Why Great School Leaders Fire Themselves

00:03
Speaker 1
The framework concept was invent stuff, give it away to awesome people, you know, AKA your team and train and then invent, you know, and then repeat the process, right? Invent something new, give it away, fire yourself and make something new. So to me, that's like part of how do I stay in the game and continue to serve Rockets makers is to continue to reinvent my role. And I think for the listener too, right? Like thinking about how do you reinvent what you do on campus? You know, how you maybe let go of some of the things that you're really good at. You know, take a page out of my book. How do you let go of maybe the thing that you are known for, right? To make space, to create something new that the world needs or that you need to create. Right?

00:51
Speaker 1
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02:10
Speaker 1
That's ixl.com leadership here's a question for every principal listening. When was the last time someone coached you? You develop everyone else in your building, but who's in your corner? Kids First Education is this episode is brought to you by Kids First Coaching and Support built for the people who lead schools. Start at Kids First LLC Leaders. That's Kids First LLC Leaders. There's a framework that built called the Ideal Week. It saves principals about 10 hours a month once they implement the system. Digital Danny can walk you through your version of the Ideal Week. Tonight create your Ideal Week and [email protected] Ruckus that's my principalcoach.com Ruckus all right guys, I'm looking at Dan Watt and Demetrius Ball. I'll introduce them here in a second. But just to set up the Ruckus Maker who's listening or watching this show, set them up for the context.

03:28
Speaker 1
I realize that one of the scariest things I've ever done, I sat in front of my peers and colleagues in education, people that I admire, people that I love, and I. I told them, basically, I didn't say, I'm quitting. I said, my probably my role is changing, you know, or something like that. And it was really. It was me going across four different mastermind cohorts. I think this is 2020, maybe 2021. And just again, telling people, I have such admiration and care for saying, my role is changing. It's time. It's time for the. The second version of the Mastermind. And when I said that, I just remember looking into the crowd, so to speak, the different zoom boxes, and just being, like, kind of scared, you know, Folks were. Some of them looked shocked.

04:26
Speaker 1
Some of them were definitely putting on a poker face, and I was just like, oh, boy, I hope this was the right choice. You know what I mean? Because behind the scenes, I was building a coach team. It was built from current Mastermind members, folks that I knew were credentialed within coaching or who I thought I'd be a great coach, people that even expressed interest to me on the side that, oh, I'd like to coach one day, if that's a possibility. And so we talked behind the scenes, and then we presented it to the Mastermind. We handed off the Mastermind to the coach team. My lesson was that I had nothing to fear, right? People stuck around.

05:06
Speaker 1
The Mastermind actually grew, and I think by getting out of the way and having four or five different coaches to come to the coach team, it actually improved the experience, because that was four or five different really talented, you know, unique, inspiring, creative individuals in their point of view that we didn't have if it was just me. So that's the important context for the listener, because we're doing it again. And arguably, well, I don't know. Because if we're honest, the Mastermind is definitely the highest and best way, the flagship experience of how we support Ruckus makers. It generates real revenue for the business to keep the lights on, to feed my family. There's an exchange of value there, and it's definitely worth it. But the podcast is. It's big, right? It's the most downloaded show in school leadership.

06:00
Speaker 1
And I'm realizing I'm feeling some of those same feelings, like, what's gonna happen, right? So I think before I introduce you to Demetrius, you definitely were in the Mastermind when that happened. I'D love to hear if you remember if you were in that day when I announced it. Can you go back and tell us what that was like? And then Dan Watt, after Demetrius, I don't know if that was pre or post. It must have. You must have experienced it too, because you became a Mastermind coach and you were in the Mastermind, so I'm thinking you did experience that, but I could be wrong. So anyways, let me pass the mic to Demetrius first.

06:40
Speaker 2
Sure. I do remember that, and I don't think it was something that you had given us a heads up about. I think you might have dropped some breadcrumbs necessary.

06:50
Speaker 1
A little.

06:50
Speaker 2
Bit. But I was definitely like, oh, wow. Okay. Because one of the reasons why I got involved is because you were leading the group. But I think one of the things that I've mentioned to you is I love how you are always willing to take a chance and try something different. That has been one of the most inspiring things about being a ruckus maker is seeing your leadership and seeing how you're willing to step out. I don't know how many different platforms we've been on where we in the Mastermind as far as trying to connect and trying to figure out different ways to make sure that everyone is engaged and has a way of getting their voice and sharing their voice.

07:39
Speaker 2
And so I was a little taken aback, but at the same time willing to try, willing to see how it goes because everybody that's in the Mastermind is fully capable. And I believe at that time, if I'm not mistaken, we had already had an iteration where were rotating who was leading the Mastermind. So it wasn't anything like, oh, my goodness, how do we go on? How do we move forward? It's like, no, everybody continues to show up and continues to have their role in leadership and in making this the best experience that we can make it for each other.

