Leadership Videos

As educators, whether in the role of a teacher or administrator, we all have a responsibility as leaders to prepare students for a successful and productive life beyond graduation. To be an effective leader, I believe it is essential to have a clear vision of the “purpose of school” in the 21st century. This vision will serve as your moral compass as you develop and redevelop the crucial leadership skills required to prepare students for a successful and productive life beyond graduation. To help you achieve this vision, here are some valuable leadership resources that are insightful, strategic, and inspirational.

Before you proceed to the leadership videos below, I highly recommend that you allocate some time to listen to/watch the podcasts and videos offered in the "Reimagining Education" section. These resources will greatly contribute to clarifying and enriching your own beliefs about the "purpose of school" in the 21st century. Moreover, they will illuminate the crucial leadership skills required to prepare students to lead a fruitful, balanced and productive life beyond graduation. The following videos, in turn, offer valuable insights, strategies, and inspiration to assist you in implementing these leadership skills effectively.

What it Takes to Be a Great Leader

[Roselinde Torres]


Run Time: 8:21
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The traditional image of a leader as an all-knowing superhero who commands and protects their followers is outdated. Despite corporate training programs, more than half of companies have failed to grow great leaders. To thrive and grow in the 21st century, leaders must anticipate change, build diverse networks, and have the courage to abandon practices that made them successful in the past. 

Answering these three questions will determine a leader's effectiveness: 

Great leaders are preparing themselves for the realities of today and the unknown possibilities of tomorrow.

Ron Berger on 20 years of 'An Ethic of Excellence'

[Ron Berger]


Run Time: 2:10:22
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In this must watch, informative and inspiring video hosted by James Mannion, Ron Berger author of "An Ethic of Excellence," and founder of Expeditionary Learning (EL) Education,  underscores the significance of quality work and critical thinking in education, transcending the traditional vs. progressive teaching debate. His teaching journey champions apprenticeships for educators and evolving teacher training methods. 

Ron extols the worth of exhibitions and formal presentations of student work, emphasizing the role of a robust classroom culture in fostering meaningful learning, founded on high expectations and a culture of excellence. 

Project-based learning and meaningful assignments wield transformative power, with daily circle meetings providing safe spaces for identity exploration.

** Learn more about Ron's book, 'An Ethic of Excellence'.

Key Ideas:

Supporting Colleagues in Their Competence

[Kath Murdoch]


Run Time: 4:34
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In this brief video, Kath Murdoch explores strategies for collaborating with and assisting colleagues as they navigate unfamiliar pedagogical concepts. Drawing parallels between the inquiry methods employed in her classroom, such as personal engagement and observation, she highlights how these practices can be applied in our interactions with fellow educators. Although concise, the video serves as a thought-provoking stimulus for contemplating ways to mutually support each other in the learning process.

Also see: Other inquiry-based videos and documents by Kath Murdoch 

Lead Like the Great Conductors

[Itay Talgam]


Run Time: 20:34
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Itay Talgam describes the experience of conducting an orchestra as a magical moment where a small gesture from the conductor can transform the noise of the orchestra warming up into beautiful music. He emphasizes that this moment is not just about the conductor, but also about the musicians, the audience, and their stories.

He then shows examples of different conductors and their styles of control, from Riccardo Muti's authoritative style to Herbert von Karajan's more spiritual approach. He also mentions Carlos Kleiber's unique approach, where he allows the orchestra to play without much interference, resulting in a natural and organic performance.

Itay Talgam also talks about the importance of the audience in creating a successful performance. He mentions the Viennese audience's tradition of not interfering with the music, but how they were clapping and participating in the performance he showed. He contrasts this with Israeli audiences who tend to cough during concerts.

Overall, the Itay Talgam emphasizes that conducting an orchestra is not just about the conductor's control, but also about collaboration and respect between the conductor, musicians, and audience.

How Great Leaders Inspire Action

[Simon Sinek]


Run Time: 17:48
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Simon Sinek discusses a pattern of success among great leaders and organizations, which the he calls the "golden circle." The circle consists of three parts: why, how, and what. Most people and organizations know what they do and how they do it, but very few know why they do what they do. The Simon argues that successful leaders and organizations communicate from the inside out, starting with why they exist, which inspires people to believe in their cause.

