Episode 419

full
Published on:

23rd Jul 2025

How a High School Principal Starts the School Year on a Strong Note

Summary: Join C.T. and guest Joseph Blasher, principal of Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, as they discuss how data-driven leadership prepares a diverse urban high school for a strong academic year. Joseph shares his six-week planning approach focused on attendance, literacy, and student engagement, aligning staff, students, and families around clear priorities. He highlights the use of empathy interviews by teachers to understand student challenges and the importance of ongoing reflection through department meetings and coaching. This conversation offers practical strategies to build momentum early, adjust plans responsively, and foster a supportive, rigorous school culture.

Key Takeaways:

  • Data-Informed Planning: Joseph emphasizes using diverse data sources—attendance, literacy assessments, student surveys—to prioritize focus areas and track progress.
  • Structured Six-Week Cycles: A detailed six-week plan guides student engagement, attendance efforts, and academic interventions, allowing timely reflection and adjustments.
  • Empathy Interviews: Teachers conduct regular qualitative check-ins with students to understand barriers and adapt teaching responsively.
  • Collaborative Practices: Weekly department meetings and coaching encourage continuous improvement, shared strategies, and professional development.
  • Clear Roles and Communication: Defined responsibilities for staff, students, and families create alignment and accountability for meeting school-wide goals.
  • Holistic, Trauma-Informed Approach: Leadership balances academic rigor with social-emotional awareness, responding to community challenges with resilience and care.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Overview

00:45 Meet the Principal: Joseph Blecher

01:20 About Castlemont High School

03:10 Challenges and Emotions of Graduation

04:14 Using Data to Prepare for the School Year

06:29 The Six-Week Plan

07:21 Setting Priorities and Goals

25:22 Empathy Interviews and Teacher Support

30:08 Advice for New Principals


Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Joseph Blasher: linkedin.com/in/joseph-blasher-142938b



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.

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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.

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CheeTung Leong