08:20
Speaker 1
Awesome. Thanks, Demetrius. I appreciate that insight. Dan, can you. Can you jog my memory and tell me about your experience?

08:28
Speaker 3
Yeah, you bet. I joined right after you handed off coaching to other coaches in the Mastermind. And I remember thinking after our discovery call, because I first connected with you through my friend Chris Horton, who's a longtime Mastermind member. And Chris raved about your coaching and about the Mastermind, and I naturally connected the two. And then after I had that great first phone call with you in that August 2022, I think it was, I remember thinking, this is going to be dynamite. And then I showed out to my first meeting and you Weren't coaching it and I was like, what the heck. But the great part was one of the people that I will go down in history as one of my favorite people ever was the guy who was coaching at that time, Joe Clasi.

09:18
Speaker 3
He's just a fellow who you want to get to know better that you wish you could spend more time with. Like, I just felt like I formed an instant bond with him and so he was a great fit as a coach and it became one of my, I would say instant goals was like how do I get more out of this? How do I become more involved? How do I tap into Danny on a regular basis still outside of my coaching with Joe and being part of the Mastermind? So yeah, I remember that. But I came just after the changeover.

09:52
Speaker 1
Okay. Amazing. I know these days I, I definitely over communicate with people on those exploration calls. You know, I'm not the one coaching. Right. So probably early days, you know, I fumbled that a little bit sometimes. And listen, I don't have a big bureaucracy and a huge system behind me. Better or worse, you know, make some decisions and can move pretty quick. Like Demetrius said that some. He admires the risks. Right. That I might take. And yeah, we've been on many different community platforms before. I think finding a home with the Ruckus Maker Club which we run on the Mighty Network. We've been there for years now, but I'm quick to ship, you know, or launch something new and quick to. To cut it as well.

10:37
Speaker 1
So yeah, but for the listeners, since you two will be, you know, hosting a lot of the content here in the future, maybe take, you know, 90 seconds, a few minutes to just explain a bit of the background maybe where you currently sort of lead whatever details, give folks that background. I think that's a huge strength. You know, you're both currently practicing principals, you've both been Mastermind members forever. Dan Watt coaches for the team. Demetrius, you've been, I think all the live events. We've worked closely, one one together, which was one of my professional highlights. So yeah, I'll shut up now. Maybe we'll start with Dan Watt this time.

11:20
Speaker 3
I am a principal of A K to 7 elementary School in British Columbia, Northern British Columbia. So it's a small school, rural ish. I would say. I've been part of the BLBS community as I mentioned for a while. First joined in, I think it was 2022 and started coaching in December 2023. Since that time have started writing the newsletter the weekend resource and also just recorded my third episode on the podcast this morning. So I think an interesting piece about why I'm here is as a working principal, I'm super interested to connect with folks on the podcast, and as I come into a bit of a transition, I'm edging closer to the end of my career as a school principal. So super excited to see where this journey goes.

12:13
Speaker 1
All right, thanks, Dan. How about you, Demetrius?

12:16
Speaker 2
So I've been part of this community for a long time. I started, listen, I found better leaders, better schools in 2015, and I had really just started my transition into school leadership. I was still in the classroom at the time. I was. I think I was done with my admin credential, but just trying to find different ways to grow and connect and be a better teacher and build myself up to become prepared to be an administrator. Once I got my second assistant principal position in 2016, 2017, I reached out and we connected about joining the Mastermind. And I've been part of the Mastermind group since 2017, and it's been an amazing experience. I think I launched into the principal position probably before I realized I was ready. Like, I always thought that I wanted to get into a principal position.

13:18
Speaker 2
And then just because of the resources, as in the people and the content that, you know, you've developed, you've been a part of and grown, just really had me prepared and ready to step in. So I stepped in as a middle school principal, sixth through eighth grade in 2019, my first year, it was the COVID year, so, you know, complete that first semester and then March 13th, we transitioned. And so. But the I was there at the middle school for three years and then transitioned to my current role as principal of a high school here in San Ramon, California. So basically the feeder school went to the height school.

14:07
Speaker 2
And, you know, one of the huge blessings is my first sixth grade class just graduated this year, which is a highlight, a career highlight for me to see them grow from young sixth graders to these young adults. But we're a suburban high school, almost 2,800 students, comprehensive high school. And it is so much fun. It's such a challenge to be a school leader. And one of my goals at the beginning of this year, this calendar year in January, was for this to be a year of generosity, 2026. And when you have that mindset, you have that heart, it's amazing the different things that come up as opportunities. And I feel like simply because I've just been looking to give and, you know, and so different opportunities have come. When you reached out and asked me about this, I was like, I don't know.

