In this episode of Reject the Premise, Jethro and Danny challenge three common misconceptions in educational leadership. They argue that leadership development isn't a luxury but a necessity, emphasizing that top performers in every field invest in coaching and that having a coach demonstrates maturity rather than inadequacy. They reject the notion that leadership must be lonely, encouraging leaders to build supportive communities and connections rather than remaining isolated. Finally, they reframe innovation as a mindset focused on problem definition rather than an expensive, technology-dependent endeavor. Throughout the conversation, they stress that leaders must take ownership of their own development rather than waiting for districts to provide it, and they share practical examples of how constraints can actually fuel creativity and meaningful change in schools.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leadership development is not a luxury - it's essential. When you get better as a leader, everybody wins. Top performers across all fields have coaches, and school leaders deserve the same investment.
2. Having a coach is a sign of humility and maturity, not weakness. The best leaders actively seek coaching and development opportunities because they know they haven't reached their full potential yet.
3. Leadership doesn't have to be lonely - loneliness is a choice. Connect with other leaders through masterminds, coaching communities, online groups, or professional networks. Isolation is the number one enemy of excellence.
4. Innovation is a mindset, not a budget item. It starts with clearly defining the problem you're trying to solve, not jumping to solutions. Real innovation often costs nothing but requires creativity, relationship building, and rethinking constraints.
5. Don't wait for your district to develop you. Take ownership of your growth through external conferences, coaching, and learning from industries outside education. The best insights often come from beyond the education bubble.

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Mike Goldstein, co-founder of Reset Teen Coaching and author of "I'll Do It Later." They discuss the challenges teens face with executive function, especially those with ADHD, and the trial-and-error nature of finding strategies that work. The conversation covers the limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches in education, the importance of supporting students and families, and the need for school leaders to rethink homework and support systems. Mike shares practical advice for principals, emphasizing the value of providing help during the times students struggle most, such as evenings, and encourages educators to partner with families and adapt to each student’s unique journey.

• Jethro’s current struggles with exercise
• Case studies focused on the teens who are struggling with ADHD
• Strategies that could work with a certain situation
• Humility that you’re going to try different things for different kids.
• Kids don’t just have to struggle through school.
• College can cut both ways.
• ADHD only applies to things that feel like chores.
• Have we Been Thinking about ADHD All Wrong? Paul Tufts article in New York Times Magazine April 2025
• We will meet you more than halfway, grit and perseverance are important
• How to be a transformative principal? Your support staff may be trying to help kids at the wrong time. Try Zoom help in the evening with a support staff person.

About Mike Goldstein

Mike Goldstein is co-founder of Reset Teen Coaching. Previously he was founder and executive director of Match Charter High School in Boston. Mike’s new book is I’ll Do It Later: Surviving School (and Renewing The Love) with your Teenage Son.

In this special "reverse interview" episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones is interviewed by Mike Caldwell. Jethro reflects on his journey as a podcaster, the evolution of his career, and his philosophy on education, innovation, and personal growth. The conversation covers the origins of the podcast, lessons learned from hundreds of interviews, the role of AI in education, and Jethro's next chapter with Life Lab.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled 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.

In this episode, Jethro Jones sits down with Rich Czyz, principal of Yardville Elementary and author of "Autopilot: Practical Productivity for School Leaders." They dive into actionable strategies for school leaders to reclaim their time—starting with time audits, the art of elimination, and the power of delegation. Rich shares how empowering students with real leadership roles, like running morning announcements, not only automates tasks but also builds community. The conversation explores the evolving role of AI in education, the importance of maintaining energy and boundaries as a principal, and why sometimes closing your door is the key to effective leadership. Whether you’re looking to do more with less or simply do less, this episode is packed with practical advice for every school leader.

• Find a way to run the school before the school runs you
• Finding a way to do more with less
• School leaders struggle with elimination
• We’ve always been doing this
• Do a time inventory
• Ideal week
• Automation can happen by delegation (automating through other people)
• 5th grade morning announcements
• Students writing resumes, volunteering for roles, and more
• What AI can actually do for us
• Taking care of the minutiae
• Human in the loop has gone from human fixing AI mistakes to human leading AI work
• Energy and burnout
• Open Door Policy often leads to people dumping problems on you
• Get his Book: Autopilot: Practical Productivity for School Leaders
• How to be a transformative principal? See what you can eliminate this week!

