As principals start off the year and work on school improvement or professional growth, its helpful to identify strategies that can help them throughout the year. Adam Welcome and Rachael George sit down with veteran Idaho principal Heather Hepworth to discuss what works, including:

• Starting off strong at the beginning of the year
• Looking ahead towards the end of the year
• How to prioritize and organize
• How to implement change

Heather Hepworth is principal of Acequia Elementary School in Rupert, Idaho.

Any good leader knows when to both listen, and when to raise their hand and speak up. But gender-based expectations about using your voice and being confident are too often limiting for women in leadership. Andrea Thompson and Jessica Gomez sit down with principal Jennifer Black to discuss:

• Importance of trust
• Developing self-compassion and confidence
• Being a role model for others
• The benefits of speaking up

Jennifer Black is principal of Lincoln Elementary School in North Las Vegas, and is president-elect of the Nevada Elementary School Principals Association.

Successful leaders are generally given license to be proud of their work, but all too often women are made to feel either that they have achieved less or that they should be quiet about their achievements. Center for Women in Leadership fellows Jessica Gomez and Andrea Thompson sit down with principal Shanessa Fenner to talk about how and why this problem exists. In this episode we discuss:

• How stereotypes and mindsets diminish women's voices
• Whether self-confidence is truly at issue
• The importance of a supportive network
• Not feeling guilty for taking pride in success

Dr. Shanessa Fenner is a writer, has appeared on radio and television, and serves as the proud principal of William T. Brown Elementary School in Spring Lake, North Carolina.