15:08
Speaker 2
I'm working on my dissertation. You know, will I have time? But, you know, it feels right as an opportunity to continue to share and continue to learn and give back and be generous.

15:19
Speaker 1
Yeah, I love that. Thanks, guys, for stepping up into that, you know, and both of you, the listener might know it too, right? I've been really into improv comedy, taking classes, performing a lot. They've actually invited me to be a part of the house, like the official team. Right. Like, let's. Like, you're a starter. You're not in the G League.

15:37
Speaker 2
Wow.

15:37
Speaker 1
You're in the NBA. Right. And I'm actually the only student on the house team. Everybody else has been doing improv for years. So I'm super honored, you know, by that opportunity. But one of the things you learn is as you're going through classes, you talk about when you're on stage making a scene. Right? Because it's all invented on the spot. You talk about, like, your partners giving you gifts. Right? And that could be a gift that maybe makes your life easier as the comedian slash actor on stage. It could be. Make your life harder. Right? But that's funny for the crowd, but it's still a gift. And so the. The big idea that I'm trying to connect to is that idea, Demetrius saying, looking for opportunities to be generous.

16:28
Speaker 1
I've been looking, you know, just in life outside of improv, like, what are the gifts that other human beings are just giving me in the moment? And I think it's just. It's calling me and all of us to just be more present, more focused, listening, you know what I mean? Really paying attention to, like, how people are interacting with you. And then those, like, those opportunities. Oh, that's a gift. Right. Example. It could be easy. Like, you might say, all right, we're going to perform a show for you tonight. It's the. The first time we're doing this show. It's also the last time. You'll never see it again because it's made up on the spot. So if I could ask the crowd for a suggestion of a profession, what would that be? And then everybody, you know, they shout something out.

17:15
Speaker 1
They might shut some. Shout something out, like janitor. Right. Custodian. And you might think, oh, I'm gonna play a custodian. That's on Cal High's campus, where the kids are disrespecting stuff. There's gum under every desk. Right? They Throw their. They don't even throw their milk away in the. In the trash can. They just, like, throw it at the wall. And so I'm gonna play this. This. This janitor who's just mad at kids, mad at adults for not, you know, holding kids accountable, whatever, but the overall, like, energy and environment is like, you know what I mean? That it stinks, and I'm fighting against it. Right. That could be a very natural way to play a custodian or a janitor as a. As an improv comedian.

17:57
Speaker 1
Or if you see that janitor thing as a gift and then you accept that gift and you decide, I'm gonna be the janitor who loves. Just loves cleaning, especially on a high school campus. And he just thinks everything about it is amazing. Right. If you could imagine what that character would be like and how he'd act and the things he would say. That's just going to be funny, and it's sort of like light. You know what I mean? Like, if you could feel how both those characters show up. There's somebody you don't want to be around, and then there's one that, like, I kind of really like this guy. I think he actually has a lot to teach me, even though I'm the principal. He's a custodian. Right. So from, like, a title perspective, there's. There's a gap, but no, it's a gift.

18:45
Speaker 1
So, anyways, I don't know why I wanted to tell that story so much, but, yeah, Demetrius with that generosity idea, it really, you know, triggered that for me. So what's the gift, you know, for you? You two. Maybe that would be a question I actually ask you. And then just for the listener, like, yeah, what's the gift for the listener? So, anyways, yeah, I'll queue you two up. What's the. What's the gift? What's the gift here for you?

19:11
Speaker 2
Dan, you want to take that one first?

19:13
Speaker 3
Yeah, sure. I think the gift is the challenge, frankly. Like, I feel like we've been invited from AAA up to the big leagues, that we are. The same way you just described stepping into the house team at improv. I feel a little bit the same way. Like, I'm stepping into big shoes, and that's both a gift and hefty challenge. But I'm really excited about that, partly because I'm doing it with you two and a little bit like I was talking about with Joe earlier. Like, I like hanging out with you guys, and I. This is one of the ways that I learn best, is by Doing it with other people, riffing off other people's ideas, and in a sense, building more together than I might do on my own alone.

20:02
Speaker 3
It's actually, I would say, a bit of a core principle that I feel like I am better in combination. Like your brain plus my brain is better than my brain alone, without getting too down the rabbit hole. Like that, in a sense, is a little bit of a definition of a higher power for me. Right. That my brain plus your brain is way more powerful and can achieve more than I could on my own alone. So the gift and the challenge to do better, do different, grow and learn. Really excited about it.

