Jayne Ellspermann is the principal of West Port High School in Ocala, Florida.  She has spent the past 35 years as an educator with 24 of those years as a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school level.  She was recognized by NASSP as the 2015 National Principal of the Year and is currently the president-elect of NASSP.  Jayne’s mission is to provide an environment where all students can exceed their own perceived potential.

 

Jayne talks about her family and background, and her first career in law enforcement (1:55)

How a former police officer wound up being an education administrator, and the many subjects and classes Jayne has taught (4:00)

Jayne knew in her first years of teaching that she wanted to move into administration (6:34)

Making the transition from teaching to administration, while juggling family, full-time teaching, and a master’s program (8:55)

Advice and strategies for people with families who are struggling to balance family, a full-time job, and a master’s program (14:25)

Some of the biggest hurdles and challenges Jayne has had to overcome during her career (18:54)

Jayne shares one of the most meaningful stories from her career in education about a highly accomplished student named Elizabeth who became a teacher herself (24:27)

How Jayne’s first career in law enforcement helped make her a better educator (28:07)

Jayne’s advice on how to encourage and motivate students who need a nudge in the right direction (29:39)

Understanding the difference between the impact a teacher makes and the impact an administrator makes (33:52)

The best leadership advice Jayne ever received – “Let people do their job” (36:42)

To succeed as an Edu-Leader, you’ll need to put in a lot of hard work (37:20)

Jayne’s top book recommendation for Edu-Leaders (37:56)

Why Twitter is essential for educators and how to get the most out of it (38:38)

Two of Jayne’s favorite educational quotes – one from Franklin D. Roosevelt, and one from John Quincy Adams (40:47)

Advice to administrators for working with students – see the hidden potential in your students that they can’t see themselves, and provide the environment to develop that potential (42:27)

Advice to administrators for working with teachers – lead them in making it their mission to help make their students’ lives better (45:10)

If Jayne had a time machine, and could go back and talk to her younger self when she was first starting on the path to becoming a school administrator, here’s the advice she would give herself (57:22)

 

Books mentioned in this episode

Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell

 

Apps and tools mentioned in this episode

Twitter

 

Connect with  Jayne Ellsperman

@EllsperJ

 

 

About EducatorsLead:

Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders three days a week to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact.

Educate. Inspire. Lead.

www.educatorslead.com