Episode 350

full
Published on:

23rd Jan 2025

Empathy in Action: Leadership That Transforms Schools and Supports Students

Join CT as he talks with Dr. Trevor Greene, Superintendent of Yakima School District, about his unique approach to leadership and student empowerment. Dr. Greene discusses how he’s building a community-focused district by prioritizing student voice, fostering inclusivity, and creating pathways for real-world success. With initiatives like dual language programs, student-led policy-making, and strong community partnerships, Dr. Greene is reshaping education to ensure every student feels supported, connected, and engaged. Ideal for leaders looking to inspire change and drive impactful growth in schools.

Key Takeaways:

Student-Centered Leadership: Dr. Greene prioritizes student voices in shaping decisions, ensuring their involvement in their own education.

Community-Driven Solutions: He focuses on understanding and addressing the community’s challenges together, fostering collective solutions.

Empowerment and Purpose: Leadership is about making purposeful decisions that prioritize student success and well-being.

Continuous Growth: Dr. Greene emphasizes leadership as a constant process of learning, adapting, and improving.

Compassionate Support: Programs like "Handle with Care" provide tailored support to students facing trauma.

Leadership as Risk: True leadership involves taking risks, staying true to values, and focusing on students' needs.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:17 Student Voice Initiative

08:52 Policy Development

13:51 Handle with Care

18:49 Leadership Journey

25:56 Team Empowerment

32:59 Leadership Development

37:14 Career Advice

Connect with Dr. Jim: linkedin.com/in/drjimk

Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Dr. Trevor Greene: linkedin.com/in/trevorltgreene

Music Credit: Shake it Up - Fesliyanstudios.com - David Renda



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About the Podcast

Principal Office Hours
Real principals. Real talk. No hall passes required.
Finally—a podcast that proves school principals have personalities (and killer insights, too). Every week, join us for candid conversations with K-12 principals who are navigating the beautiful chaos of educational leadership without losing their minds or sense of humor.

Each 40-minute episode features real principals sharing what actually works in school leadership—from handling helicopter parents and budget nightmares to building school culture that doesn't make everyone roll their eyes. Consider this your professional development that doesn't feel like professional development.

Our guests aren't afraid to share their epic fails alongside their victories. They'll tell you about the initiative that spectacularly bombed during assembly, right before revealing how they turned their school's reading scores around. It's educational leadership with the BS filter turned off.

Whether you're currently wearing the principal badge, aspiring to the big chair, or teaching while secretly taking notes on what you'd do differently, Principal Office Hours delivers actionable strategies you can implement faster than a student being sent to detention.

Subscribe now and join the faculty lounge conversation that's too real for the school board meeting. New episodes drop every week. Warning: May cause spontaneous leadership growth and occasional inappropriate laughter during staff meetings.

About your hosts

CheeTung Leong

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Jim Kanichirayil

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Your friendly neighborhood talent strategy nerd is the producer and co-host for The HR Impact Show. He's spent his career in sales and has been typically in startup b2b HRTech and TA-Tech organizations.

He's built high-performance sales teams throughout his career and is passionate about all things employee life cycle and especially employee retention and turnover.