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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A smiling woman with shoulder-length auburn hair, wearing a black blouse and hoop earrings, standing outdoors with trees and a building in the background.

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