20:34
Speaker 1
Cool. Thanks, Dan. Plus, I know, you know, you have some aspirations and want to coach people and that kind of stuff outside of BLBs, I think eventually have your own thing. But in the early days, I've been saying, well, just, you know, write with our team. Right. Like podcasts with our team. And Demetrius, you've had a podcast in the past too, which, what I think. I don't know if you posted about it or if I just asked, like, are you gonna podcast again? Because in my mind was like, I'd rather. I'd rather hand you to an opportunity to speak to a larger, you know, audience and have that influence. Rather trying to build something from the ground, you know what I mean? Then you could test ideas and get, you know, feedback pretty quick and whatever. I think it's just. It's. It's better.

21:17
Speaker 1
I'm totally biased in that thinking it's a better opportunity. But anyways, yeah. Just definitely want to invite you to. Do you see anything for you. Yeah. With the gift,.

21:29
Speaker 2
I think definitely it's a gift working with the two of you much more closely. I know, Dan, when you've come into our Guiding principles mastermind group, it's all. You always ask really insightful questions. You know, you're. I see you're a note taker and you always are able to reflect back the things that we bring up. And so it's. I love getting your both of your perspectives on leadership and just your thoughtfulness. And also, you know, Danny, you asked me if I was going to podcast again, and I had a conversation maybe a year and a half ago with one of my teachers, and she knew that I podcast. And, you know, after I stopped, you know, she asked, you know, are you ever going to get back to that?

22:14
Speaker 2
And I was like, you know, I feel like I've lost a little bit of your creativity because I've gotten Away from it. And so I think the gift is the opportunity to be creative again. You know, it's, you know, asking different questions of different people and getting their perspectives and exploring the unknown of where those conversations can go and what we can do, you know, as the show grows and continues to grow and continues to evolve. So it's a gift to be able to tap back into my creativity a little bit more.

22:48
Speaker 1
Nice. Yeah. I had one of the early Mastermind members, Eileen, she was a leader of a international school in China, but she would ask, yeah, how do you remember all this stuff? Like, yeah, how do you do this, do that? And what I told her was easy. I just. I'm teaching it in public all the time, right? So in terms of that creativity and gift piece on the show, that's the only reason I'm able to remember it. Just talking about it way too much, you know, in terms of where we're going as a. As a team and sort of my role. There was an event, I think maybe that was in Nashville. Both. I think both of you two were there, if I remember correctly. But we called it the Sustainable School Leadership Summit.

23:30
Speaker 1
And I remember just drawing a very simple image, only had three parts, but the framework concept was invent stuff, give it away to awesome people, you know, AKA Your team, and train and then inv. You know, and then repeat the process, right? Invent something new, give it away, fire yourself and. And make something new. So to me, that's like, part of how do I stay in the game and continue to serve Ruckus makers is to continue to reinvent my role. And I think for the listener too, right? Like, thinking about how do you reinvent what you do on campus? You know, how you maybe let go of some of the things that you're really good at. You know, take a. Take a page out of my book.

24:12
Speaker 1
How do you let go of maybe the thing that you are known for, right, to make space, to create something new that the world needs or that you need to create. Right. But you have to make that space. And it's a great. It's a great opportunity, too, to trust, team and work on that, etc. Etc. But I think my role, like, for me to stay in the game, I've done these conversations for over a decade. Like, you know, that's a lot of. That's a lot of talks, over 500 conversations, if it's 52 weeks, right? And there's been at least one episode per week, plus a lot of bonus content. And so I'm hoping This frees me up to figure out a different way that I could serve the Ruckus Maker audience.

24:54
Speaker 1
I do know that I'll do some solo shows, like just teaching things and telling stories to the audience. So I'm not disappearing fully. Just my role on the show is changing. Right. And then we'll see what else comes out of it. I look forward to popping in with you. Right. And like, maybe doing a quarterly update. Like, how are things going? Could be, like, very transparent. Right. Maybe it's a review of the last quarter. What went well, what worked, what didn't work, what do you need from me? Failures as a leader or not. Like, you know, let's talk about it, but do it in public because people will learn from that. And I'm just hoping with you two, at least as the initial co host, that the show improves somehow. Right.

25:35
Speaker 1
We have a sense of downloads and impact, and I care somewhat about that in terms of. That's one indicator that you are helping. But even more, I think about, are we creating episodes and conversations that are worthy of sharing? Right. Like to tell another colleague in the industry, oh, yeah, Dan Mott just did this interview with so and so. Demetrius just led this conversation with whoever. Right. You really have to listen, and I would love that to be sort of a bar for this team's success, that your creative itch is getting scratched, that you're feeling stretched and challenged and supported. You know, to me, that's kind of a bit of the scoreboard. And I want you two to be the first two of the co host team.

