PODCAST · society
This American Principal
by Joan Schumann
Welcome to Season 1 of This American Principal—a podcast dedicated to the real, unfiltered stories of school leadership in America.From small towns to big cities, elementary to secondary, this season brings you voices of current and former principals at every stage of their careers. Together, we explore themes of trust, community perception, resilience, and the heavy weight principals carry as they navigate one of the hardest and most important jobs in America today.
Episodes
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Episode 6 | Boundaries, Burnout & Balance
What does it take to lead well and stay well? Dr. Chelsea Malouf—Director of Language Arts & Alternative Language Services for Salt Lake City School District and former principal—joins This American Principal to talk candidly about burnout, boundaries, and rebuilding balance. We unpack the...
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Episode 5 | The Legend of Mr. Hirt
Mr. Steve Hirt was more than an educator—he was the heart of North Monterey County High School (NMCHS) in Castroville, CA. In this episode of This American Principal, Joan Schumann (your host and former NMCHS ASB President) revisits the traditions, mentorship, and quiet courage that made Mr. Hirt…
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Episode 4 | The Loneliness of Leadership
In this week’s episode of This American Principal, Joan sits down with Tracy Vandeventer — the mentor who first nudged her toward leadership. With 35 years of experience, Tracy has led schools across every level — elementary, middle, and high school — in both challenging and thriving contexts....
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Episode 3 | Leadership Made Simple—It’s for the Kids
Alex went from sleeping on his laptop as a first-year admin to leading a small California district with clarity and heart. In this episode, he shares simple moves that work: Align curriculum, run daily check-ins to catch kids in crisis, keep discipline both restorative and consequential, and pace...
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Episode 2 | Every Conversation Counts
When a new principal inherits a high-performing school with silent staff meetings and veteran teachers ready to test her, how does she lead? In this episode, Mele Benz shares how authenticity, courage, and tough-but-compassionate conversations helped her build trust, uncover inequities, and...
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Season 1 Preview | Real Stories of School Leadership
Welcome to Season 1 of This American Principal—a podcast dedicated to the real, unfiltered stories of school leadership in America. From small towns to big cities, elementary to secondary, this season brings you voices of current and former principals at every stage of their careers. Together, we...
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Episode 1 | Building Trust in a Struggling School
Stepping into school leadership is never easy—but what happens when you inherit a building in crisis, a community weighed down by poverty and opioids, and a culture defined by mistrust? In this first episode, Dr. Keith Collins shares his journey from reluctant administrator to principal of a...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to Season 1 of This American Principal—a podcast dedicated to the real, unfiltered stories of school leadership in America.From small towns to big cities, elementary to secondary, this season brings you voices of current and former principals at every stage of their careers. Together, we explore themes of trust, community perception, resilience, and the heavy weight principals carry as they navigate one of the hardest and most important jobs in America today.
HOSTED BY
Joan Schumann
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does This American Principal have?
This American Principal currently has 7 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is This American Principal about?
Welcome to Season 1 of This American Principal—a podcast dedicated to the real, unfiltered stories of school leadership in America.From small towns to big cities, elementary to secondary, this season brings you voices of current and former principals at every stage of their careers. Together, we...
How often does This American Principal release new episodes?
This American Principal has 7 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to This American Principal?
You can listen to This American Principal on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts This American Principal?
This American Principal is created and hosted by Joan Schumann.
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