• What does it mean to lead with curiosity over expertise?
• How can we make our schools places where the adults like to come to work?
• How can school leaders build a presence that feels more supportive, less policing?

About This Guest, Dr. Danny Steele

Danny is a former award winning principal who speaks to educators around the country about the difference they make for kids. He’s also the author of several best-selling books for educators, including The Instructional Leader in You: 10 Strategies for Every School Leader, Essential Truths for Principals, and The Total Teacher: Understanding the Three Dimensions that Define Effective Educators.

Connect with Danny

• on LinkedIn, 
• on X @SteeleThoughts,
• on Instagram @SteeleThoughts, and
• on his blog at https://www.steelethoughts.com/

In This Conversation

• 1:50 – Passion drift for school leaders
• 4:09 – Leading with curiosity over expertise
• 6:48 – Creating cultural conditions to overcome stagnancy
• 7:53 – Staff come first, students second
• 8:57 – Admitting vulnerability as a building leader
• 10:31 – Observing the student experience instead of teacher performance
• 12:09 – When an expert teacher struggles to integrate into the community
• 13:15 – Being a supportive resource instead of a policing presence
• 15:11 – Shouting out teachers for their great work
• 16:49 – Building fun and meaningful traditions in your school
• 19:14 – Danny raps about the power of good choices
• 21:06 – Danny Steele’s six education books
• 22:19 – Danny Steele’s speaking services and other resources on his website

Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse – retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library at https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/.