Principal Street

About Principal Street

The principal's role in education has always been essential, but the current education climate has made the job more complex, more challenging, and more taxing. Principal Street is where we share what's working as we learn, laugh, and lead.

Publisher

BAM Radio Network

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Feb 2023

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   The New Instructional Leadership Priority: Doing More Versus Doing What Actually Matters

   What if some of the habits we praise in school leaders are actually holding schools back? Hustle culture, lone-wolf leadership, endless screen time, and the pressure to do it all are no longer sustainable. In this episode, we challenge what instructional leadership should look like in 2026. We tackle chronic absenteeism, student disengagement, and our reliance on digital tools while making the case for shared leadership, vulnerability, and proven instructional practices. Maybe better leadership isn’t about doing more. Maybe it’s about letting go, setting boundaries, and getting back to what actually helps students thrive. Follow on Twitter: @ PJCap0sey @JessicaCabeen @TheresaStager @jonHarper70bd @NancyFrey @BethHouf @jonHarper70b.@bamradionetwork PJ Caposey is one of the most prolific and respected thought leaders in American public education today—and the most published author currently serving as a sitting superintendent. He currently serves as the superintendent of Oregon CUSD 220 and previously led Meridian CUSD 223—at one point serving as dual superintendent of both districts. He is the former Illinois State Superintendent of the Year and a national finalist for AASA’s National Superintendent of the Year award. A best-selling author of ten books, PJ’s influence spans leadership, school culture, equity, and continuous improvement. Beth Houf is the principal of Capital City High School in Jefferson City, Missouri, and co-author of Lead Like a PIRATE. With 18 years of experience across elementary, middle, and high school leadership, she is known for amplifying student and staff voice to create equitable, inclusive school cultures. Beth is a nationally recognized leader and award-winning principal, recently earning NASSP Principal of the Year honors. Nancy Frey, Ph.D., co-author of Your Students My Students, Our Students: Rethinking Equitable and Inclusive Classroom (ASCD). Nancy Frey is a Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University. Dr. Frey is a recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She has co-authored several books on literacy. She teaches a variety of courses in school improvement and literacy leadership. Theresa Stager is a seasoned K-12 administrator, currently serving as Principal at Saline High School (MI). She is a Board Member for MASSP (Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals), a Corwin author, and a frequent contributor to podcasts, articles, and books. Theresa is a doctoral student in Leadership and Innovation at Arizona State University and is committed to supporting staff and students and mentoring leaders. Dr. Jessica Cabeen is the Principal of Alternative Programs for Austin Public Schools in Minnesota, where she leads Austin Online Academy and the Austin Area Learning Center. A National Distinguished Principal, Jessica is an experienced school leader, speaker, and author of multiple books, including Principal in Balance and Lead with Grace and Drip Effect (Spring 2026).

2. 

   29 Aug 2026

   What School Leaders Who Build Trust In AI Do Differently

   A lively and rich conversation among accomplished school leaders about their approach to building trust, clarity, and confidence among educators as they integrate AI into schools. Thy acknowledge the challenges, share their reasons for optimism and concern, and outline the human-centered principles guiding their strategies and close with a list of things principals should stop doing to reduce the barriers to AI adoption. Follow on (X) Twitter: @PrincipalGarden | @ | @Jenschwanke | @bamradionetwork | @jonHarper70bd Related Resources: Leading with Trust | Trust: The Secret to Successful Schools. Liz Garden is currently the principal of the Henry P Clough Elementary School in Mendon, MA. She is the past President of MSAA. She is an Editorial Advisor for Principal Magazine and an NAESP Fellow for the Center for Innovative Leadership. She’s married to Dave, her musician husband, and is mom to Emerson and Cayce. Longtime educator and Superintendent. Dr. Jen Schwanke is the author of five ASCD books, including her latest release, Trusted. In addition to her writing, she reaches school leaders nationwide as the co-host of the popular Principal Matters podcast and through her newsletter, Principal Problems. You can find her on her website, jenschwanke.com, or through LinkedIn. Dominique Smith is an award-winning educator, author, and school leader who has dedicated two decades to transforming schools into inclusive, safe, and empowering spaces for students and educators alike. He currently serves as principal at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California. Smith earned his doctorate in educational leadership from San Diego State University and a master of social work from the University of Southern California. You can find him on LinkedIn. Zach Hrynowski is a senior researcher at Gallup, where he is responsible for the research direction of several of Gallup’s largest education-related projects, including the Voices of Gen Z study in partnership with the Walton Family Foundation, as well as the State of Higher Education study with Lumina Foundation. In this role, Zach advises on survey and research design, analyzes survey data to surface insights, and authors reports that spark further conversations about education, workforce development, artificial intelligence, wellbeing, and public perceptions of political and cultural events. He frequently presents Gallup’s latest research to media, education leaders, and policymakers, and is a contributor to Gallup News and The Gallup Podcast.

3. 

   17 Mar 2026

   Putting Reading Science to Work: Start Doing This, Stop Doing That

   This conversation explores the critical transition from adopting the science of reading to effectively implementing it in classrooms. The speakers discuss the importance of phonemic awareness, the role of data in literacy instruction, and the need for active engagement in learning. They emphasize the necessity of shifting beliefs among educators and leaders to recognize unfinished learning and the continuous nature of literacy development. The discussion culminates in actionable insights for school and district leaders to enhance their approach to literacy education. Follow on Twitter: @mjanatovich| @bamradionetwork | @jonHarper70bd Sharyn Hoffert recently earned my MA in Educational Leadership and transitioned into instructional leadership roles focused on strengthening teaching and learning. Hoffert teaches literacy courses for the Reading Specialist/Dyslexia certification at Eastern Oregon University and currently serves as a Professional Learning Coach for ORTiI at Northwest Regional ESD. As the proud mother of a son with dyslexia, she is deeply committed to equipping educators with the tools and resources they need to ensure every student becomes an engaged, literate citizen. Mike Janatovich is the Chagrin Falls High School Principal in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and an ASCD Emerging Leader Class of 2015.

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