In this episode, I chat with two phenomenal leaders: Meg Kenny, Associate Head of School, and Jen Hyatt, Academic Dean, from a unique town academy in Vermont. We hear about their journeys to senior administration, daily challenges, and the fine balance between accountability and human connection. Listen for a real conversation about how to build thriving school cultures.
Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
We discuss
Cultivating a culture of belonging, care, and trust
Gender dynamics in schools
The power of giving honest negative feedback
The roles of courage, presence, and love in administration
For my non-teachers out there, you can hear two good humans talk about having difficult conversations in effective, honest, caring ways.
I know there is a lot of conflict-avoidance out there! Holding anyone accountable, holding the line, can be scary because we fear the consequences. People will consider us rude or bossy or controlling or mean. We won’t be liked. If you’ve had a negative experience with holding someone at your school (or any other place) accountable, leave us a message about it. 413.239.4158. Or share a positive experience you’ve had. We can play it on the air and maybe add a comment or two that might be helpful.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or rating wherever you listen. It really helps.
External links
Join me on Substack: Teaching Through Emotions.
Credits
Founder and Host: Betsy Burris
Producer: Jullian Androkae
Audience Development: Andreea Coscai
Music: Tom Burris/Jabbering Trout
