Mental health is a growing concern in education, but who checks on the principals? Our guest again this episode is Tracy Vanstone. She’s in a new role with Manitoba Teachers Society as a Staff Officer. With Tracy, we explore the unique challenges school leaders face, from loneliness to unspoken pressures. It’s a mental health crisis among school leaders which highlights the need for mentorship, acknowledgment, and vulnerability for principals.It’s important for principals to build networks, embrace vulnerability, and prioritize support systems that can transform their leadership and their own mental well-being. We discuss how to break the stigma around seeking help as the school leader.

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Supporting others while maintaining your own mental health is no small feat. Our guest again this episode is Dean MacInnis, Principal of Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Dean sheds light on the mental health struggles principals face, from staff confessions to student challenges. He talks about how he navigates these pressures, finds balance through self-care, and builds supportive systems to thrive in his role. Principal MacInnis shares candidly about the unique challenges principals face in balancing the emotional needs of their schools and their own well-being. From lessons in self-care to managing isolation, this episode dives deep into the realities of being a school principal..

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Decisions that impact lives aren't made lightly. Our guest this episode is Dean MacInnis, Principal of Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Dean opens up about his journey from vice principal to principal, tackling tough calls, navigating isolation, and building confidence through support and experience. He takes us behind the scenes of school administration, sharing the highs and lows of decision-making, the weight of responsibility, and the critical role of reflection. Dean’s stories of growth through reflection offer invaluable insights for anyone in a leadership role.

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What if your one of your best leadership tools wasn’t giving advice, but asking questions? Our guest this episode is Sascha Epp , Staff Officer for Teacher Welfare at The Manitoba Teachers’ Society. Sascha dives into the psychology of advice-giving with the verbal picture of the "advice monster" and its impact on school leadership. She talks about how to replace the instinct to fix with empowering strategies that encourage your team to solve their own challenges. Through restorative practices and intentional listening, our conversation highlights actionable strategies to build relational trust, encourage autonomy, and foster a restorative culture among staff. The leading tool is asking great questions.

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Principals are the pillars of our schools, but who supports them when the weight becomes too much? School leadership is rewarding but relentless. Dr. Shannon Behan ,the President of the British Columbia Principal Vice-Principal Association (BCPVPA) addresses the silent crisis facing principals—stress, burnout, and mental health struggles. Learn how mentorship programs, structured professional development, and peer support networks can turn the tide. This is more than a conversation—it’s a call to action for educational systems to prioritize their leaders’ well-being. Principals, this one’s for you: your work is vital, but so is your health.

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What do principals do when there aren’t enough teachers, support staff, or resources? They step up, but at what cost? This episode with Dr. Shannon Behan ,the President of the British Columbia Principal Vice-Principal Association (BCPVPA) dives into the realities of running schools with dwindling resources, from filling classroom gaps to supporting high-needs students. Dr. Behan talks about the pressing issues of staff shortages in BC schools and the ripple effects on student outcomes and leadership teams. From mentorship programs to structural classroom innovations, schools still can find hope amid challenges. Principals, this one’s for you—your work matters more than ever.

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What does it mean to be a principal in 2024? For Chris Hicks, our guest this episode, it’s about balancing the impossible—managing violence in schools, implementing nutrition policies, and supporting overworked staff, all while leading with empathy and collaboration. Chris Hicks is the Chair of the Council of School Leaders (COSL) of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. The role of principals is evolving and it’s taking a toll. Principals are at the frontlines of some of the most pressing issues in education today. From fostering restorative practices to addressing burnout, principals as being asked to navigate unprecedented challenges with resilience and innovation.

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Schools are the heartbeat of our communities, but is the role of the principal sustainable? This podcast takes a look at how schools have become the new social hubs and the overwhelming responsibilities placed on principals as a result. Dr. Shannon Behan is back as a guest on our podcast this week. Dr. Behan is the President of the British Columbia Principal Vice-Principal Association also known as the BCPVPA. Principals are no longer just educational leaders—they're running food programs, managing emotional crises, and tackling systemic challenges.Listen in for ways in which restorative leadership and distributed responsibilities can transform the way we support our schools’ principals.

#SchoolLeadership,#Principal,,#leadership,#restorative practice,#listening,#relationshipbuilding,#connection,#sustainability,#distributedleadership, #traumainformed,