The Empowered Educator Show | Building Systems That Create Success for School Principals

What Do Great Principals Actually Do Daily? Redefining “Instructional Leadership" #199

Dr. Mel Vandevort - Educational Leadership, Educational Consultancy, Teacher Transition Coach, Educational Administration, Educational Entrepreneurship Episode 199

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0:00 | 15:32

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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 learn how to be visible in classrooms, model great teaching, give real-time feedback, and protect time for the work that matters most: growing instruction and people.

Whether you’re a new administrator or a seasoned principal trying to refocus your leadership, this episode gives you five practical ways to show up as an instructional leader without adding another plate to spin.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

  • Why instructional leadership is about visibility, not perfection
  • How to model best practices in every meeting and PD
  • The importance of having one shared instructional language
  • A simple way to give real-time, growth-focused feedback
  • How to protect your calendar to prioritize instructional work

Resources Mentioned:

  • Get Better Faster by Paul Bambrick-Santoyo
  • Teach Like a Champion 3.0 by Doug Lemov


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