On this episode of The School Leaders Project, host Cindy Blackburn sits down with legendary educator, author, and speaker Principal Baruti Kafele to unpack one of the most important and uncomfortable questions in school leadership:

What is my value instructionally to the teachers I supervise?

In this conversation, Principal Kafele challenges school leaders to move beyond management and discipline and step fully into their role as instructional leaders. Drawing on decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and coach, he shares practical insights on supporting teacher growth, building strong school culture, and rethinking the role of assistant principals as instructional partners rather than disciplinarians.

You’ll hear:

• What instructional leadership actually looks like in practice
• Why school culture matters more than discipline systems
• How principals and assistant principals can truly support teachers
• The difference between leadership and management in schools
• Why vulnerability, visibility, and conversation are core leadership skills
  
  
  

Whether you are a principal, assistant principal, instructional coach, or aspiring school leader, this episode offers a powerful reframe for how leadership can directly improve teaching and learning.