William D. Parker (Principal Matters Podcast Host)

If you are beginning to doubt the existence of truly great men or women in the world, spend the day in the classroom of a highly effective teacher.

Today to talk about A Complaint Free World. Full circle moment after seeing him 10 years ago. Powerful, practical insights on shifting from complaining to growth. Stay tuned for this upcoming episode! #PrincipalMatters #Leadership #MindsetShift

School leaders empowering their teachers to lead and grow is the key to a thriving school. Make sure that you tune in to Principal Matters Podcast this week to hear Matthew McDaniel share his tips on successful school leadership. You can watch the episode on YouTube!

This week’s special guest on Principal Matters Podcast is Dr. Matthew McDaniel! Dr. McDaniel’s passion for school leadership is evident in this episode. Listen in to hear @JenSchwanke interview him about building a culture of collaboration! m.youtube.com/watch?v=1z0avr…

It's not often that principals are able to please everyone with their decisions. Accepting that you are not going to be able to make everyone happy is the key to breaking away from the pressure of others expectations as a principal.

@JenSchwanke and I cover the complexities of navigating difficult decisions without breaking trust in this week’s Monday Matters. You can tune in to our conversation on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts! m.youtube.com/watch?v=-aT1go…

Recorded a great conversation this morning w/ my friend Dr. Trevor Timmerberg. Grateful for my ongoing partnership w/the Archdiocese of Louisville and leaders like Amy Nall and Mary Beth Bowling, who are deeply committed to leadership growth. Excited to share the episode soon!

In January, I learned from Dina Langston and Stacey James about Rigor, Routines, and Relationships. Today we recorded a future episode of Principal Matters together—stay tuned! Congrats to Dina for being named a 25–26 Principal Leadership Award recipient by Florida TaxWatch!

The use of AI checkers has become a common practice among some educators, but John Spencer cautions against relying on them. To hear more of his thoughts on the matter, tune in to the Principal Matters Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

@JenSchwanke is hosting Principal Matters Podcast this week! She is joined by Dr. John Spencer for a conversation about the nuances of AI in education and the broader challenges that educators face today. You can watch the episode via the link below: m.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCM7d…

One lesson I’ve learned from coaching leaders over the years is this: leadership can feel lonely if you try to carry it all by yourself. In this week’s Monday Matters episode, Jen Schwanke and I talk about the importance of not leading in isolation.

Jen Schwanke and I take some time to share lessons we have learned through coaching school leaders in this week's episode of Monday Matters. I am excited to share our conversation with listeners! You can listen to our entire conversation on YouTube!

Got a Question? 🎙️ Jen Schwanke and I recorded intros today for four upcoming podcast episodes—two Monday Matters segments and two Q&A conversations for the Wednesday flagship show. Have a question for the podcast? Comment below or email me: will@williamdparker.com

This week on Principal Matters Podcast, Jen Schwanke and I take some time to answer a listener question about educator burnout. Dealing with burnout is a complex topic. This is actually part two of a conversation started in last week's Q&A segment. You can listen in on YouTube!

Tune in to Principal Matter Podcast this week to listen to Jen Schwanke’s interview with Eric Nichols! Eric is the principal and head basketball coach of a rural boarding school in Eastern Oregon. You can watch the full interview on YouTube! m.youtube.com/watch?v=HEW8W2…

Moving Students Into Deeper Learning: On the podcast, Jen Schwanke and I discussed a strategy from LeAnn Nickelsen: Chunk, Chew, Check, and Change. More here: williamdparker.com/2026/monday-ma… #SchoolLeadership #DeeperLearning #InstructionalLeadership #PrincipalMattersPodcast

Jen Schwanke and I have sat through many interviews throughout our careers, both as the interviewer and the interviewee. We decided to share some of our interview tips this week on Monday Matters. You can listen the full conversation on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts!

Recorded a future episode today with Paden Morris, principal at Tyler Consolidated HS in WV. We scheduled it weeks ago, and yesterday, he was named Administrator of the Year by the WV School Counselors Association. Grateful for leaders like him (and you) for doing what matters!

For the final Friday of #BlackHistoryMonth, we’re highlighting @RachelEdohoEket and her book The Principal’s Journey. 🎧 Listen here: williamdparker.com/2026/encore-fr… #EducationalLeadership #PrincipalLife #PrincipalMatters

This clip is a part of a larger conversation Jen Schwanke and I having on Principal Matters Q&A segment this week and next on how principals can navigate burnout and other difficult times in their career. Listen in wherever you get your podcasts!

Middle-level leadership takes intentional culture and strong systems. This week on #PrincipalMatters, Blaine Wise shared powerful reminders, including: “It’s not your school — it’s our school.” Listen wherever you get podcasts. 🎧 #SchoolLeadership #K12Leadership