308. Finding Fulfillment in Leadership: Featuring Walter McKenzie

In this engaging episode of Aspire to Lead, we sit down with Walter McKenzie, author, ASCD leader, and co-creator of The Worthy Educator, to explore the complexities of leadership in education. Walter shares his thoughts on the temptation to say "yes" to roles because of titles, money, or pride, and the importance of staying where you are if you’re happy and mentally healthy. We also dive into the significance of staying connected with other educational leaders and how isolating the climb up the district ladder can be. If you're navigating your own leadership journey or contemplating your next steps, this conversation offers invaluable insights for balancing ambition with personal well-being and meaningful connections. About Walter McKenzie: Walter McKenzie is the co-founder of The Worthy Educator, a thriving community of leaders in education supporting each other to have impact and build lasting legacies in their work. Since retiring from ASCD, he served 25 years in Massachusetts and Virginia public schools: 14 years as a classroom teacher and 11 years as a district director and assistant superintendent. He also served as a senior training specialist for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington, D.C., and its field offices around the nation. In addition to his work in public schools in public education, Walter is an internationally known presenter and author. He has been instrumental in launching and leading online professional development programs and postgraduate professional education courses, and he has actively facilitated online educator communities and web-based interdisciplinary instructional projects over the past 30 years. Walter lives in suburban Washington, DC with his wife and two children. Learn more at waltermckenzie.com.   Follow Walter McKenzie: Website: www.waltermckenzie.com  Twitter (X): https://x.com/WalterinDC  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008265858213  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmckenzie    Worthy Educator Community: https://www.theworthyeducator.com   – Magic Mind If you are a long time listener, an ASPIRE Leader, You know I only work with brands that I believe in myself and I integrate in my everyday life, so I’m super happy to talk to you guys about Magic Mind! I started drinking Magic Mind a while back as I was looking for several things, specifically in the afternoon. A boost of energy Healthy Ingredients Easy to drink throughout the day   Magic Mind Subscriptions Experience the power of productivity with Magic Mind subscriptions! Packed with natural ingredients like matcha, adaptogens, and nootropics, Magic Mind is designed to boost your focus, energy, and creativity. With a convenient subscription, you’ll never run out of this magical elixir. Say goodbye to afternoon slumps and hello to sustained, healthy energy. Subscribe today and discover why so many people love starting their day with Magic Mind! https://magicmind.com/ASPIRETOLEAD40 – 40% off for one-time purchases and subscriptions Use the code ASPIRETOLEAD40 at checkout for 40% off! —- Tools To Decode + Defuse Conflict Webinar If you missed our “School Behavior Solutions” virtual summit last Monday, Charle Peck and I highlighted some new strategies from our upcoming book “The Language of Behavior” due out in a few months. We know educators + leaders need support NOW, so we created a 90 MIN webinar to dive deeply into solutions with you in just a few weeks.  Date: October 23, 2024  Time: 7pm - 8:30pm ET  AND, we'd like to offer a discount to make it easier to enroll. REGISTER HERE 👉  https://www.thrivingeducator.org/webinar For Aspire to Lead Listeners use coupon code SUMMIT50 for 50% off — Need a Presenter for a conference or school PD? Contact Joshua Stamper  for presentations on Leadership Capacity, Mental Health Strategies, Alternative Behavior Practices, Leadership Development, and Innovative campus systems. [caption id="attachment_5255" align="alignnone" width="237"] Joshua Stamper Keynote Presentation, Enhancing Your Capacity with Healthy Habits[/caption] Follow the Host, Joshua Stamper: Contact: https://joshstamper.com/contact/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/Joshua__Stamper Instagram: www.instagram.com/joshua__stamper Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspirePodcast Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aspire-the-leadership-development-podcast/id1384210762?mt=2   Aspire to Lead Won the FireBird Award! I’m happy to announce that my book, “Aspire to Lead”, won the 2022 Leadership Book Award from Speak Up Talk Radio!  It is a great honor to get this kind of recognition and I really appreciate all your support! The book is available for purchase on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1953852386/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1953852386&linkCode=as2&tag=aspirewebsite-20&linkId=0d9c336e3db6ab16cbb08421ef3e4175 Review the Podcast I want to give a huge shout out to those who have taken the time to provide a review on Apple, Spotify or any other podcast platform. It truly means the world to me that you would take the 30- 90 seconds to share how the podcast has positively impacted you or why other educators should check out the show. [caption id="attachment_3022" align="alignnone" width="300"] Teach Better Podcast Network, Aspire: The Leadership Development Podcast[/caption] This post contains affiliate links. 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