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PODCAST

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders

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

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

education entrepreneurship

All Episodes

3:53

Leading Through the December Dip

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/12/10

Send us a textDecember has its own personality — kids are wired, staff are tired, and patience is thin. This stretch is real, and your leadership tone matters even more right now.Your team is watching your reactions, your pace, and your posture. The December Dip isn’t about perfection. It’s about steadiness. It’s about lifting the emotional weight your team is carrying just a little bit.Sometimes that looks like humor. Sometimes it looks like grace. Sometimes it looks like simply acknowledging,

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22:06

The App That Makes Data Feel Easy: A Look at...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/12/05

Send us a textIn this episode, I'm diving into a tool educators have been begging for — something that finally brings data, collaboration, and accountability into one simple, modern space. Teamchers Technologies is an educator-created app designed to help schools move from episodic data meetings to everyday data-driven practice.Along with creator Dr. Lea Hickerson, I explore how the platform lets teacher teams and administrators set goals, store documents, collaborate in threaded chats, and

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4:09

Power Surge Protecting Your Peace During Holiday...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/12/03

Send us a text“Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10Episode: The holiday season hits different in schools — concerts, programs, discipline spikes, evaluations, data cycles, parent emails, and schedule changes. It’s a lot.But even when the pace is fast, your spirit doesn’t have to be. You can choose stillness even inside a storm. Protecting your peace isn’t selfish — it’s stewardship.Peace is leadership currency. When you’re calm, it allows everyone else to settle. When you’re overwhelmed,

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13:01

10 Family Engagement Activities Every School Should...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/28

Send us a textIn this episode, Mel breaks down ten high-impact, easy-to-launch family engagement activities that help schools build trust, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful partnerships with families. These ideas work in every school setting — public, private, charter, or Christian — and can be scaled up or down based on your resources. If you’re looking for fresh ways to bring families into the learning experience, this episode gives you the exact blueprint.What You’ll LearnHow to

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4:32

Power Surge ⚡Don't Just Give Them Donuts, Give Them...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/26

Send us a textDownload Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. 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,

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17:21

10 Family Engagement Strategies That Transform...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/21

Send us a textDr. Mel walks through ten research-backed family engagement strategies that help strengthen trust, boost achievement, and change the way families experience your school. Engagement isn’t about “getting parents to show up.” It’s about partnership — real, reciprocal, relationship-centered partnership that helps kids win academically, emotionally, and socially.SourcesSchoolStatus — family engagement & communication best practices: https://www.schoolstatus.com/blogParentPowered —

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5:03

Power Surge⚡Gratitude as a Leadership Strategy

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/19

Send us a text Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. 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 teac...

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4:27

🎙️ Power Surge: Hold Your Peace — Leading When the...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/14

Send us a textDownload Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points. 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,

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9:26

🎙 Engagement in Action - Episode 4: Sustaining...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/12

Send us a textIn this final episode, Dr. Mel shares how leaders can move beyond coaching cycles to create a living culture of feedback and reflection that keeps engagement thriving. Learn how to build reflective habits, align systems to support growth, and celebrate wins to sustain teacher energy and excellence all year long. Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase! Download Fetch app

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7:54

🎙 Engagement in Action - Episode 3: Model. Practice....

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/07

Send us a textModeling and rehearsal are the “secret sauce” of effective instructional leadership. In Episode 3, Mel breaks down how school leaders can coach teachers through modeling, practice, and repetition — simple but powerful strategies that turn new skills into classroom habits.This episode helps school leaders make coaching more collaborative, more actionable, and more effective — without increasing the workload.🔑 Key TakeawaysModel First — Then Ask Teachers to Try It Removes confusion and

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10:51

🎙Engagement in Action — Episode 2: See It. Name It....

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/11/05

Send us a textEpisode 2 breaks down the “See It. Name It. Do It.” coaching cycle from Get Better Faster and shows how leaders can deliver high-impact, real-time feedback that quickly improves teacher practice and student engagement.Perfect for principals, APs, instructional coaches, and leaders looking to build confidence in coaching cycles and classroom walk-throughs.🔑 Key TakeawaysReal-Time Feedback Builds Faster Growth You don’t need a full post-conference to make change — micro-feedback

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9:33

🎙Engagement in Action — Episode 1: How to Build a...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/31

Send us a textn 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 Faster (Bambrick-Santoyo) and Teach Like a Champion (Lemov), Mel breaks down how to define, model, and sustain engagement as a leadership practice — not just a teacher strategy.This episode is designed for principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches,

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8:14

Keep Showing Up 🔥 200 Episodes of Leading with...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/29

Send us a textDr. 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 come when you keep showing up. Perfect for principals, assistant principals, and aspiring leaders who need a little encouragement to stay the course and celebrate the wins along the way. Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon

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14:45

What Do Great Principals Actually Do Daily?...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/24

Send us a textEvery 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

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4:20

Power Surge⚡You Said It… But Did They Hear It? — The...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/22

Send us a text 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 leaders to go beyond talking at people and start ensuring their message is truly understood. Because clear communication isn’t about what you said — it’s about what they heard. Key Points: The biggest communication mistake leaders make is assuming

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21:59

Systematize: Calming Chaos with Purpose, People, and...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/17

Send us a textIf 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 losing their people or their peace. Using her signature Purpose–People–Process Framework, she’ll walk you through how to build rhythms, routines, and structures that make your leadership lighter and more intentional.You’ll learn:✅ How to anchor every system in

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4:48

Power Surge⚡The Power of a New Perspective Seeing the...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/15

Send us a textIn 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 in their schools, teams, and systems. Because sometimes what looks normal is actually upside down — and leadership clarity starts with the courage to look again.Key Points:What looks “fine” from one angle might be distorted from another.Leaders

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10:43

The 3 Conversations Every Leader Should Have Every...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/10

Send us a textIn 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. Key Takeaways:Connect with teachers through short, meaningful check-ins.Align your leadership team around clarity, focus, and accountability.Reflect with yourself to lead from purpose instead of pressure. Resources Mentioned:The Advantage by Patrick

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5:02

Power Surge⚡Get There When You Get There – Leadership...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/08

Send us a textIn 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, you create lasting impact that doesn’t depend on speed.Key Points:Leadership growth isn’t linear — it’s layered and personal.The urge to rush “arrival” often comes from comparison, not calling.Sustainable leadership happens when you show up

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11:24

Why Great Leaders Embrace Conflict: Building Stronger...

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion |... ·

2025/10/03

Send us a text 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 for leadership teams and how you can start embracing it instead of avoiding it. Whether it’s pushing back respectfully, hearing out different perspectives, or separating the person from the problem, you’ll walk away with practical strateg...

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217 results

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