Adorable Red Hats: Stories of Change and Leadership in Education

Quick take

What if the secret to becoming a more effective school leader was … leaving school? Joe Clausi, known as the Traveling Principal, shares how stepping out of the building helped him step into his purpose.

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🏴‍☠️ BREAKING DOWN THE OLD RULES

In this episode, Joe Clausi challenges traditional education paradigms and shows how Ruckus Makers can lead the shift:

🧠Key Insight #1: Curiosity makes you a better principal

• What's broken: The traditional career path says school leaders should settle down and play it safe.

• The shift: Joe’s curiosity drove him to explore 39 countries — and that curiosity now shapes how he leads schools.

• Impact: He’s more reflective, empathetic, and able to connect with people across backgrounds.

🧠Key Insight #2: Leadership doesn’t happen in isolation

• What's broken: Most principals grind through the work without personal growth.

• The shift: Joe intentionally seeks people, places, and moments that challenge his worldview.

• Impact: Each trip adds to his toolkit as a leader — and inspires his team to grow too.

🧠Key Insight #3: Adventure is a mindset, not a plane ticket

• What's broken: PD is treated like a checklist, not a life-changing experience.

• The shift: Joe shows how you can bring the spirit of exploration to your daily leadership.

• Impact: His story proves that reimagining school starts with reimagining yourself.

📌 YOUR DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT CHALLENGE

Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

• Tomorrow: Walk your campus with a traveler’s eyes — what would surprise or inspire a visitor?

• This Month: Schedule time outside the school walls to connect with something that sparks wonder.

• This Semester: Share one leadership lesson from your own journey with your staff — and invite theirs.

✅ CONNECT AND CONTINUE

• 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here

• 🔗 Follow Joe Clausi: https://travelprincipal.com

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• For over 30 years, ODP Business Solutions® has helped schools transform from whiteboards to smartboards. Why? Because when you get the right tools, everyone wins. Visit odpbusiness.com/education to revolutionize your school's learning spaces.
  

• Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance.

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Podcast created by Danny. Audio engineered by Dragan. Show notes written by Christina. Email sent by Soniya