26:25
Speaker 1
But I think how I initially brought it to you, Demetrius was saying we might build a team of three or four. So basically everybody has just like one week per month that they have to be responsible for. So I don't know. I don't know if we'll answer it on this episode, but that's something I'm thinking deeply about. Like, who would be the third, who would be the fourth? Right. I would definitely love to. To add a. A female's point of view, you know, because they experience leadership differently and obviously have different challenges. Maybe being a mom while being a principal and the things that they might be holding the tension there and that kind of thing. So, yeah, something for us to figure out over the next year as well. So any feedback for that? Just dropped a ton on you there.

27:09
Speaker 2
Yeah. I love the idea of us growing as a team. I think that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to see the level of conversations that we're able to continue to have based on our different networks. Maybe there are folks that we're able to bring in and there's so many people that are reaching out to be a part of the podcast of the show, but there's so many other voices that don't necessarily have a book to promote or a company that they're trying to sell, but they've got amazing stories because they're doing amazing things in schools. And I can't wait to see what the folks that Dan is able to bring, the folks that I'm able to bring, just more in different voices. So that's what I'm really excited about as well.

28:03
Speaker 3
That mentioned a story too.

28:05
Speaker 1
Yeah, Let me double click on that real quick. Dan, Rob, before you chime in, but you know, I had one of my favorite shows to record in a long time with a teacher named Jesus Huerta. Right. He's somewhere Southern California. But the guy was just, he clearly was passionate about education. Right. And seasoned, you know, not a newbie. And like fresh, old and crusty. Right. Like us, maybe, so to speak. Wise. Right? Wise and seasoned is how I should say it. But the flame was still there and I literally was getting goosebumps. I was talking to him because I was thinking that this is what people need. Right. He was a great example of being a ruckus maker. And it's my hope and dream that you have a lot of conversations like that. But to Demetrius's point, yeah, we get an influx of.

29:00
Speaker 1
And there's nothing wrong. There's a lot of great books that need to be promoted and a lot of great services that could support our audience. But how you tap into your network and the voices, you might be able to elevate and give a bit of a platform to that. Maybe had that access, maybe did not in the past. I love that. Right. Tap into it. And I want to encourage you both. Like, I know you both very well. Don't censor yourself and just bring yourself fully play out fully. Right. As a co host, I doubt there's anything you could do that would upset me in terms of creating content. Right. Maybe only if it was too scripted, too stiff and it wasn't you like. And we could tell it was inauthentic. But that was a note I gave Dan Mott earlier. Right.

29:51
Speaker 1
Was like, you know, be prepared, but don't worry so much about the outline. Like, let's just have a conversation. And that's. I think I'll end on this one point. Right? Here, which is think of the show not as a podcast or an interview, but as a conversation. Like, that's just being recorded. Right. So, and. And Demetrius, I. We don't want to blast that person. I forget who was reaching out to us. And then their PR person was like, oh, I'll do the pre interview. I know this person's content, their book, and da, da. And they're missing the entire point. But if we frame it that what we value over everything is authentic conversations that serve our audience, if the book gets mentioned, great. It might be possible you have a book launch and we don't even touch on the book.

30:47
Speaker 1
But because our conversation was so real, people are like, oh, that Danny guy's really cool. I'm going to check out if he has books and I'm going to go buy them versus somebody who's clearly like, my new book's out. My new own, as it's mentioned in my new book. Like, nobody wants to. I don't think that makes a good show. So, yeah, I was double clicking on Demetrius, Dan. I jumped in way before you had some stuff to share. I think.

31:14
Speaker 3
I wanted to piggyback on that piece. Demetrius was mentioning about the value of storytelling. And it's something, actually, Danny, that you've talked about in the Ruckus Maker Club and something I think that's almost like a parallel benefit that folks get from the podcast is great stories, but it reminds me of actually something that happened as a result of being part of the Mastermind. I went to Hong Kong back in April, and, Danny, you connected me with Kyle Wagner, and I would never have met this guy otherwise. And even though it felt really awkward and uncomfortable to reach out and do the cold call and then to secondarily set up the meeting and then third, to follow through and actually go meet the guy. It was one of the best conversations and best experiences I've had all year. Like, it really goes down as a.

32:05
Speaker 3
One of my best memories from this past year. And that was breakfast. I call it Breakfast with the Stranger. But capturing those kinds of conversations that are sort of unanticipated in how excellent they turn out to be. I just love that element of the possibilities with podcasting is having these great conversations and capturing it in the moment. So setting that up,.

32:28
Speaker 2
Breakfast with a Stranger, that could be a new kind of content podcast in its.

32:33
Speaker 1
Own. In.

32:34
Speaker 2
Its own.

32:34
Speaker 1
Right. Yeah.