Simon uses Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers as examples of successful organizations and leaders who communicate from the inside out. For instance, Apple is more innovative than all its competition year after year because they start with why they exist, which is to challenge the status quo and think differently. They believe in making products that are beautifully designed, simple to use, and user-friendly. They communicate this belief in everything they do, which inspires people to believe in their cause.

Key Take-a-Ways

Why the Secret to Success is Setting the Right Goals

[John Doerr]


Run Time: 11:41
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John Doerr, a computer engineer who worked with Andy Grove, explains the importance of setting meaningful and audacious goals using a system called "Objectives and Key Results" (OKRs). OKRs are a simple goal-setting system that work for organizations, teams, and individuals. 

The objectives are what you want to have accomplished, and the key results are how you will get that done. Good results are specific, time-bound, aggressive but realistic, measurable, and verifiable. 

Doerr emphasizes the importance of answering the question "why" to develop a clear and compelling sense of purpose that inspires teams. He shares stories of entrepreneurs like Jini Kim and Bono who have used OKRs to achieve their goals. 

Doerr encourages everyone to write down their values, objectives, and key results to measure what really matters in their lives.

Everyday Leadership

[Drew Dudley]


Run Time: 5:31
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Drew Dudley discusses how people are uncomfortable with the title of leader because it has been made into something bigger than it is. He shares a story about a lollipop moment, where he made a positive impact on someone's life without realizing it. Drew encourages the audience to recognize their own lollipop moments and to acknowledge those who have made a positive impact on their lives. He argues that leadership should be redefined as creating and acknowledging lollipop moments, as this can have a powerful impact on people's lives.

Key Take-a-Ways

Great Leadership is a Network, Not a Hierarchy

[Gitte Frederiksen]


Run Time: 12:21
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Gitte Frederiksen challenges the idea that leadership is a role for the few and the rest of us get to just lean back. She argues that this approach is not going to help us solve the complex problems that we face today. Instead, she proposes a model where leadership is for the many. This means that power of the few is replaced with influence of the many, and everyone is in charge. 

In this model, labels are removed, everything is shared, and people are kind to each other. Gitte believes that distributed leadership is a movement that goes beyond the traditional leader, and that we need to create leaders, not followers. She encourages everyone to raise their hands and be a leader, even if just a bit more. She believes that we need to get many minds together, more resources, more capabilities, and we need to do it effectively and sustainably to solve the problems ahead.

Key Take-a-Ways

Tribal Leadership

[David Logan]


Run Time: 16:23
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David Logan discusses the importance of tribes and their culture in innovation. He explains that tribes are naturally occurring groups of people, ranging from 20 to 150 members, where work and societal development happens. 

David identifies five stages of tribes, with Stage One being the lowest and Stage Five being the highest. He emphasizes that not all tribes are the same, and what makes the difference is the culture. He argues that Stage Four tribes can do remarkable things, but there is still a higher level of tribe to achieve.

Key Take-a-Ways

Toddle School Leadership Project Videos

Permission to Inquire: Taking Ownership of Your Curriculum

[Kath Murdoch]


Run Time: 1:06:49 - May, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Kath Murdoch is an educator who is passionate about inquiry-based learning and its implementation in the classroom. She believes that inquiry-based teaching and learning is not just a theoretical concept but requires a deep understanding of what it looks, sounds, and feels like in practice. Kath's newest book - Getting Personal with Inquiry Learning - focuses on personalized inquiry, which expands the scope of inquiry-based learning to include individual and small group exploration of personal interests and passions. She emphasizes that personalized inquiry can be integrated within the curriculum, leveraging connections to key skills and concepts. Kath advocates for a guided approach to inquiry, where teachers play a crucial role in supporting and scaffolding students' learning journeys. She believes that a strong understanding of the curriculum empowers teachers to make meaningful connections and create engaging learning experiences. In order to foster a culture of inquiry, Kath encourages leaders to provide teachers with time, autonomy, and opportunities for collaboration and sharing. Additionally, she acknowledges the challenge of sustaining an inquiry-based culture when key staff members transition, emphasizing the importance of preserving the culture and supporting ongoing professional learning.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

** Kath's book she mentioned in the podcast: Getting Personal with Inquiry Learning: Guiding Learners' Explorations of Personal Passions, Interests and Questions 

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

How to Build Credibility as a Leader?

