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One frustrated moment with a parent turned into a leadership habit that lasted for years: Todd Bloomer walked out of his office, sat on a literal red bench, and finally had space to breathe. That small reset became a bigger idea about sustainable educational leadership and it eventually became his new book, Finding Your Red Bench. We’re catching up with Todd after his first year as Director of School Leadership for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, where he supports principals across different school settings and learns firsthand that a job title doesn’t equal trust.

We dig into what changes when you move from running one building to coaching leaders across many. Todd breaks down why influence beats authority, how to build rapport in a new system, and what he learned when he stepped in as an interim K–8 principal and had to cover everything from instruction to maintenance. We also talk about presentations that respect educators’ time, leadership lessons learned the hard way, and why “putting yourself first” isn’t selfish when principal burnout is pushing good people out of the profession.

The red bench concept ties it all together: a practical way to reclaim joy on campus, quiet the noise of criticism, and lead with purpose. Todd explains his month-by-month guide built around school operations, campus culture, and self-care for educators, plus reflection questions you can use all year. If you’re a principal, assistant principal, or district leader trying to stay grounded, this conversation is your reminder to protect what matters. Subscribe, share this with a fellow leader, and leave a five-star review if it helps you find your own red bench.

Connect with Todd Bloomer:

Finding Your Red Bench (Amazon):

Todd Bloomer's Website:

Episode 35:

The Blueprint: Survive and Thrive as a School Administrator:

X- @bloomer_sa

LinkedIn- @Todd Bloomer

Instagram- @Todd_Bloomer_Author

Tik ToK- @todd_bloomer_author

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