Episode Details

A Quick Note to Listeners:

—- The Question of the Week is supported by Summer Pops Math Workbooks.Principals, when students practice math over the summer, math scores go up. What’s your summer math plan this year? A great way to start is by ordering FREE summer workbook samples at Summer Pops Workbooks.com. —-

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.

The question is: How did your leadership style evolve over the course of your principalship, and how did it impact the way you managed human capital? (Question from Emily Jeans, Teacher, Student in Education Master’s program at the Ohio State University)

Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!

Meet Donna Hayward: 

Donna Hayward began her professional career as a high school mathematics teacher after earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Smith College.  Inspired by her own high school principal, Donna completed her Sixth Year through UCONN and served as Assistant Principal/ Principal of Rocky Hill High School for a decade. During this time, she markedly increased Advanced Placement opportunities and standardized test scores and reduced discipline, leading to her presentation of effective strategies at the State’s annual data conference and the NASSP’s national conference.  

She was honored as the Connecticut Assistant Principal of the Year in 2006.  Donna then served as Principal of Suffield High School for six years, during which time she opened a new Agriscience center and led her school to exceed prior academic performance in all areas.  She now serves as Principal of Haddam Killingworth High School which earned the National Blue Ribbon in her fourth year. Donna was named the CT Principal of the Year in 2022 and is the NASSP’s National Principal of the Year for 2023. From this platform, she has advocated for educators in Washington, DC and across the country to elevate educators and public education, secure more mental health support for young people, protect teachers and administrators from defamation on social media, and support women in leadership. She is a keynote speaker and frequent presenter on topics ranging from how to incorporate storytelling in advocacy, developing and leading with student voice, leveraging leadership with all stakeholders, digital safety for educators, and empowering women in the educational workplace.

From Jen Schwanke: 

This podcast features an interview with Donna Hayward, the 2023 NASSP National Principal of the Year. Hayward’s career path, from high school math teacher to nationally recognized principal, highlights a journey of hard work, challenges, achievements and advocacy work. In this episode, she tackles some critical issues faced by educators today, such as increasing workloads, staff shortages, and the politicization of education. She also offers a few tips for self-care, finding joy in the profession, an