Bill on Twitter: https://twitter.com/
Bill’s Blog: http://mrpowersspot.
Bill’s wife is a middle school principal, and they have a seven year old son, and before moving into education, Bill worked in journalism as a sportswriter (6:37)
Bill’s pre-education career from college graduate, to professional sportswriter, to newspaper sports editor, to almost getting run over at a NASCAR race by the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr. (8:07)
Bill decided to leave sports journalism and become a teacher after mentoring a second grade boy as part of a volunteer program, and seeing the profound difference he was able to make in a young child’s life (10:00)
Switching from teaching to administration, which Bill wanted to do early on (17:55)
The perils of trying to do too much, too soon as a new administrator (30:00)
The impostor syndrome (“I’m not qualified for this job”) and how Bill dealt with it (32:12)
How Bill manages work/life balance (even tougher when both parents are principals!) (41:09)
Bill recounts two of his favorite experiences in his administration career (47:36)
How to manage a major tech rollout like a 1:1 Chromebook implementation (50:32)
Every day is a new day | Don’t take yourself too seriously (54:04)
Becoming an administrator doesn’t mean losing your connection to your students (55:39)
Bill’s top three book recommendations for current and aspiring school leaders (57:33)
Do whatever it takes to create the time to get out and visit your classrooms and build the all-important relationships with your students and teachers (1:00:01)
“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford (1:07:24)
If Bill had a time machine, here’s the advice he would go back and give his younger self when he was just starting out in administration (1:08:30)
Books mentioned in this episode
The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher by Harry K. Wong and Rosemary T. Wong
Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love by Joseph M. Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis
The Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros
Connect with Bill Powers
About EducatorsLead:
Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders weekly to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact.
Educate. Inspire. Lead.