32:35
Speaker 3
Hey, for sure,.

32:36
Speaker 1
For sure. And what do you learn? Yeah, maybe when we're really making the big bucks with the podcast, we'll have that'll be like the live show, right? Like the video team shows up and goes while you're having pancakes and eggs and whatever you decide to eat for breakfast. So awesome. Another thing I've learned over the years that I want to encourage you to as you're having conversations, when you think about, like, how to tie things back to what we do, you know, thinking about problems that we solve as an organization through the podcast, the content, the mastermind, problems you've been able to solve on your campus just by the lived experience you've had. Maybe the, maybe what we've done here is a piece of that, but maybe there's other things you've done outside, obviously that you could bring to the table.

33:25
Speaker 1
So anything focused on problem is, I think, helpful to the listeners that engage process, right? So you know me, I'm happy and keen to create a good framework and teach that framework over the years, right? Automatic school tools, like half the reason digital dating was born, because people are thinking, oh, what was that tool? When do I use it? How do I use it again? And now you could talk to Digital Danny, 24 7, and he'll teach the tool and bring it up when it's appropriate. But back to process. So again, frameworks and things that have helped you over the years, very valuable to the audience. And then the last p I would say is proof, right? So any kind of case studies of colleagues of yourself, real things that are happening on real campuses that people can apply to their own context, right?

34:21
Speaker 1
Because, you know, the amount of people that listen in the diversity of contexts, you know, given rural, suburban, urban settings, public, private, faith based, independent, we run the gamut in the Mastermind. They're all represented, right? So how do you know, how do you serve such a diverse audience? It goes back to falling in love and being passionate about those problems, understand process and how we're able to solve things and then go into proof, you know, in terms of stuff that, you know, works from your personal experience or maybe proof from your mastermind. So all that to say, like if there was something that happened in a cohort, you know, and you think it's not forced, right, but it just feels relevant. Bring it up. Talk about. I think people love to, you know, hear about those type of things.

35:16
Speaker 1
So that's just something that's worked for me, you know, over the years. Any questions on that or does that feel pretty good? Thumbs up from Dan Mott. Same for Demetrius. All right, cool.

35:28
Speaker 2
Absolutely. That sounds great.

35:32
Speaker 1
Quick word from our partner. Orch here's a student you already know. Good grades, no discipline issues, never shows up on a single report as a problem. Then senior year hits and they're sitting in the counselor's office, panicking, with no direction, no goals, no plan for what's next. They were invisible until it was almost too late. Orchard catches that kid early. Early enough for you to do something. Every student builds a career plan starting as young as middle school, and counselors can see exactly who's falling behind by grade before it becomes a crisis. That's how you shift from reacting to leading. Learn for yourself. See it for yourself at BetterLeaders Orchard Careers. That's BetterLeaders Orchard Careers ODP Business Solutions, formerly Office Depot Business Solutions Division, has been a trusted partner for schools for 30 years.

36:37
Speaker 1
At ODP Business Solutions, we're by your side to meet your evolving education needs. Remember that feeling when you wanted to upgrade your learning spaces but the budget said maybe next year? Here's what most people don't know. ODP Business Solutions doesn't just offer competitive pricing. We give you access to negotiated cooperative contracts that maximize every dollar. Want proof? We help the Baldwin School district transform their entire campus while staying under budget. How? By combining smart design with smarter purchasing. From essential supplies to cutting edge tech, from sustainable cleaning solutions to flexible furniture, we're your one stop shop to do school different. And the best part? You can get it all from a single supplier that helps you simplify ordering and streamlining budgeting while staying compliant with easy access to cooperative contracts. However you want to advance.

37:36
Speaker 1
ODP Business Solutions has 30 years of experience helping districts like yours get ahead. Visit ODPbusiness.comeducation to learn more. That's ODPbusiness.com education what makes an assessment effective? I would argue giving teachers access to quick, reliable and useful results that inform the next best steps for teaching. And that's where IXL really stands out. Teachers get powerful insights into student performance on a daily basis so they can address issues the moment they arrives. Imagine that. Adjusting instruction in real time before it's too late. Your teachers have a tool that helps them be even more effective. And your students? They grow and they grow. Check it out for [email protected] leaders that's ixl.com leadership here's something we don't say enough. The person that's holding a school or district together is often the one that gets the least amount of support. Principals, assistant principals, district leaders. You're coaching everybody else.

