081: From Compliance to Curiosity: Curriculum Leadership with Michael Fisher and Dr. Steven Weber

Want a curriculum that students can’t wait to engage with? We sit down with authors Michael Fisher and Dr. Steven Weber to unpack a fresh, visual playbook for curriculum leadership that swaps compliance for curiosity and puts student agency, trust, and transfer at the center. Instead of dense theory, they created an illustrated, desk-ready handbook that leaders can use in five minutes to make better decisions on the same day.We delve into what “contemporary” really means: understanding learners deeply, designing for the whole child, and fostering cultures where conversations matter more than binders. Michael and Steven share practical self-assessment tools that help teams identify their current state across vision, collaboration, data-informed decisions, and adaptability, then choose the next right move. We explore leadership stances, ranging from the dreaded “snoopervisor” to the motivator who earns trust, provides purposeful feedback, and fosters capacity growth. Along the way, we tackle teaching current events without the landmines, scaffolding that lifts rather than limits, and the kind of personalized learning that actually prompts transfer.If you’re a principal, coach, or teacher leader ready to move from static maps to living systems, this conversation offers clear language, actionable visuals, and guiding questions to bring your team along.EPISODE RESOURCES:Connect with Mike Fisher via his website, Instagram, and LinkedIn.Connect with Dr. Steven Weber via his website and LinkedIn.Check out their new book, Contemporary Curriculum Leadership, on the School Rubric site.