[Doug Fisher]


Run Time: 21:18 - Feb, 2024
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

What You Will Learn

In this Toddle video educator Doug Fisher delves into the crucial role credibility plays in effective leadership within educational settings. He underscores the pivotal connection between trust and credibility, emphasizing that trust forms the bedrock upon which credibility is built and sustained.

Central to Doug's discourse is the notion that effective communication lies at the heart of leadership credibility. He highlights how others perceive a leader's competence primarily through their communication skills. He advocates for leaders to prioritize clear, transparent communication to bolster their credibility among colleagues, staff, and stakeholders.

Moreover, Doug stresses the importance of trustworthiness, advocating for leaders to demonstrate reliability, honesty, and consistency in their actions and decisions. He suggests practical strategies such as implementing open-door policies, conducting regular check-ins, and modeling exemplary instructional practices to enhance immediacy and foster stronger connections within the educational community.

In addition to fostering trust and effective communication, Doug emphasizes the value of continuous learning for educational leaders at both the school and district levels. He encourages leaders to engage in extensive reading and exemplify a dedication to personal and professional growth. By modeling a culture of innovation and adaptation, leaders can inspire their teams to embrace change and drive progress within their educational communities.

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

What is Visible Thinking?

[Dr. Ron Ritchhart]


Run Time: 38:55 - May 30, 2024
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"


Join Dr. Ron Ritchhart, a Harvard researcher and expert in creating cultures of thinking in schools, for a conversation on transforming education. He shares insights on developing students as powerful learners by making thinking visible, teaching beyond tests, and fostering thinking dispositions. 


Dr. Ritchhart discusses how visible thinking routines empower both teachers and students, promoting inquiry-based learning and critical thinking. He also offers strategies for assessing dispositions and building supportive learning communities. 


This episode is valuable for educators and leaders passionate about enhancing student learning and fostering learner agency.


Also see: Visible Thinking Routines

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

The Transformative Power of Concept-Based Inquiry

[Rachel French]


Run Time: 1:35:18 - Aug, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

What You Will Learn

This podcast is a perfect primer for both teachers and leaders who want to understand the thinking behind developing meaningful and relevant concept-based units of inquiry.

In the podcast, Rachel French delves into the crucial aspects of effective concept-based inquiry. She underscores the significance of fostering student curiosity through acknowledging and nurturing their questions. Concepts' role in teaching, along with the utility of case studies for enhanced comprehension, takes center stage. Seeking mentors, incorporating essential ideas into curriculum planning, and utilizing diverse understandings within a study unit emerge as essential practices. 

Rachel emphasizes connecting ideas across disciplines meaningfully, cautioning against forced integration. Notably, she examines levels of understanding drawn from texts and advocates for teaching diverse skills to grasp content comprehensively.

The podcast touches on comprehending rules across disciplines, valuing evidence and persistence for building understanding, and nurturing open-mindedness through case studies. Techniques like the four corner debate are proposed, as is the balance between structured planning and adaptive teaching. The guidance of students' case study choices, crafting meaningful and rigorous inquiry units, and expressing gratitude are also discussed. 

Overall, the video encapsulates pivotal strategies for effective inquiry-based learning implementation, underscoring the fostering of curiosity, strategic planning, interdisciplinary connections, and varied skill development.

** The book Rachel mentioned in the podcast: Concept-Based Inquiry in Action: Strategies to Promote Transferable Understanding

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Growing Resilient Leaders: Empowering Conversations & Collective Efficacy

[Jennifer Abrams]


Run Time: 1:02:49 - June, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

What You Will Learn

Discover effective strategies for overcoming challenges, cultivating trust, and establishing a positive atmosphere in this podcast with Jennifer Abrams, the globally recognized authority on interpersonal relationships.

Embrace personal and professional growth to unleash your potential in creating an empowering learning environment as a leader! 

