When was the last time you thought about your emotional fitness? Just like physical muscles need regular exercise to stay strong, our social-emotional skills require consistent practice to serve us when we need them most. But here's the thing - many educators are trying to teach SEL without first developing their own emotional literacy.

This week, I’m joined by Lori Woodley-Langendorff, a 32-year veteran school counselor, co-founder of nonprofit All It Takes, and author of SEL Muscle Mastery, for an honest conversation about managing our emotional responses as school leaders and how this social and emotional foundation is the bedrock that makes learning possible.

Join us on this episode to discover how vulnerability and emotional connection unlock learning in ways that control never could. Lori and I examine why SEL often fails when treated as compliance rather than literacy, and she shares how teaching SEL skills transforms not just student behavior, but educator wellbeing.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/405

Get in touch with me:

https://www.facebook.com/akellycoaching/

https://www.instagram.com/angelakellycoaching/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-kelly-robeck-57774835

School leaders everywhere know the feeling – you've been pushing the boulder up the mountain since August, giving 200% to launch the school year successfully. The adrenaline that carried you through the first weeks starts to fade, and suddenly you're wondering how you'll sustain this pace or create any kind of work-life balance.

This conversation with Steven Langer, former principal and CEO of Well by Design, comes at the perfect time. Steven brings a refreshing perspective on sustainable leadership that challenges the traditional notion of work-life balance.

His journey from walking school hallways with a clipboard (sometimes just to look busy while his mind was on overwhelm) to transforming a struggling school's culture offers practical wisdom for every educational leader facing the intensity of a new school year.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/404

Here's something that might surprise you: Some of the most innovative educational leaders come from unexpected backgrounds.

This week, I'm speaking with Deepali Deshmukh, a school leader whose journey from biochemist to head of school challenges everything we think we know about educational credentials. Her story proves that your unique perspective isn't just valid. It’s valuable.

Join us on this episode to discover why your "non-traditional" background might actually be your secret weapon in leadership, and how Deepali transformed her science background into leadership strengths. Her story reveals that the solution to imposter syndrome isn't trying to fit into someone else's shoes - it's bringing your authentic self and unique talents to create something that didn't exist before.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/403

I just returned from hosting my first-ever EP Alive event, and let me tell you, it was nothing like your typical education conference.

I'm joined by three remarkable principals, Erin, Kay, and Sherry, who attended EP Alive 2025. Together, we created something that redefined professional development: no boring conference rooms, no eight-hour PowerPoint marathons, just real conversations by the fire pit, morning yoga sessions, sailing adventures, and breakthrough moments that shifted how we see ourselves as leaders and humans.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/402

As a school leader, do you often feel responsible for everyone's happiness, success, and challenges?

If you're nodding your head, you're not alone. Many principals carry the weight of their entire school community on their shoulders. But here's the thing: there's a crucial difference between being responsible and taking ownership that could be game-changing for your leadership approach.

Tune in this week to discover the crucial distinction between ownership and responsibility, and why this is one of the most critical concepts for school leaders to understand.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/401

School leadership often brings us to our knees in ways we never anticipated.

When everything feels like it's falling apart, when the blame feels justified and the pain feels unbearable, that's precisely when our true leadership capacity gets tested. In this deeply personal 400th episode, I share my journey through divorce and devastation to demonstrate what relentless responsibility looks like in practice.

This milestone episode reveals the raw truth about choosing empowerment when every fiber of your being wants to abdicate responsibility.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/400

The beginning of a new school year brings a familiar flood of tasks, responsibilities, and mental chatter that can make you feel like you're drowning in urgency.

In this episode, I'm exploring the reality that you are only ever doing one thing at a time, despite what your brain tells you about multitasking and efficiency.

As you prepare for the upcoming school year, join me today to discover how to use this time as a window into your leadership pattern. You’ll learn how, by focusing on the one thing in front of you, you can build your capacity for the emotions that come with the work. This fresh start is your opportunity to practice relentless responsibility for your time, energy, and outcomes.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/399

Have you ever found yourself caught in an endless back-and-forth with a challenging staff member? You know the type - where no matter what you say or do, it feels like you're being pulled into a defensive game of "prove you're right"?

Tune in this week as I share a powerful metaphor that's changing how principals handle difficult conversations: instead of playing tug of war, drop the rope.

You'll discover how to recognize when people are using blame as a delay tactic, why defensiveness keeps you locked in unproductive battles, and most importantly, how to maintain your alignment without needing anyone else to validate your perspective.

Find the full episode show notes and transcript, click here: https://angelakellycoaching.com/398