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Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. …
Are you feeling over…
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership.Anders Indset—known as "The Business Philosopher"—is a Norwegian-born writer and deep-tech investor. He is a four-time Spiegel best-selling author and has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of t…
Darrin Peppard
January 19, 2025 
Leadership is rarely as straightforward as we imagine it to be. Among the countless decisions we make, some weigh far heavier than others. These are the decisions that define not only our leadership b…
Leadership is rarely…
Leadership is rarely as straightforward as we imagine it to be. Among the countless decisions we make, some weigh far heavier than others. These are the decisions that define not only our leadership but also the culture and direction of our schools. One such moment in my own journey continues to resonate with me. I remember a time when I had to make the difficult decision to remove someone from their position. This individual’s work had become self-serving, and, more alarmingly, their choices were putting students in harm’s way. Toward the end of the brief conversation when I informed him …
Darrin Peppard
January 18, 2025 In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, we’re exploring the powerful metaphor of the lighthouse and how it relates to effective school leadership. Inspired by a visit to Martha’s…
In this episode of t…
In this episode of the Leaning Into Leadership podcast, we’re exploring the powerful metaphor of the lighthouse and how it relates to effective school leadership. Inspired by a visit to Martha’s Vineyard, host Darrin Peppard reflects on the enduring purpose of lighthouses and the lessons they offer for guiding schools and teams in 2025. Discover five lighthouse-inspired principles—from guiding through challenges to creating a culture of hope and safety—and learn actionable strategies to shine brightly as a leader this year. Whether you’re navigating staff Burnout, shifting prioriti…
Darrin Peppard
January 12, 2025 
My wife and I opened 2025 with a long-overdue getaway vacation. We spent four days on Martha’s Vineyard trying out different restaurants, walking on the frigid wintry beaches, watching the sunrise a…
My wife and I opened…
My wife and I opened 2025 with a long-overdue getaway vacation. We spent four days on Martha’s Vineyard trying out different restaurants, walking on the frigid wintry beaches, watching the sunrise and sunset at the coastline, and seeing the sights the island had to offer. Among the things that really stood out to me, a guy from the Rocky Mountains, was the powerful presence of the five Martha’s Vineyard lighthouses. These steadfast beacons have long guided sailors through dangerous waters, standing tall against storms and darkness. But it’s more than just that, these lighthouses serve as…
Darrin Peppard
January 10, 2025 In this insightful episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper to discuss their upcoming book, The Language of Behavior, and the accompanyin…
In this insightful e…
In this insightful episode of Leaning Into Leadership, Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Charlie Peck and Joshua Stamper to discuss their upcoming book, The Language of Behavior, and the accompanying podcast. Together, they explore strategies to decode student behaviors, build positive Relationships, and implement proactive systems that empower educators and students alike. From creating the "Relationship Action Team" to implementing the push-in model, this conversation is packed with practical tools and actionable strategies for leaders at every level.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The…
Darrin Peppard
January 5, 2025 
I started blogging over a decade ago, not really sure where the journey would take me. Early posts were more reflection than they were meant for others to consume. Over the years, the blog has grown a…
I started blogging o…
I started blogging over a decade ago, not really sure where the journey would take me. Early posts were more reflection than they were meant for others to consume. Over the years, the blog has grown and the focus has sharpened. My goal now, if you haven’t yet deciphered it, is to pour into other leaders, to share insights, tips, and knowledge I gained during my career, and to be someone other leaders can reach out to for support and guidance. As 2024 comes to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on the conversations and ideas that resonated with school leaders throughout the year. This pa…
Darrin Peppard
January 3, 2025 Episode Summary: In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares a pivotal story from his leadership journey that became a wake-up call about the importance of self-care. Reflecting o…
Episode Summary: In…
Episode Summary: In this deeply personal solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares a pivotal story from his leadership journey that became a wake-up call about the importance of self-care. Reflecting on an experience during his second year as a principal—missing his best friend's wedding due to burnout and exhaustion—Dr. Peppard delves into the lessons he learned about prioritizing health and well-being as a leader. He provides practical strategies for leaders to avoid burnout, set boundaries, and invest in themselves, so they can lead with clarity, focus, and purpose.Whether you’re a sch…
Darrin Peppard
December 29, 2024 
As a new principal, I had an abundance of energy, ambition, and the firm belief that I could handle anything. Like many leaders, I was driven by a desire to make a difference, to support my staff and …
As a new principal, …
As a new principal, I had an abundance of energy, ambition, and the firm belief that I could handle anything. Like many leaders, I was driven by a desire to make a difference, to support my staff and students, and to be the superhero my school needed. But what I didn’t realize was that in trying to be everything for everyone, I was running myself into the ground. By the middle of my second year as principal, I was burned out. I wasn’t just tired; I was exhausted in every sense of the word. My days were filled with back-to-back meetings, responding to crises, and trying to juggle all the de…
Darrin Peppard
December 26, 2024 Are you ready to lead with clarity and purpose in 2025? Join me on Monday, December 30, at 3 PM ET for a FREE webinar: Take Control of Your Leadership: Clear Priorities, Real Results. In just one …
