Do School Different Part 1
The Ruckus Report
Quick take: Visionary school leaders don’t follow dusty rulebooks. In this episode, Jethro Jones joins Danny Bauer to burn the old manual and co-create a new playbook for Ruckus Makers — one bold idea at a time.
Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker
Jethro Jones, 2017 NASSP Digital Principal of the Year, is a former principal from Fairbanks, Alaska, and the host of Transformative Principal, where he interviews leaders from around the world who are reimagining K-12 education. He’s the founder of the Transformative Leadership Summit and author of SchoolX: How principals can design a transformative school experience for students, teachers, parents – and themselves!
In this episode, Jethro Jones challenges traditional education paradigms:
Key Insight #1: Learning Is Not Linear
- What’s broken: The assumption that learning progresses in a straight line, within four walls, at the same pace for all
- The shift: Honor that all learning is personal and non-linear; value what students learn outside of school, too
- Impact: Schools begin to partner with families and communities — not just invite them to partner with schools
Key Insight #2: Change Something in Year One
- What’s broken: “Don’t change anything your first year” — the most paralyzing advice for new leaders
- The shift: Make small, strategic changes that align with your vision from day one
- Impact: Greater momentum, better clarity, and staff trust because you’re not waiting to lead
Key Insight #3: First In, Last Out Is a Trap
- What’s broken: Hustle culture that measures effectiveness by time on campus
- The shift: Shift to value-based leadership — do the right work, not all the work
- Impact: Leaders reclaim time, model healthy boundaries, and lead more sustainably (without burning out)
Quotable Ruckus
“You can’t out-teach what’s happening in the home. We should be partnering with parents, not asking them to partner with us.”
– Jethro Jones
Your Do School Different Challenge
Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:
- Tomorrow: Stop collecting a meaningless report or form you never read — free up your staff and your schedule
- This Month: Draw your “Do School Different Scorecard” — list the top 8 areas of campus life and define where each needs to go
- This Semester: Redesign how your school values time — for yourself, your staff, and your students
Get the full episode transcript: here
Follow Jethro Jones: LinkedIn
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If education ain’t a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning?
This show isn’t about doing school better.
It’s about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what’s possible.
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The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started.
Today’s RUCKUScast in Partnership with:
IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms.
🔍 Learn more here
Expressability K12: Your inbox isn't a task manager. Your mind isn't for storing mundane processes. It's time to break free. With Expressability K12 Ruckus Makers can prioritize student success by offloading time sucking tasks. Visit Expressability K12 to learn how.
🔍 Learn how here
ODP Business Solutions®: Want to know why 67% of STEAM programs fail? Hint: It's not the budget. After researching many schools, ODP Business Solutions® uncovered three make-or-break factors that determine STEAM success. The best part? You probably already have what you need.
🔍 See the research
