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Educational Leadership with Principal JL

Educational Leadership with Principal JL

Written by: Jeff Linden
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Principal JL is an educational leader who explores various topics facing educational leaders today! The Mission of this podcast is to inform and inspire other Educational Leaders on how to be their best for their Schools by honing their skills and talents so they may impact their teachers, staff members, students, parents/guardians, and community members positively for their School District! Come with a Growth Mindset as we journey through Educational Leadership!


© 2026 Educational Leadership with Principal JL
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Episodes
  • Episode 56: Lindsey Allen’s Leadership Journey: How a Principal Scaled Influence, Protected Teacher Time, and Boosted Student Achievement
    Jan 5 2026

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    A school changes course when leadership starts by listening and then protects what matters most: time, clarity, and opportunity. We sit down with Lindsey Allen, Georgia’s 2025 Principal of the Year and principal of Walnut Grove High School, to unpack the simple, rigorous moves that drive real results. From ten years in the classroom to district hearings and a Title I turnaround, Lindsey shows how credibility is earned, standards are set, and culture shifts when you hire for belief and hold the line with care.

    We dig into his three-part rallying cry, every student should have a meaningful school experience, graduate on time, and leave enrolled, enlisted, or employed, and how it reshaped decisions. That led to expanding AP from five to eighteen courses so students could truly compete for UGA and Georgia Tech, while growing career pathways in construction, healthcare, and engineering to match Georgia’s job market. The goal isn’t a handshake at graduation; it’s a real plan for the next step.

    Lindsey also shares why safeguarding teacher time is a leadership superpower: purposeful pre-planning, fewer and better meetings, and a calendar built to be canceled when staff need margin. We talk about mentoring new leaders, reading as a non-negotiable habit, hiring to complement your blind spots, and using tools like StrengthsFinder and DiSC to build a balanced team. Looking ahead, we explore AI as a practical classroom ally, returning hours to teachers, supporting differentiation, and elevating the human work of feedback and relationships.

    If you care about educational leadership, teacher time, AP access, college readiness, workforce pathways, and using AI to improve instruction, this conversation is a blueprint you can use tomorrow. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a lift, and leave a review telling us the one change you’ll make this week.


    Connect with Lindsey Allen:

    Email: lindsey.allen@walton.k12.ga.us

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    58 mins
  • Episode 55: Year-In-Review 2025 (Part 2): Leadership Lessons From 12 School Leaders
    Dec 29 2025

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    Ready for a fast, no-fluff leadership reset that actually translates? In this 2025 Year in Review, we highlight twelve standout leaders and the single move from each that shifted trust, culture, and learning in real schools.

    You’ll hear how visibility strengthens belonging, why behavior is communication, and how a “no visible student” mindset transforms climate. We unpack the systems that steady culture—clear expectations, reinforced routines, and a peer-observation engine that generated thousands of teacher visits to boost collective efficacy.

    We also explore the inner work: identity statements that keep you authentic, deep listening that accelerates trust, and purpose that protects your passion when the job gets hard. Plus, stories from classroom leaders who prove you don’t have to leave to lead and student models that turn responsibility into a shared habit.

    Walk away with a simple plan: pick one idea, make it visible, make it consistent, then stack the next one. Leadership shifts through compounding wins—not big gestures. What’s the one action you’ll take first?

    Episode 37: Josh Tovar

    Episode 39: Dr. Dana Goodier

    Episode 40: Erin Jones

    Episode 41: Jerry Mack

    Episode 42: Jayme Braida

    Episode 43:Bill Curry

    Episode 45: Beyond the Classroom: Dr. Donovan Smalls II

    Episode 46: Shannon Seale

    Episode 48: Dr. Salome Thomas-EL

    Episode 49: Tony Cattani

    Episode 51: Dr. James Lane

    Episode 53: Dr. Chris Jochum

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    27 mins
  • Episode 54: Year-In-Review 2025 (Part 1): Leadership Lessons From 14 School Leaders
    Dec 23 2025

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    This episode distills one powerful insight from each of our standout guests this year, practical moves you can use the moment you’re back in the building. From consistency and clarity to purpose, recognition, and sustainable habits, these strategies strengthen culture and improve outcomes fast. If it helps, share with a colleague and subscribe for Part 2 of our Year-End Review Series.

    Click below to listen to all the Part 1 episodes mentioned:

    Episode 14: Principal Mo

    Episode 18: Angela Kelly

    Episode 21: Dr. Joe Sanfelippo

    Episode 22: Kurtis Hewson

    Episode 23: Coach Tony Kimble

    Episode 26: Dr. Josh Wilken

    Episode 28: Dr. Cynthia Rapaido

    Episode 29: Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket

    Episode 31: Dr. Darrin Peppard

    Episode 32: Leroy Slanzi

    Episode 33: Dr. Frank Buck

    Episode 34:Josh Rowan

    Episode 35:Todd Bloomer

    Episode 36: Casey Watt


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    30 mins
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