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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>
Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders
Part 1/ The Road to Awesome: Educational Consultancy with Dr. Darrin Peppard *89
Today, Dr. Mel sits down with Dr. Darrin Peppard, a former educator turned leadership coach and entrepreneur. Darrin shares his journey from being a middle school teacher to a high school principal and eventually a superintendent. He highlights the challenges he faced and how leadership coaching transformed his career.
Dr. Darrin and Dr. Mel highlight the importance of mentorship, coaching, and collaboration in education and entrepreneurship. They discuss how leadership development systems, like Missouri's MLDS, provide critical support for new principals and help build lasting professional relationships.
The conversation then shifts to educator entrepreneurship. Darrin, a true educator entrepreneur, shares insights on how to grow an educational consultancy through content marketing, leveraging relationships, and providing valuable resources. Dr. Mel adds her experiences, emphasizing the role of books as powerful tools for building a coaching business.
Key Takeaways:
- Darrin’s career progression from middle school teacher to leadership coach and the impact of leadership coaching.
- The role of state leadership development systems in supporting new principals.
- Strategies for finding clients and growing an educational consultancy.
- The importance of content marketing and sharing knowledge to build a consultancy business.
- How books can serve as powerful business cards and tools for expanding reach and influence.
Connect with Darrin Peppard:
- Website: Road to Awesome
- Twitter: @DarrinPeppard
- LinkedIn: Darrin Peppard
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Calling All Educators!
I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.
- I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
- I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.
Join here: Empowered Educator Community
Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success
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email: melinda@empowere...
