Podcast: This American Principal

Lifting the curtain on school leadership—funny, frustrating, and profoundly human.

From safety drills to tough calls, This American Principal captures the chaos and courage of school leadership. Each episode offers inspiration for principals and a rare glimpse for the public into one of the hardest—and most important—jobs in America.

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“Loving every episode each week!”
— Current Assistant Principal & This American Principal Subscriber

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  • Episode 6: Boundaries, Burnout & Balance
    10/17/25

    Episode 6: Boundaries, Burnout & Balance

    In this candid conversation, Dr. Chelsea Malouf—Director of Language Arts & former principal in Salt Lake City—explains how the principalship’s unpredictable stress can erode wellbeing, and how leaders can reset. We cover signs of burnout, modeling boundaries (hello, remove email notifications), using official channels instead of texts, and designing workdays that don’t consume life after 5 p.m.

  • Episode 5: The Legend of Mr. Hirt
    10/4/25

    Episode 5: The Legend of Mr. Hirt

    A tribute to Mr. Steven Hirt—the legendary NMC High principal whose leadership shaped Castroville and generations of students.

  • Episode 4: The Loneliness of School Leadership
    9/28/25

    Episode 4: The Loneliness of School Leadership

    This week, This American Principal Host welcomes her mentor and friend, Tracy Vandeventer — the principal who first nudged her toward leadership. With a career spanning 35 years, Tracy’s story is both practical and profound: A reminder of the resilience, authenticity, and servant leadership that define great principals.

    In this episode, Tracy reflects on her process of meeting with every staff member when starting at a new school, building credibility through quick wins, and the emotional toll leaders carry when communities experience trauma. Together, Joan and Tracy unpack the hard truths and hopeful lessons of school leadership in America today.

  • Episode 3: Leadership Made Simple— It’s for the Kids
    9/28/25

    Episode 3: Leadership Made Simple— It’s for the Kids

  • Episode 2: Every Conversation Counts
    9/12/25

    Episode 2: Every Conversation Counts

    This week on This American Principal, we’re lifting up the story of Mele Benz, a courageous and authentic school leader whose career shows the power of facing difficult truths head-on.

    When Mele stepped into a high-performing school known for its strong reputation—but also its tensions—she quickly learned that leadership wasn’t about maintaining appearances. It was about having the courage to ask tough questions, confront inequities in student outcomes, and engage in honest conversations with staff.

    Her approach to authenticity and data-driven dialogue built trust even in the hardest moments. Whether confronting a veteran teacher or navigating a district-wide union conflict, Mele shows that leadership is not about avoiding conflict—it’s about leaning into it with empathy, integrity, and clarity.

  • Episode 1: Building Trust in a Struggling School
    9/5/25

    Episode 1: Building Trust in a Struggling School

    Keith's journey into leadership began unexpectedly when a principal encouraged him to pursue it.

  • This American Principal | Season 1 Preview
    9/5/25

    This American Principal | Season 1 Preview

Meet: Your Host

Joan Schumann lives in Northern California. She once managed to finish her PhD, teach a roomful of 5th graders, train teachers at night, have a baby, and run a marathon—all in the same stretch of life.

And yet, being a principal was still the hardest job she’s ever had.

Before that, she taught and served in various leadership roles, working in three states and three countries. Along the way, she’s seen the joy, chaos, and resilience it takes to make schools work.

That’s why she created This American Principal—to give a platform to her colleagues across the country who are enduring one of the toughest jobs out there, often with the least recognition. This year, she plans to brings humor, honesty, and humanity to the stories of school leadership—because principals deserve to be seen and celebrated.

Want to Share Your Story?

  • Right now, we’re focused exclusively on principals—current or former. If you’ve ever carried the responsibility of leading a school, we want to hear from you. (In the future, we may expand to other roles in education, but these first few seasons are all about principals.)

  • Authentic ones. The funny, the frustrating, the exhausting, and the inspiring. We’re looking for stories that capture what it really feels like to be a principal—the moments that nearly broke you, and the ones that reminded you why you stayed.

  • Plan for 60–75 minutes. This allows us to go deeper into your story, capture the context behind it, and spend time reflecting on what it means for leadership today.

  • Not at all! A quiet space, a stable internet connection, and a pair of headphones with a mic are all you need. We’ll guide you through the recording process.

  • Simply fill out the “Submit Your Story” form on our website. Tell us a little about who you are and the story you’d like to share. We’ll reach out if it’s a good fit for an upcoming season.

Submit Your Story