Listen to feel inspired, validated, and appreciated in under 10 minutes. With wisdom, candor and humor, Sage B. Hobbs shares real stories from more than 20 years in education, coupled with current research and tools that you can actually use to improve your practice (and your happiness). Sage is an executive coach for school principals (and other do-good leaders), a retired school counselor, keynote speaker, author and facilitator. She's an expert in communication and emotional intelligence, who leans into challenging topics and advocates for equity in education and beyond. As a lifelong educator, married to a lifelong educator, raising kids - this show is a big THANK YOU to tireless educators everywhere.
Principal Pep Talks
Claim This Podcastby Sage B. Hobbs
5.0(11 reviews)
18 episodes
Updated Inactive
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Podcast Overview
Listen to feel inspired, validated, and appreciated in under 10 minutes. With wisdom, candor and humor, Sage B. Hobbs shares real stories from more than 20 years in education, coupled with current research and tools that you can actually use to improve your practice (and your happiness). Sage is an executive coach for school principals (and other do-good leaders), a retired school counselor, keynote speaker, author and facilitator. She's an expert in communication and emotional intelligence, who leans into challenging topics and advocates for equity in education and beyond. As a lifelong educator, married to a lifelong educator, raising kids - this show is a big THANK YOU to tireless educators everywhere.
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Publishing Since
2/26/2024
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Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
Hope and Resilience in Education with Dr. Katy Anthes: From Polarization to Progress
<p dir="ltr">When I was introduced to today's guest, Dr. Katie Anthes, I was beyond eager to hear about her work as the former Colorado's Commissioner of Education - during the pandemic! She was faced with unprecedented challenges in political polarization, faced death threats for her efforts, and leaned in hard to the power of listening in navigating choppy waters.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">In today's episode, Dr. Anthes shares her extensive experience in education leadership, navigating political polarization, and the importance of authentic listening and self-care for leaders. Discover practical insights on managing conflict, setting boundaries, and fostering hope in challenging times.</p> <h3 dir="ltr">Listen to hear Dr. Antes talk about:</h3> <p><strong> </strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Navigating political polarization in education</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The importance of authentic listening and empathy</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Self-care and boundary setting for leaders</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Strategies for managing conflict and disagreement</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Building hope and resilience in leadership</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The role of compromise and incremental progress</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Leadership lessons from the COVID pandemic</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The importance of diverse perspectives in decision-making</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong><br /> <br /></strong></p> <h3 dir="ltr">BIO</h3> <p dir="ltr">Dr. Katy Anthes is the creator and director of the FORWARD initiative at the Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC) as well as a founder and partner of The Third Mile Group, a social policy consulting firm. The FORWARD Initiative — from polarization to progress— prepares leaders in public policy to prevent and manage political polarization in their communities and workplaces. Formerly, Anthes was the Commissioner of Education in Colorado from 2016- 2023, and is widely respected for her commitment to listen to diverse perspectives and develop solutions that are founded on productive middle ground. As Commissioner, Anthes worked with the Colorado State Board of Education, the Legislature and the Governor to craft and implement a vision of education for Colorado. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">She led the Colorado Department of Education, an $8 billion dollar agency, dedicated to helping districts achieve great things for students. During her time as Commissioner, she served on the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Board of Directors and the Education Commission of the States (ECS), Steering Committee. Dr. Anthes was with CDE since 2011, serving as chief of staff, interim associate commissioner for achievement and strategy and executive director of educator effectiveness. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Prior to CDE and the Third Mile Group, she had seven years of research, policy work and leadership experience at the Education Commission of the States focusing on school and district leader effectiveness. Anthes holds a Ph.D. in public policy and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Colorado Denver. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Oregon</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Resources mentioned:</h3> <p dir="ltr">Public Education & Business Coalition (pebc) FORWARD Initiative: <a href= "https://www.pebc.org/forward-from-polarization-to-progress/">https://www.pebc.org/forward-from-polarization-to-progress/</a></p> <p dir="ltr">Learn more about Sage's work at <a href= "https://sagebhobbs.com/">https://sagebhobbs.com/</a></p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Please connect with us!</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://linkedin.com/in/sagebhobbs">Sage B. Hobbs - LinkedIn </a></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/katy-anthes-1b966b5/">Katy Anthes - LinkedIn </a></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Chapters</h3> <p dir="ltr">00:00 Introduction to Dr. Katie Anthes</p> <p dir="ltr">02:41 Navigating Political Polarization in Education</p> <p dir="ltr">05:23 The Journey into Education and Leadership</p> <p dir="ltr">09:54 Overcoming Challenges During the Pandemic</p> <p dir="ltr">15:25 The Importance of Listening and Conflict</p> <p dir="ltr">18:15 Self-Care and Boundaries in Leadership</p> <p dir="ltr">25:43 The Future of School Leadership and Hope</p> <p> </p>