38:55
Speaker 1
Kids first. Education is built to support you, and the results speak for themselves. 99% Of educators found their kids first coach knowledgeable. Nearly all said the sessions they led connected to the district's priorities. And 98% of participants walked out ready to use what they learned that week. That's what happens when professional learning is designed around your context, not pulled off a shelf. Partner with Kids first and learn more at KidsFirst LLC Leaders. That's KidsFirst LLC Leadership Leaders. One of my favorite moments in coaching is when a principal realizes they don't have a problem. They just have a problem someone else has already solved. Meaning there's an automatic school tool that I've built for it. They just didn't know which one to grab. Reactive calendar. Then use the ideal week new principle. Trying to figure out the first 90 days.

40:03
Speaker 1
But then you go to the entry plan bottleneck happening in your own office. That's a lead domino conversation. I've built 36 tools across the automatic school framework. Most leaders don't need more strategy. They need the right tool applied in their exact situation. Tonight, Digital Danny does the diagnosis. He knows every tool I've ever built, when to use it, and how to walk you through it for your campus. You get started with Digital [email protected] Ruckus that's my principalcoach.com Ruckus Let me take a step back. Like, I know you talked about tapping into your networks and, you know, playing with format and that kind of thing, but what else do you think you hope for the show or what do you think you bring to the table type of thing?

41:04
Speaker 1
Are there any experiments or things you're thinking about that you want to name in public in front of the audience? It's okay if it's too early.

41:14
Speaker 3
I don't know if it's too early, but you alluded to the coaching as the side gig. And that's something I've been doing for five years now this July. And the POD is a, in a sense for me is a working principle, a side gig. But knowing that this probably isn't going to come out for a while, I feel like saying it out loud. Like I want to quit my job. I talk to a lot of podcast guests a lot. I shouldn't say a lot because I just started this. But people who are doing that, they are taking the big leap. They're swinging for the fences and they're starting their company or they're launching a career in a different way from being a school principal.

41:58
Speaker 3
And that's always been something that I've Sort of dreamed about, and it feels big and audacious, but it's something I'm building toward. I would really like to be able to do that and not just have it be a side gig.

42:12
Speaker 2
That's big time. Dan. I am not going to declare that I want to quit my job. I really enjoy, you know, being a high school principal and being in my community and things like that, but I will say that again. You just never know what opportunities will arise. And so I'm always open minded. I, you know, I, like I said, I love what I do, but you never know. You never know. And I think if you go into whatever project is or whatever a job is and you do your best, the sky's the limit, I think. So, you know, I know you're gonna, you know, you're gonna start your own business, Dan. That's. There's no doubt about that. And I, I can't wait to see how we're able to help with that.

42:58
Speaker 3
It's also super fun, though. Hey, like, we put in 60 hours a week easy at school, and that's a lot of time. You think about putting that in other places, like if were to spend 60 hours a week on the podcast, for instance, but just thinking about how we use our time, and I think that's a really worthy thing to consider our investment. As we talk about growing this thing and moving it forward and maybe new directions, that's a really exciting thing that we can offer to listeners, is that drawing from all these experiences of people that we're interviewing, maybe school leaders are getting great takeaways from sharing the process, as Danny mentioned. Right. Problem and process the proof as we go through it. Yeah. So,.

43:44
Speaker 2
You know, I think. Oh, sorry, Dan. Go ahead, go ahead.

43:46
Speaker 3
I guess just that my own personal journey doesn't need to be the point. I think the swing and bake is the thing that's really exciting about the podcast is stepping out and interviewing people that we don't know and finding out about their journeys, learning from them. That feels like a grand adventure in and of itself. All sewn up in a 30 minute episode.

44:09
Speaker 2
Yeah. I'm also curious. You know, this podcast is one that inspired me to get into podcasting. So I'm curious if our work together could inspire others to start their own podcasts or, you know, want to be a part of the team, something like that. That'd be something interesting to see. Danny, will. Will you get any folks that reach out, like, hey, I want to be part of the team.

44:36
Speaker 1
Yeah, right. Well, I think people should reach out if they're hungry. Right. Does it. Their spot's not guaranteed. I am going to, I'm always going to defer to people that have sort of been through the system, so to speak. I think of like a Nick Saban, you know, coaching football or Phil Jackson coaching NBA basketball. But you know, there's these coaching family trees, so to speak, that get the system and then the. Yeah, everyone who goes through their system makes it their own and creates legendary outcomes. But even if somebody hasn't been through the system so far, I'd be open to it and entertain it, you know, if they're hungry and want it. Right. And maybe that's just a requirement. We'll hop into the community as well as we're bringing you on.

45:23
Speaker 1
And so you can really unders, you know, if you really want it, you know what we're about. Right. So experience it as well. But to that point, I hope people do write in, like, what do you want to see from this show? Like, how can they evolve and develop to serve you better? You can send me an email. You know, danny, better leaders, betterschools.com but even better, I created a very fast website. It's just one page, but go to talkwithdani.com it's so easy and memorable. Talkwithdady.com and you can hit the reply button there. It's use a free app called Carbon Voice, but it sends me a voice note that I could respond to. Right. And people are doing that. You know, I mentioned how principal recently from Southern Illinois had reached out.