About Rich Czyz

Rich Czyz is the Principal at Yardville Elementary School and author of four books, his latest is Autopilot: Practical Productivity for School Leaders. He also runs the web site Four O’Clock Faculty.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled 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.

In this episode, Jethro Jones and Danny Bauer continue their "Reject the Premise" series, challenging common assumptions in education. They discuss the importance of schools partnering with parents, emphasizing that parents are the primary educators and schools should serve as supportive partners. The conversation also rejects the idea that test scores are the sole measure of success, advocating instead for focusing on meaningful inputs and student well-being. Finally, they encourage school leaders to break free from the status quo, embrace innovation, and model positive change, highlighting the value of creativity and adaptability in education.

Links:
Transformative Principal Episode 490 with Susie Wise
Multiple Choice is more than a film- it's a movement

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled 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.

Jethro Jones interviews Ben Downey, founder of Big Nest, about the vital role and challenges of parent teacher groups (PTAs/PTGs) in schools. They discuss how these groups are essential for building strong school communities but often face issues with organization, communication, and fundraising. Ben explains how his experience managing a local parent group inspired him to create Big Nest—a platform designed to simplify and modernize the management and fundraising efforts of parent teacher groups. The conversation highlights the unique needs of school-based nonprofits, the importance of preserving institutional knowledge, and how Big Nest streamlines processes like donations, record-keeping, and event organization to make parent involvement easier and more effective.

• How Big Nest got started.
• Parent teacher groups are chaotic by nature
• Fundraising can and should be easier.
• Podcast about Software
• Community to get people together
• School and parent groups are intertwined
• Need to have systems and methods to keep track of things

About Ben Downey

Ben Downey is the founder of Big Nest, a platform that helps parent-teacher groups build stronger, more connected school communities. He’s been working with PTGs for the past six years, helping them modernize how they communicate, fundraise, and organize.

Beyond the platform, Ben helps open lines of communication between parent groups so they can share best practices and avoid reinventing the wheel every year.

Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Ben started his career in Chicago before settling in Spokane, Washington, where he lives with his wife and three kids.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled 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.

Host Jethro Jones talks with Mike Caldwell, founder of LinkedLeaders, about building a platform that connects school leaders with mentors and peers for real-time support. They discuss the challenges of school leadership, the value of personalized coaching, and how technology and community can help educators grow.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled 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.

Welcome to Transformative Principal! In this thought-provoking solo episode, host Jethro Jones explores how artificial intelligence has revealed the weaknesses in our current education system—and why it’s time to refocus on real learning.

Episode Highlights:

• Jethro shares candid reflections from his AI Leader Office Hours, challenging the status quo in education.
• He explains how schools have been designed for adult convenience, making them easy targets for AI automation, and why this approach fails students.
• The episode critiques formulaic assignments, standardized tests, and grading systems that prioritize efficiency over genuine learning.
• Jethro advocates for a shift toward student-centered learning, emphasizing the importance of real audiences, authentic work, and developing “organic skills” like critical thinking, collaboration, and relationship-building.
• He shares personal stories from his teaching career, illustrating the power of giving students agency and meaningful projects.
• The discussion covers the limitations of AI—what it can and can’t do—and why human skills and empathy remain irreplaceable.
• Jethro calls for educators to rethink assignments, assessments, and the very purpose of school, urging a move away from compliance and toward relevance and flourishing for every student.

Key Takeaways:

• Schools must prioritize learning and personal growth over convenience and test scores.
• Assignments should have real audiences and authentic purposes, not just serve as boxes to check.
• AI can handle repetitive, formulaic tasks, but human connection, empathy, and creativity are essential for true education.
• Educators should focus on helping students become flourishing human beings, not just good test-takers.

LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.com

We’re thrilled 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.