June 15, 2026
Transforming Education with William Robinson: Hope, Partnership, and Leadership
<p dir="ltr">My guest today is someone I admire greatly and whose reputation precedes him many times over. I was honored to host William Robinson, a leader driven by a deep commitment to equity and system change in education.</p> <p dir="ltr">We explore William's journey from childhood in underfunded schools of the Arkansas Delta to leading transformational education initiatives all over the country through his work at the University of Virginia in their Partnership for Leaders in Education.</p> <p dir="ltr">William emphasizes the human element in systemic reform and the importance of deep partnership for lasting impact. He offers real world experience matched with incredible expertise and layered with remarkable humility.</p> <p dir="ltr">Everyone can learn from this conversation.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Key Takeaways and Food for Thought:</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">William's personal story of attending underfunded schools and how his motivation is rooted in community and systemic inequities</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">System design and collective action in school turnaround efforts</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Three reflective questions to manage overwhelm</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Leveraging mindfulness for our own wellbeing</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Creativity as a leadership competency</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The importance of human-centered approaches and integrating lived community experiences</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Strategies for leader resilience, including reflection, deep focus, and stakeholder engagement</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The power of relational leadership in building trust and unlocking potential</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">The role of hope, purpose, and next-generation leadership in advancing educational equity</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Practical advice for staying resilient and intentional in complex system work</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>"Mic-drop" quotes:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">"There's no better place to live your purpose than being an educator."</p> <p dir="ltr">"Those who seek to solve all of their challenges at once often don't solve any." William Robinson</p> <p dir="ltr">"Resist the temptation to fall in love with solutions. Instead, try very hard to fall in love with the problem and learn other peoples' perspectives about it."</p> <p dir="ltr">"How do we manifest our belief in people more readily?"</p> <p dir="ltr">"Relational work is not a "check box," but essential to unleashing human possibility."</p> <p dir="ltr">"Hope is abundant when you get to meet with the people that I do. There are exemplars across the country."</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Resources mentioned:</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><a href= "https://www.darden.virginia.edu/uva-ple">UVA PLE Website</a></p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Guest's Bio:</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">William Robinson is a collaborator, operator and systems thinker that facilitates teams and diverse stakeholders across organizations towards understanding and addressing complex challenges. Servant leader with passion for creating equitable conditions where every citizen can thrive and where more leaders grow into their potential to confront systemic challenges standing in the way.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">As Executive Director at University of Virginia Partnership for Leaders in Education, orchestrated turnaround, growth, and reinvention of national leaders in educational transformation field:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Drive strategy, recruitment, and team building for forerunner in leadership capacity-building and education system redesign recognized by multiple academic journals for significant student learning impact.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Oversee and integrate strategy and adult learning excellence, operations, client service, fundraising, and rebranding. Led towards both quadrupling of annual new partners, revenue and partners extending their relationship with an organization that has now worked in 32 states.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Champion forward-thinking practitioner resources leveraged by hundreds of school districts and 20 state educational agencies to rethink and redesign their approaches including new "exploring new frontiers" report.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Supported other philanthropic, social sector, higher education, and K-12 entities to advance transformation strategy and operations. General management expertise in designing and leading world-class adult learning, team building, strategy execution, policy and resource shifts, and cross-sector connections towards teams being more responsive to their community's needs.