On today’s episode of the McCoy Leadership Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Cynthia Rapaido, a powerhouse in K-12 education and leadership. We talked about the challenges of transitioning from teaching students to leading adults, the game-changing role of mentorship, and how to define—and redefine—your personal “why” as you climb the ladder. Dr. Cynthia dropped insights on building inclusive, thriving school cultures and preparing students for real-world success, plus she shared wisdom from her new book, “Step Up Your School Leadership Game.” If you want actionable strategies to elevate your impact as a leader, this episode is packed with gold.

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Download your free episode guide here!

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00:00 "From Struggle to Teaching Passion"

05:12 Universal Value of Apprenticeships

08:50 Mentorship Toward Principalship Journey

11:16 "Discovering and Evolving Your Why"

17:16 Creating a Positive School Environment

18:58 Bridging Schools and Industry Needs

23:51 "Preparing Students for Opportunities"

28:07 "Should Everyone Be a Principal?"

29:33 "Choosing Leadership in Education"

33:23 "Rapid Fire Leadership Questions"

36:46 AI Advancements and Future Connections

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Here are my top 3 takeaways:

• 💡 Mentorship is Essential: Dr. Rapaido emphasized that real growth happens with strong mentorship—both from within your school and across your professional network. Don’t wait to be assigned a mentor; proactively seek out guidance to expand your perspective.

• 🧭 Your “Why” Will Evolve: Your motivation for leading will shift over time. Dr. Rapaido encourages leaders to regularly reassess their ‘why’—it’s not just about personal growth or compensation. Staying grounded in your purpose is key to navigating challenges and inspiring those you lead.

• 🚀 Hands-On Learning Trumps Theory: There’s no substitute for real-world experience. Whether it’s “student principling” or shadowing others, Dr. Rapaido recommends practical learning opportunities to bridge the gap between theory and day-to-day leadership realities.

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Links

Cynthia's LinkedIn

Cynthia's Book

Book Recommendation