#70 - Dr. Jessica Cabeen - Leading Without Losing Yourself

Dr. Jessica Cabeen is the Principal of Alternative Programs for Austin Public Schools in Austin, Minnesota. She is also an author, speaker, and leadership coach who helps educators lead with clarity, purpose, and sustainability. Jessica is passionate about building school systems where students feel seen, staff feel supported, and leaders can do meaningful work without losing themselves in the process. Jessica shares one of her proudest experiences as a principal has been seeing former students years after they graduated or moved on from middle school and getting to know who they are becoming as adults. In the day-to-day pace of school leadership, it can be easy to focus on schedules, systems, behavior, achievement, and all the immediate needs in front of us. But some of the most meaningful reminders of why this work matters come years later, when a former student stops by, sends a message, or crosses your path in the community. Those moments remind Jessica that school leadership is not just about one school year, one program, or one moment in time. It is about planting seeds. It is about creating spaces where students feel seen, known, and supported, even if we do not always get to see the impact right away. Jessica is proudest when she gets to witness former students stepping into adulthood, finding their voice, building a life, and sometimes remembering that school was one of the places where someone believed in them. That is the work that stays with me. The Drip Effect: Breaking Free from Hustle Culture Email - [email protected] Instagram - @JessicaCabeen X- @JessicaCabeen Website - https://jessicacabeen.com/