Episode Details

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

We are sharing our weekly episode early this week to avoid intruding on your holidays. In this episode, Will and Jen both share some favorite Christmas memories. Listen to the end, however, for some heartfelt aspirations and hopes for the New Year. We would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts or photos from the season with us by emailing: Jen@jenschwanke.com or

Will@williamdparker.com. Or you can text me (Will) with quick thoughts and Christmas photos at 1-918-698-3770.

Thank you, Guests and Listeners!

This year on Principal Matters, we had the privilege of hosting an incredible lineup of educational leaders and experts who shared insights vital to today’s schools. We began with Mark Geraets, who taught us to ride the waves of new ideas, and enjoyed discussions on leadership dynamics with Jen Schwanke, my regular co-host this year. We dove deep into conflict management, building student connections, accountability, and decision-making—Jen even released a new book on conflict management!

We were honored to have Flip Flippen, who shared his work on Capturing Kids’ Hearts, and Melissa Barlow, an Oklahoma Principal of the Year, who emphasized the importance of connecting every student to caring adults. As the year progressed, we discussed transformative leadership paths with Naheed Bardai and expanded perspectives on principal mindfulness with Dr. Rob Russell and Dr. Dustin Miller.

Turnaround leader Dr. Tameka Hyland brought insights into understanding middle schoolers and school development. Later, we embraced “messy” leadership approaches with Alyssa Gallagher, focused on boundary-setting, and celebrated ten years of Principal Matters.

The year was filled with powerful lessons on inclusivity from Tim Villegas, capacity building with Anne-Marie Maw, and effective feedback techniques with Molly Dexter and her team. Leaders like Bobby Dodd and Dr. Todd Dain shared innovative approaches, and we closed out the fall with lessons on energy and passion, featuring Dr. Jim Van Allan discussing The Energy Bus and David Yeager on mentoring.

We wrapped up with final episodes featuring Danielle Nuhfer, Garth Larson, Kenny Rodriguez, and George Couros. It’s been a year of unforgettable learning. I’m grateful for each guest’s contribution, as we continue to learn and grow together as school leaders.

Scroll to the end of this post to see a complete list of shows from the 2024 archives!

What Did Will’s Engagement Look Like in 2024?

A typical month of professional development for me (Will) is a mix of in-person events, virtual masterminds, and coaching sessions that keep me engaged with school leaders from all over. It starts with in-person sessions, like