amazing, but they cannot be the only things in your life that bring you joy and delight.   I invite you to create fun for yourself in ways that put zero pressure on you to perform. Learn what happens when you only fill your play bucket from work, why there is no downside to experimenting with the power of play outside of work, and questions to ask yourself that wi ..read more

How you think about yourself is changeable, and the stories you tell about your self-identity will either hold you back or propel you forward. Your job as a school leader requires you to re-evaluate and make new decisions about your identity, and I’m showing you how to start.   This week, I show you the impact of your self-identity and how to create awareness around it so you can change it if you wish. You no longer have to identify as a person who can’t handle hard things or isn’t cut out to be a leader. You get to sculpt your desired identity, and I’m guiding you through this process to ..read more

As a coach, I help site and district leaders build the skills necessary to lead their schools and navigate the mental and emotional challenges that come with the job. I am not here to offer legal advice; however, I can speak to the experience of facing legal issues as a school leader.   Hear why you’re not alone if you are facing legal issues, and what to do when it feels scary. I’m showing you how this is not the time to take on the burden of tackling legal issues on your own and sharing thoughts to borrow if you feel like you’ve made a misstep or mistake.    Get full show note ..read more

I coach school leaders all day long on how hard this job is. And from personal experience, I can relate. School leadership is hard. However, as I listen to my principals share the difficulties they’re facing in their day-to-day, I had a revelation about the kind of hard they’re experiencing, and I’m sharing it with you on this episode.   I break down the three kinds of hard I’ve identified, and why acknowledging the kind of hard you’re dealing with is the first step to overcoming it. Hear how our experience of hard always comes down to our thoughts and the kind of hard we’re usually refer ..read more

Daman Harris, Ph.D., is a trailblazing expert in educator retention and antiracist leadership. Dr. Harris is an experienced teacher, coach, principal, district administrator, adjunct professor, speaker, writer, and consultant. His first book, The Antiracist School Leader, articulates a big-picture framework and research-based actions for bringing the power of antiracist education to your school, and he’s here to show us how to have courageous conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion.   Daman and I explore how we, as school leaders, can take note of how we’re engaging with ant ..read more

On this episode, I’m inviting you to think about the hiring journey from the perspective of the teacher you might potentially hire, and I’m showing you why this matters more than you think.   Learn why you must consider the hiring and onboarding journey from the perspective of your teachers, how to provide the level of support they’re looking for during this process, and why doing so ahead of time helps your staff and teachers be the best version of themselves for you and your students.    Get full show notes and more information here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/324 ..read more

The winter dip is real, and most of you are in testing season and conducting teacher observations right now, looking ahead to the end of the school year when you can finally take a breather. Whether you’re someone who loves planning so much that you get caught up in the details or someone who intends to plan but gets overwhelmed by the busyness of your job as a leader, I’ve got you covered this week.   I show you why end-of-year planning matters and how to begin convincing your brain of the importance of planning. I’m sharing some of the most common obstacles to end-of-year planning that ..read more

I know that many of you are tasked with having to decide on topics or themes and hire speakers or presenters for your school’s professional development days. I also know that for the majority of you, this process feels like another thing on your already full to-do list. Although planning professional development seems like just another box to tick, there’s an opportunity here for you to leverage the growth of your entire community.   Learn how leaders are making decisions about professional development or in-service days, and why this is a precious opportunity you want to make the most of ..read more

Wanting to make the ‘right’ decision is a thought we hold very tightly onto, and it drives our actions in unhelpful ways that you might not see right now. It’s no surprise that believing you have to make the ‘right’ decision is leaving you frozen. So if you find yourself spinning in indecision, procrastinating, and worrying about whether or not you’re making the right decision, this episode is for you.   Hear the pitfalls of believing you have to make the right decision, and why there is actually no such thing as one right or wrong decision. I’m showing you what happens when you fear maki ..read more

Megan Conklin received her master’s in teaching in 2001 and has been working as a teacher, an instructional specialist, and a substitute ever since. She participated in the creation of sub-communities to offer support to substitutes, and she’s here to give tips on how principals can contribute to creating a more welcoming environment for substitutes.   Learn what principals can do to enhance the experience of substitute teachers, the importance of providing positive feedback and inviting them back, and how to give them the tools they need to succeed. Megan also shares insights on initiati ..read more