Judy shares a little about her background, family, service activities, and pastimes, such as dancing and writing poetry (2:30)
How being taken hostage during a home invasion changed Judy’s life forever and taught her important lessons about faith, hope, perseverance, and treating every day as if it’s your last and as if it’s a remarkable gift (3:23)
When and why Judy started writing poetry (6:49)
Judy talks about her career path from journalism major to education leader (8:07)
After years of people telling her that she should make a great school administrator, she decided to make the move (12:12)
What it’s like to be a principal on assignment (15:25)
Some of the biggest professional challenges that Judy has dealt with (17:05)
Some of Judy’s favorite books on leadership and building collaboration (21:18)
Years of being a school admin have made Judy more courageous and a better listener (25:25)
One of the greatest triumphs of Judy’s career in school administration – PeaceBuilders (27:00)
How to stay connected to students after moving from teaching to administration (33:30)
The best leadership advice Judy has ever been given (36:00)
How to quit worry whether or not people like you (36:18)
The importance of preparation, optimism, and accountability, and how to cultivate them (37:45)
Dr. White’s top book recommendations for school leaders (40:57)
Judy’s advice for school administrators on working with students (42:29)
Her advice for school administrators on working with the teachers in your building (43:43)
The leadership quote that guides Dr. White (45:05)
If Dr. White had a time machine, here’s the advice she would go back and give her younger self when she was just starting out in school administration (45:40)
Books mentioned in this episode
The SPEED of TRUST: The One Thing That Changes Everything
Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t
Deliberate Optimism: Reclaiming the Joy in Education
Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It
Connect with Dr. Judy D. White
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 weekly 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.