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The biggest leadership wins in schools rarely look big in the moment. They show up as a quick hallway check-in, a follow-up after a hard day, or a decision made with a child’s future in mind. We sit down with Michelle Pourchot, a veteran educator who served 29 years in Title I schools and spent 20 years as an elementary principal, to get honest about what actually moves a campus forward.

We talk about the leadership mindset she carried from kindergarten teacher to reading specialist to principal, and why relationships are not optional if you want real academic growth. Michelle shares how one intense year in a high school setting changed the way she led in elementary school, especially around retention and the long-term consequences of early decisions. If you care about school culture, instructional leadership, staff morale, and student engagement, you’ll hear practical reminders you can use immediately.

Michelle also explains why she wrote The 30-Day Leadership Challenge, a no-fluff leadership development resource built around action steps to grow confidence, influence, and impact. We close with encouragement for new administrators on setting healthy boundaries and avoiding burnout, plus what excites her about the future of education through student leadership opportunities.

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Great2Lead:

30 Day Leadership Challenge: Practical Lessons to: Build Confidence, Gain Influence, and Lead with Impact (Amazon)

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Instagram: @great2lead

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