Transformative Principal

Jethro Jones interviews instructional leaders from around the nation to learn and teach what it takes to become a transformative principal. Episodes address topics like Response to Intervention (RTI), Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), the latest advances in educational research, standards-based grading, and interviews with industry leaders like Bill Daggett, Rick Wormeli, Todd Whitaker and even people outside the education like Seth Godin, JeVon McCormick, Liz Wiseman, and more.

Transformative Principal is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 861 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Transformative Principal, a education show with 861 episodes published.

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  Episode #728

  ISTE 2026: Rethinking Career Readiness with Jamie Candee

  Aug 16, 202627 minS13

  Jethro D. Jones interviews Jamie Candee (CEO of Edmentum) about bridging the gap between K-12 education and career readiness. They discuss how AI is reshaping the job market, why "durable skills" matter more than ever, and how schools can expose students to career paths early through career exploration tools, workplace internships, and real-world partnerships (like Edmentum's MajorClarity platform and Roadtrip Nation videos). Candee shares personal stories — including her son Milo's journey exploring baseball-adjacent careers — to illustrate how students can find purpose beyond the traditional "doctor, lawyer, teacher" track. The conversation also covers practical advice for principals looking to build career-connected learning pathways in their own schools. We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL . IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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  Episode #727

  ISTE 2026: Hugging Porcupines with Mike Anderson

  Aug 2, 202618 minS13

  At ISTE 2026, Jethro Jones sits down with Mike Anderson to discuss his new book, Hugging Porcupines: Practical Strategies for Supporting Kids Who Struggle with Behavior in School . They explore why some students disengage, resist connection, and act out — and how teachers can respond with strategies built on the "three-legged stool" of academic engagement, respectful discipline, and positive relationships. The conversation covers building classroom rules collaboratively, the difference between consequences and punishments, and why problem-solving conferences (not just sending kids to the office) are key to real behavior change. We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL . IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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  Episode #726

  ISTE 2026: Reaching Kids Who Don't Fit in the Box with Pete Hall

  Jul 26, 202611 minS13

  Pete Hall joins Jethro Jones live at ISTE 2026 to discuss his new book, Reaching and Teaching Kids Who Don't Fit in the Box . They dig into the five core reasons students disengage from school (not fitting in, academic gaps, boredom, lack of support, and emotional struggles), and share practical strategies teachers can use immediately — including setting self-concordant student goals, using AI to personalize entry tasks around student interests, and asking "cognitive interest cue" questions that spark curiosity instead of just testing recall. The conversation also explores shifting from "who knows the answer" questioning to more inclusive approaches that invite all students to participate, even with wrong answers. Pete closes with details on his book's pre-sale discount. We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL . IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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  Episode #725

  Building Iowa's Charter School Movement from Scratch with Mike Huguelet

  Jul 19, 202649 minS13

  In this episode, Mike Caldwell interviews Mike Huguelet, Executive Director of the Iowa Coalition of Public Charter Schools, about building Iowa's charter school movement from the ground up. Huguelet shares his path from teaching in Chicago (co-founding Noble Schools) to leading counseling programs in Des Moines Public Schools, and eventually launching the Iowa Coalition in 2023 — a state with one of the newest charter laws in the country (passed 2021). We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL . IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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  Episode #724

  Burn the Script with Jo Lein

  Jul 12, 202631 minS13

  In this episode, host Mike Caldwell sits down with Jo Lane, an educator support and instructional coach with 16 years of experience, who is currently a principal coach based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jo shares insights from her new book, Burn the Script: How Great Coaches Disrupt Thinking and Transform Practice , released May 19th. The conversation dives deep into the concept of "mental fossils" — the ingrained beliefs and behavioral scripts educators develop from past professional experiences that often hold them back from growth. Jo breaks down how beliefs are anchored by three factors: skill, identity, and value, and explains why simply teaching a skill isn't enough to change behavior if underlying beliefs aren't addressed. Show Notes: Substack: EduCoach by Jo Lein LinkedIn: Jo Lein Book: Burn the Script: How Great Coaches Disrupt Mindsets and Transform Practice Instagram/TikTok: @educoachbyjo We’re proud to be sponsored by IXL . IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more: Simplify and streamline technology Save teachers’ time Reliably meet Tier 1 standards Improve student performance on state assessments 🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

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