Dive into the indispensable skills required to navigate difficult conversations, deliver constructive feedback, and foster a shared sense of efficacy. 

Learn about the importance of having clarifying conversations as a cornerstone for establishing explicit expectations and promoting teamwork. 

Gain invaluable insights into setting a positive tone within your environment, making decisions that facilitate effective communication, and cultivating trust-based relationships among your team members.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

** Jennifer's book she mentioned in the podcast: Having Hard Conversations 1st Edition

Key Recommendations

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Shaping Minds: A Journey to Lifelong Learning

[Guy Claxton]


Run Time: 1:32:31- Aug, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Guy Claxton is a cognitive scientist who has spent most of his career working in education. He is interested in how people learn and believes that how well people learn is not related to IQ but rather to habits of mind, knowledge, or skills that can be learned and acquired. He has created a framework that focuses on equipping people with the skills and attitudes to flourish in the world, no matter what their path in life may be. 

He believes that schools should prioritize inspiring people with intrinsic motivation, rather than just transmitting knowledge and passing written, memory-based exams. Guy uses the metaphor of going to the gym to explain that going to school should be like going to the gym - you get fitter and stronger by putting in the hard work, and cheating only hinders your own progress. 

He also distinguishes between a learning culture and a performance culture in the classroom, and believes that a learning culture is more effective in preventing cheating. 

Guy's work aims to bring clarity and precision to the objectives of education and build research-based, appealing ways of talking about desirable outcomes.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

** Guy's Book: The Future of Teaching: and the Myths that Hold it Back

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

The Paradigm Shift: Exploring the Learner-Centered Revolution

[Devin Vodicka & Katie Martin]


Run Time: 56:58- July, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

What’s the difference between a student-centered and learner-centered model? What’s really standing in the way of schools making changes? These questions and more are answered in this stimulating and informative podcast. 

Katie and Devin are passionate about creating learner-centered school models. At the Learner Center Collaborative, they work with school leaders to design schools that prioritize learners' strengths, interests, and goals, aiming to meet the demands of the modern world.

They emphasize a paradigm shift from school-centered to learner-centered approaches, fostering agency, collaboration, and authentic learning experiences using the Four Ps of Change framework: promoting permission, protection, elimination of perfectionism, and removing barriers. 

The Learner-Centered Framework consists of whole learner outcomes, meaningful learning experiences, and enabling conditions. They advocate for a holistic approach, developing learners' skills, knowledge, and dispositions to thrive in real-world contexts.

They emphasize the need for enabling conditions such as relational trust, clarity of outcomes, and collective efficacy. The main barrier they identify is the perception of external expectations. 

They also challenge the notion of standardized tests as the sole goal of education, advocating for using them as one data point. 

Creating joyous and productive workplaces involves individualization, clear vision, and seeking feedback. Devin's advice is to ask "Who cares?" and "What's possible?" to drive meaningful change, while Katie emphasizes treating people as they want to be treated and understanding their unique needs.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

A crash Course in Universal Design Learning

[Katie Novak]


Run Time: 25:43- Feb, 2024
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

A Crash Course in UDL delves into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for tailoring education to diverse learner needs. Drawing parallels with a dinner party and a coffee shop, Katie Novak stresses the necessity of anticipating and accommodating varied learner requirements for inclusivity. UDL advocates for creating lessons with multiple options to meet diverse needs. 

Katie underscores the significance of acknowledging and addressing evolving student needs and dispelling stigma around support usage. 

Drawing from her teaching experience, she advocates for offering students varied learning options, encapsulated in the Goldilocks concept. She also highlights the notion of expert learners, emphasizing metacognition and reflection in learning. 

Katie underscores the importance of clear goals and success criteria in UDL, leveraging technology to support diverse learning paths while upholding essential goals like writing production. Overall, she emphasizes the necessity of clear success criteria to differentiate instruction and accommodate student variability.

** Also see: Inspiring Inquiry's Universal Design Learning webpage

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Student Voice: It’s Not Nice, It’s Necessary

[Russel Quaglia & Lisa Lande]


Run Time: 1:05:02- Aug, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Russ and Lisa discuss the biggest misconceptions around voice in schools, including the idea that voice is just about the words coming out of one's mouth and that it is an easy concept to implement. They also talk about the importance of defining what is meant by voice, as there are many different perceptions of the concept. 

