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Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders
Are you a passionate educator stepping into leadership—or thinking about making that leap?</p>
<p>Maybe you just accepted your first admin role and feel the weight of leading well.</p>
<p>Or you’re a classroom teacher who feels the calling to lead with purpose and impact.</p>
<p><strong>The Empowered Educator Show</strong> is your space to grow as a leader without losing who you are.</p>
<p>I’m Dr. Mel—former administrator turned leadership and instructional coach, educational consultant, and now your guide to navigating the real work of school leadership. With over 25 years in education, I help new and aspiring leaders shift their mindset, strengthen their strategies, and build Confident Classrooms—where teachers feel supported, students are engaged, and learning thrives.</p>
<p>Each episode I bring you real talk, practical tools, and heart-centered leadership support designed to help you:</p>
<p>Create a school culture rooted in confidence, clarity, and trust</p>
<p>Develop teachers who feel empowered, not overwhelmed</p>
<p>Lead with boldness, even when the road gets bumpy</p>
<p>It’s about becoming the kind of leader who creates ripple effects across classrooms, campuses, and communities.</p>
<p>Let’s power up your purpose and put your leadership in motion.</p>
Episodes
204 episodes
🎙Engagement in Action — Episode 1: How to Build a Strong Foundation #201
n this kickoff episode of Engagement in Action, Dr. Mel lays the groundwork for how school leaders can coach teachers toward authentic student engagement and effective classroom management. Using the frameworks from Get Better Fast...
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Episode 201
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9:33
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Leading with PURPOSE🔥The Power of Showing Up Consistently #200
Dr. Mel celebrates 200 episodes of The Empowered Educator Show—a milestone that mirrors the journey of building-level leadership. From starting small to staying consistent, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that the greatest results...
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Episode 200
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8:14
What Do Great Principals Actually Do Daily? Redefining “Instructional Leadership" #199
Every school says they want strong instructional leaders—but what does that really look like day to day? In this episode, Dr. Mel breaks down what instructional leadership actually means beyond walkthroughs and data meetings. You’ll le...
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Episode 199
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14:45
Power Surge⚡You Said It… But Did They Hear It? — The Illusion of Communication in Leadership
In this Power Surge, Dr. Mel breaks down one of the biggest traps leaders fall into — thinking communication has happened just because words were spoken. Inspired by George Bernard Shaw’s famous quote, this episode challenges school leade...
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Episode 198
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4:20
Systematize: Calming Chaos with Purpose, People, and Process #197
If your days feel like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole—emails, meetings, fires, and a to-do list that multiplies overnight—this episode is your deep breath.Dr. Mel breaks down how leaders can systematize the chaos without losi...
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Episode 197
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21:59
Power Surge⚡The Power of a New Perspective Seeing the Whole Picture #196
In this Power Surge, Dr. Mel unpacks what happens when things look “fine” on the surface but really aren’t. Drawing inspiration from the Thatcher Effect illusion, she challenges leaders to flip their perspective and see what’s truly happening i...
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Episode 196
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4:48
The 3 Conversations Every Leader Should Have Every Week #195
In this episode, Dr. Mel unpacks the three essential conversations every leader should be having weekly — with teachers, leadership teams, and themselves. Learn how to build connection, alignment, and reflection into your leadership rhythm....
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Episode 195
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10:43
Power Surge⚡Get There When You Get There – Leadership Without the Rush #194
In this Power Surge, Dr. Mel reminds you that leadership isn’t a race — it’s a rhythm. “Get there when you get there” isn’t about slowing down; it’s about trusting the pace of your purpose. When you lead with patience, presence, and persistence...
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Episode 194
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5:02
Why Great Leaders Embrace Conflict: Building Stronger School Leadership Teams #193
Conflict doesn’t have to divide your leadership team — in fact, when handled well, it can be the very thing that strengthens your culture, deepens trust, and drives innovation. In this episode, Dr. Mel unpacks why healthy conflict is essential ...
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Episode 193
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11:24
Power Surge⚡Roots and Wings — Balancing Stability and Growth in School Leadership #192
Great leaders provide both stability and opportunity. In this Power Surge, we explore what it means to give your staff and students roots—a strong foundation of clarity, consistency, and belonging—while also giving them wings—...