46:09
Speaker 1
He had some questions about onboarding, strategic planning, entry planning and that kind of thing. But he also thought he'd be talking to digital Danny, not the real Danny. And then I downloaded like, I probably gave him like 10 to 15 minutes of my best ideas. Right. And he was like, so blown away. Longtime listener. So go to. Yeah, go to talkwithdani.com if you have any feedback, you know, for us. I think my last question. No, I have two last questions. One, I want to know what you need for me to be successful. And then actually, this isn't a question. This is more of a challenge.

46:40
Speaker 1
I would love in like after you have a year of reps, maybe two years, it would be really neat to see if it's just you two or the three of us or the whole co host team to like co present something. Right. Something that we've learned with about leadership, about doing school different self mentorship and then just about coming together as a team. But that, you know, that might be, that might. That would be fun and very fulfilling for me to present alongside you or to just watch you all like, hey, you know, we're the hosts of this show and here's what we learned in the last year or something. So dropping that in is a little bit of a challenge. Planting a seed. But yeah, my final question, if you have other questions, feel free to share them.

47:26
Speaker 1
But what do you need from me to be successful.

47:30
Speaker 2
For me? You've already done a ton, Danny, helping to onboard me to the process and that type of thing. I think that you're going to continue to get email messages from different folks, just continue to share those and continue to share those opportunities with us. So, you know, Dan's got, we got three episodes recorded already. I'm working on my first in a couple weeks. So just more practice and it's coming, I'm sure.

47:59
Speaker 1
Yeah, definitely.

48:01
Speaker 3
I would say similar along the same lines an ask a request to keep pushing, keep challenging and also to keep sharing your vision, what you want from the pod and what you're getting out of this experience that you're not getting anywhere else. That's super valuable to know your take your perspective, your not just your vision, but how you're experiencing it.

48:30
Speaker 1
I'm really pleased with what we've accomplished over the last decade, but I think the next 10 years can be exponentially better. Right. And we'll look back at to this moment when we formed a team that wasn't just me creating content. Right. As that catalyst. And so really that's probably the biggest thing is like measuring success is forming a team, starting with YouTube and expanding it, one that represents what we would find out in education, you know, around the world and you know, maybe even moving. Like, wouldn't this be cool if were able to say, okay, most downloaded and that feels great, right? Whatever, we can measure that. But we became the most talked about podcast and education. That would be like, that would be absolutely killer to me. Right? That would be success for sure.

49:28
Speaker 3
Wouldn't it be something if were to put that date in the calendar, kind of do a Jim Carrey, make the checkout to ourselves now. I'll see you in two years at, for that panel.

49:42
Speaker 2
Absolutely.

49:43
Speaker 1
Okay.

49:44
Speaker 2
I love that challenge. I'm excited for that.

49:47
Speaker 1
Yeah, well, let's do that. Once we hit stop, you know, on the recording, figure that piece out. I like that too. Did we miss anything or not? Cover something that you wanted to make sure we talked about today.

50:00
Speaker 3
Just wanted to emphasize the gratitude. Super grateful to be along for the ride. Appreciate you both.

50:08
Speaker 2
Yeah, likewise. I reiterate that for sure. This is, it's exciting. I think one of the things that you learn in leadership school, leadership, you know, change is hard and it's necessary sometimes. And this is necessary for sustainability and for, you know, growth and productivity and all those things are great. But I'm excited to continue to add value to other school leaders.

50:38
Speaker 1
Brilliant. Well, yeah. To the listener and viewer of the Ruckus Maker show here, Bear leaders, Bear schools. Just thank you for being so loyal. You heard, you heard kind of what we're building, what we're trying to build towards. So let us know what would make this the most talk worthy, you know, shareable show in education and any ideas for what we can provide for you? Again, go to talkwithdani.com and leave me a voice note. That's the best thing to do. Until next time. All right, guys, let's make a ruckus. Hey, Ruckus Maker, thanks again for pressing play. I hope you enjoyed today's episode as much as I enjoyed creating it for you.

51:22
Speaker 1
And before you go, if today's show shifted something in your mind or sparked an idea about how you could do school different, then I think you'd be a great fit for what we call the Ruckus Maker Mastermind. The Mastermind's a private community of innovative school leaders who meet weekly to grow, reflect, and disrupt the status quo. You can create the campus experience your staff and school students deserve. Applications are now open and go to betterleadersbetterschools. Com. Apply to put your application in.

  Transcribed by https://fireflies.ai/