Russ and Lisa define voice as having three components: sharing thoughts and ideas in an environment underpinned by trust and respect, offering realistic suggestions for the good of the whole, and accepting responsibility. They emphasize that voice is not just about sharing ideas but also about taking action and accepting responsibility for one's words. 

Russ and Lisa then discuss how administrators can create an environment of trust and respect, emphasizing the importance of open and honest conversations and understanding why students think and feel a certain way.

 Finally, they talk about how voice is not just for student leaders but for all students, and that every student has a unique and powerful voice.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Rethinking Education: Cultivating Curiosity and Collaboration in Schools

[Kevin Bartlett]


Run Time: 44:05- July, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Kevin Bartlett discusses his work on reinventing education to create a more systemic and simplified learning experience. He explains that schools are not broken, but rather highly efficient at doing the wrong things such as killing off curiosity, using low-level grading systems, and killing off conversation in classrooms. He believes that schools need to give children one connected learning experience and create a learning continuum pre-K through 12. 

Keven introduces the CGC (Common Ground Collaborative), a pre-K through 12 learning system that uses inquiry-based methodology. The CGC is based on five questions that he believes are essential to creating a learning system. The first question is "What is learning?" and more specifically, "What is the learning process?"

He defines the learning process as developing learners with deep conceptual understanding of ideas that matter, high levels of competency in key skills, and strong positive moral character. To develop each of these types of learning, Keven has developed a simple pedagogy. He believes that leadership is fearless inquiry and that leaders need to find the right questions to bring to their community to lead them towards consensus on the answers.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Beginning with the end in mind: Rethinking Assessment

[Kevin Bartlett & Jay McTighe]


Run Time: 53:20 - July, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Kevin Bartlett and Jay McTighe discuss their collaboration and their work in education. They discuss the gap between theory and practice in education and their efforts to bridge that gap. They are currently working on a project to improve assessment systems and are focused on providing practical tools for teachers to improve student learning. They also talk about the importance of keeping things simple and deep, so that ideas never lose their value.

Their conversation highlights the importance of collaboration and practicality in education. They emphasize the need for educators to work together to create meaningful change in the education system. 

They also stress the importance of providing teachers with practical tools that they can use in their classrooms to improve student learning. Overall, their conversation is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of practicality in education.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

Key Ideas

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Beyond Tradition: Transforming Education for a Future-Ready Generation

[Yong Zhao]


Run Time: 48:45- June, 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

Yong Zhao advocates for a shift in education that empowers students to take ownership of their learning and pursue their passions and interests. He believes that traditional schools, driven by teachers, textbooks, and testing, need to be transformed to meet the needs of the future workforce. Automation and artificial intelligence are disrupting jobs, making it essential for students to develop creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial thinking to create their own opportunities. Zhao promotes the idea of a "school within a school," where willing students and teachers can embrace innovative approaches to education. Instead of a uniform curriculum, learning should be driven by authentic problems and tailored to each student's unique abilities and interests. Zhao emphasizes the importance of relevance and responsiveness in education, encouraging educators to listen to students and provide a learning environment that meets their needs. He also highlights the significance of cultivating students' strengths rather than solely focusing on addressing deficits, as this approach leads to more engaging and effective education.

** Related resources connected to the podcast

Key Ideas

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

How to Differentiate Learning in Your Schools

[Carol Ann Tomlinson]


Run Time: 1:18:00 - December 2023
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This episode is from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"

In the video "How to differentiate learning in your schools?" Carol Ann Tomlinson emphasizes the vital role of differentiation in fostering inclusive learning environments. With over 50 years in education, she advocates for recognizing each student's unique learning style and challenges the limitations of traditional teaching methods. 

Carol promotes interest-based learning, incorporating student interests in lessons, and stresses the importance of continuous learning for educators. Her insights encourage a shift from a standardized to a personalized, engaging, and inclusive teaching approach, fostering an environment where students advocate for their own learning.

Key Learnings

Learn more about this episode from Toddle's "School Leadership Project"