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Episode 192
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4:28
Unlocking Hidden Leadership to Boost Student Achievement by Putting Teachers in the Right Roles #191
In this episode of The Empowered Educator Show, Dr. Mel explores the leadership strategy of aligning teachers with the right roles—both in their classrooms and in leadership opportunities across the school. When educators are empowered...
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Episode 191
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16:06
Power Surge⚡Why Great Leaders Understand the Power of “Not Yet” #190
Not every leader has all the answers on day one—and that’s not a weakness, it’s wisdom. In this Power Surge episode, we’ll unpack the power of saying “not yet” as you head into the school year. From building trust to making tough decis...
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Episode 190
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5:45
From Idea to Classroom: Inside the Curriculum Development and Selection Process with Alexia Jacoby of Amplify #189
In this episode of The Empowered Educator Show, Dr. Mel sits down with Alexia Jacoby, Chief Product Officer at Amplify, to break down what new and aspiring administrators need to know about curriculum selection and implementatio...
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Episode 189
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29:18
Power Surge⚡ Decisions in the Hallway: How Everyday Moments Shape School Leadership and Culture #188
Not every leadership decision happens in the boardroom. In this episode of The Empowered Educator Show, Dr. Mel unpacks how the smallest, everyday interactions—like greeting a staff member in the hallway or redirecting a student—often ...
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Episode 188
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5:01
Feedback Is a Gift — Coaching for Growth at Every Level #187
Feedback can feel uncomfortable, even discouraging—but the truth is, it’s one of the greatest tools for leadership growth. In this episode, Dr. Mel shares from her perspective as a superintendent, coaching principals to reframe feedback as a gi...
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Episode 187
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9:06
Power Surge⚡Grace Under Pressure — Leading Calm Through the Chaos #186
The first weeks of school bring excitement—but also stress, surprises, and a million moving parts. As a leader, your response in those moments sets the tone for everyone around you. In this episode, we’ll explore how to lead with calm, clarity,...
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Episode 186
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3:31
Data with Direction: Turning Benchmarks into Better Instruction #185
In this episode of The Empowered Educator Show, Dr. Mel breaks down how school leaders can use beginning-of-year benchmark assessments as more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by data, you’ll learn how...
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Episode 185
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12:09
Becoming Fearless in Leadership with Dr. Benjamin Ritter #183
In this episode of The Empowered Educator Show, Dr. Mel sits down with Dr. Benjamin Ritter—author of Becoming Fearless—to dive deep into what it means to lead with empathy, build trust, and move from self-doubt to self-mastery...
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30:12
Power Surge⚡Visible Leadership: Why They Need to See You Before They Follow You #182
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Episode 182
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4:36
Power Surge⚡Listen First, Lead Second - Building Trust Before Making Big Changes #181
As a new leader, the temptation is to prove yourself quickly by fixing problems. But lasting leadership isn’t about rushing to solutions—it’s about listening first. Listening builds trust, respect, and credibility. By pausing to understan...
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Episode 181
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4:02
Create, Connect, Contribute: Leading with Authenticity with Robin Nathaniel #180
In this episode, Dr. Mel sits down with TEDx speaker, author, and Telly Award Gold Winner Robin Nathaniel for a real conversation about leadership that starts—and stays—with authenticity. From his days as a musician to his pivot into nonprofit ...
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Episode 180
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31:39
Power Surge⚡How to Set the Tone From Day One #179
The moment you step into your school as a new leader, the clock starts ticking. Those first 90 feet—from the front door to your office—can quietly shape how you’re perceived for months to come. This episode is all about making those first impre...
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Episode 179
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4:33
Small School, Big Impact: Launching Micro Schools with David Richards *178
In this powerful episode of The Empowered Educator, Dr. Mel chats with David Richards—founder of ChangemakerEDU and passionate advocate for micro schools. Together, they dig into the why, what, and how of this growing movement that's r...
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Episode 178
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30:59
Power Surge⚡Own the Room: Leading with Presence, Not Just Position #177
Back-to-school season isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you show up. In this Power Surge, Dr. Mel unpacks how school leaders can deliver powerful pre-service messages and opening PD sessions by leading with presence, not just positio...
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Episode 177
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8:21