Are you ready to lea…
Are you ready to lead with clarity and purpose in 2025? Join me on Monday, December 30, at 3 PM ET for a FREE webinar: Take Control of Your Leadership: Clear Priorities, Real Results. In just one hour, you’ll learn actionable strategies to define your priorities, recognize and reinforce values, and reclaim your time for the work that truly matters.Save your spot today at www.theprincipalacademy.com/realresults—let’s kick off 2025 as your best leadership year yet!Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some excit…
Darrin Peppard
December 22, 2024 
The holiday break is a rare opportunity for school leaders to pause, recharge, and invest in their Growth. Leadership, like any skill, requires ongoing reflection and renewal to stay sharp. Drawing fr…
The holiday break is…
The holiday break is a rare opportunity for school leaders to pause, recharge, and invest in their growth. Leadership, like any skill, requires ongoing reflection and renewal to stay sharp. Drawing from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, sharpening the saw means prioritizing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being to lead with clarity and focus. This post outlines five impactful ways to make the most of your holiday break. Each will help you grow as a leader and start 2025 strong, with the final tip being an invitation to a transformative webinar designed for …
Darrin Peppard
December 20, 2024 Episode 182 is a special episode, in which Todd Bloomer, Dominic Armano, and your regular host, Darrin Peppard, dedicate an entire episode to new principal Candace Pearson. We are excited for Candace …
Episode 182 is a spe…
Episode 182 is a special episode, in which Todd Bloomer, Dominic Armano, and your regular host, Darrin Peppard, dedicate an entire episode to new principal Candace Pearson. We are excited for Candace to take on her first principalship, and so we decided to share our insights, experience, and expertise to help set her, and anyone else new to the role, up for success.Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. This course is designed to help …
Darrin Peppard
December 18, 2024 Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. …
Are you feeling over…
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership.Link to Darrin's blogpost (mentioned in the PepTalk)And now...about our guest on this week's episode:Kurtis Hewson is an award-winning former administrator and teacher, as well as teaching faculty at …
Darrin Peppard
December 15, 2024 
I read recently the post of another leadership coach sharing her experience working with a coach. I believe so strongly in the value of having a coach that I currently work with two of them (one as an…
I read recently the …
I read recently the post of another leadership coach sharing her experience working with a coach. I believe so strongly in the value of having a coach that I currently work with two of them (one as an entrepreneur, one as a keynote speaker). Coaching is game changing so I felt it was important for me to also share my coaching experience and how it transformed me from a a reactive mess to a transformational leader. My Story When I first stepped into the role of principal, I was floundering. My days were a blur of reactive decision-making, moving from crisis to crisis with little sense of direct…
Darrin Peppard
December 12, 2024 Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. …
Are you feeling over…
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership.And now...about our guest on this week's episode:Greg Speranza is a leadership coach , school quality expert and an organizational development specialist who supports school and district leaders—and…
Darrin Peppard
December 8, 2024 
As a high school principal, I often started my day with the best of intentions—to be in classrooms, connect with students, and focus on the work that mattered most. But before I knew it, my day woul…
As a high school pri…
As a high school principal, I often started my day with the best of intentions—to be in classrooms, connect with students, and focus on the work that mattered most. But before I knew it, my day would get hijacked. A staff member would drop by my office with an “urgent” issue. An email thread would spiral out of control, demanding immediate attention. A student discipline crisis would erupt, pulling me away from my priorities. By the end of the day, I’d find myself frustrated and wondering how so much time had slipped away without accomplishing the high-leverage work I’d planned. I fe…
Darrin Peppard
December 6, 2024 Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. …
Are you feeling over…
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership.And now...about our guest on this week's episode:Dre Baldwin is CEO and Founder of Work On Your Game Inc. He has given 4 TEDxTalks and has authored 35 books. Dre’s content has been consumed over 10…
Darrin Peppard
December 1, 2024 
As a high school principal, my days often began with ambitious plans: visiting classrooms, engaging with teachers, and pushing forward the big-picture goals for our school. But all too often, conflict…
As a high school pri…
As a high school principal, my days often began with ambitious plans: visiting classrooms, engaging with teachers, and pushing forward the big-picture goals for our school. But all too often, conflicts derailed those intentions. Whether it was mediating a disagreement between staff members, addressing a parent’s concerns, or resolving a student issue, I found myself stepping into the role of mediator far more than I anticipated. At the time, I believed that personally handling every conflict was a mark of strong leadership. But I quickly realized that this approach not only drained my time a…
Darrin Peppard
November 27, 2024 Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. …
Are you feeling over…
Are you feeling overwhelmed and struggling to prioritize your time as a school leader? In this episode, I share some exciting news about my upcoming digital course, Take Control of Your Leadership:. This course is designed to help you overcome overwhelm, focus on what truly matters, and lead with clarity, and it's LIVE - go to theprincipalacademy.com and check out Take Control of Your Leadership.And now...about this week's special mid-week episode: I am sitting down with Todd Bloomer, one of my two regular mid-week guests to talk school leadership, the holidays, and more! Don't miss this awes…
Darrin Peppard
November 27, 2024 