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Timestamps: </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">00:00 - Introduction to William Robinson and his transformative work in education</p> <p dir="ltr">02:20 - William's childhood in Arkansas and early influences</p> <p dir="ltr">04:24 - Recognizing systemic challenges and pursuing social change through education</p> <p dir="ltr">06:13 - The importance of collective ownership and systems transformation</p> <p dir="ltr">07:13 - Building capacity and leadership development in underserved communities</p> <p dir="ltr">09:16 - Talent, system incentives, and the human element in school reform</p> <p dir="ltr">10:36 - Balancing data with community insights for system change</p> <p dir="ltr">12:06 - The UVA turnaround program and partnership approach to teacher and student well-being</p> <p dir="ltr">13:41 - Leadership expectations, partnership, and high standards</p> <p dir="ltr">16:33 - Overcoming overwhelm and maintaining resilience as a leader</p> <p dir="ltr">18:14 - Reflective practices for focus and purpose amidst systemic challenges</p> <p dir="ltr">20:20 - Supporting state leaders and navigating political and policy uncertainty</p> <p dir="ltr">33:33 - Hope inspired by exemplar schools and next-gen student leadership</p> <p dir="ltr">35:01 - The future of education driven by purpose and innovation</p> <p dir="ltr">36:54 - Connecting with UVA's Partnership for Leaders in Education</p>
April 21, 2026
Principal Pep Talks: How Vulnerable Leadership Transformed Trust in Education with Dr. Tiffany Rehbein
<p dir="ltr">Ever since I started coaching school leaders, I've been inspired by their ability to juggle a million demands, build relationships with diverse constituents, and keep their focus on student learning as the primary goal through it all. I've been fortunate to work with Dr. Tiffany Rehbein for a few years and now I have the honor of sharing her journey in educational leadership here on the show!</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Dr. Rehbein openly discusses the challenges of feeling overwhelmed, the importance of self-care, and the power of vulnerability in building trust with staff. She emphasizes the need for effective communication and the significance of using one's voice in leadership roles. Dr. Rehbein also expresses hope for the future of school leadership, highlighting the importance of student voices and mentorship in shaping the next generation of educators.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <h3 dir="ltr">Listen to hear Dr. Rehbein talk about:</h3> <p><strong> </strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Leadership often comes with feelings of overwhelm and how reflection can mitigate that feeling.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prioritizing tasks is essential for effective leadership and how she's figured out how to do it when a million things are coming at you.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Self-care habits are crucial for maintaining wellbeing. For her, it's outdoor time, yoga, reading, journaling… even though she's from "old school Montana, where yoga wasn't a thing."</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">How admitting that she messed up changed everything with trust on her teams.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Writing her story for her local newspaper and how sharing her story humanized her in the superintendent role.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">How she's gotten out into the community to build relationships with the schools more actively…"Oh, it's really you!"</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Why student voices are key to understanding educational needs.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Rural schools and leadership - how it's different.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">How she uses courage to try new things in her own growth and leadership.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">What gives her hope about the future of schools</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong> </strong></p> <h3 dir="ltr">BIO</h3> <p dir="ltr">Dr. Tiffany Rehbein is an accomplished educational leader with over 20 years of experience dedicated to student success and curriculum innovation. Currently serving as the Superintendent of the Anaconda School District in Anaconda, Montana, Dr. Rehbein's career includes roles as a teacher, instructional coach, district administrator, and principal.</p> <p dir="ltr">A proud Montanan, Dr. Rehbein was born and raised in Richey, Montana, (pop. 161) and earned degrees from the University of Montana, including bachelor's in Journalism and English Literature and an M.A. in English Teaching. Her doctorate is in Curriculum and Instruction.</p> <p dir="ltr">Beyond her commitment to education, she is passionate about the Montana Grizzlies and the Colorado Rockies, and she is a fan of poetry, books, and writing. Dr. Rehbein has a wife and two sons, both of whom are on college wrestling teams. </p> <h3 dir="ltr">Resources mentioned:</h3> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Charlie Donlea, Guess Again</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Brene Brown, Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Intrigue (* the author's name was incorrect in the interview)</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Laramie Dean, Haunt Me, Then (they went to high school together)</p> </li> </ul> <h3 dir="ltr">Chapters</h3> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Overwhelm</p> <p dir="ltr">03:01 Leadership Habits and Wellbeing</p> <p dir="ltr">06:04 The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership</p> <p dir="ltr">12:02 Building Trust Through Communication</p> <p dir="ltr">17:51 Finding Your Voice as a Leader</p> <p dir="ltr">21:04 Hope for the Future of School Leadership</p> <p dir="ltr">24:02 Final Thoughts and Recommendations</p> <p> </p>
18 total episodes available
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