The Ruckus Report Quick take: The most dangerous myth in school leadership is that problems will eventually stop. Jennifer Schwanke reveals how embracing challenges and shifting from "trustworthy" to "trust willing" transforms toxic school cultures into thriving communities. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Jennifer Schwanke, Ed.D., brings nearly three decades of experience to the field of education, having served as both a teacher and leader across all levels. She is a published author with ASCD, including four current books and a forthcoming fifth title, "Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools," expected in the summer of 2025. In addition to her books, Jennifer has contributed hundreds of articles to numerous educational publications. She is actively involved in professional development, offering her expertise to school districts in areas such as school climate, personnel management, and instructional leadership. She is also a frequent presenter at major educational conferences, including those hosted by ASCD, NAESP, NASSP, AASA, and various state and national organizations. Jennifer shares her insights as the co-host of the widely listened-to "Principal Matters" podcast and as an instructor in educational administration at The Ohio State University. Currently, Dr. Schwanke serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio. Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Jennifer Schwanke challenges traditional education paradigms: Key Insight #1: Problems Are Life, Not Obstacles <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">What's broken: Leaders waiting for a stress-free summit where all problems disappear</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">The shift: Embrace problems as opportunities to do meaningful work and stay sharp</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Impact: Leaders stop burning out waiting for calm seas and start building resilience through challenge</li> </ul> Key Insight #2: Trust Willing vs. Trustworthy Leadership <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">What's broken: Focusing only on being trustworthy while micromanaging and speaking in deficit language about staff and students</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">The shift: Become "trust willing" by believing in your people, letting them do their trained work, and focusing on your zone of influence</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Impact: Collective efficacy emerges as teams believe their daily work actually matters and makes a difference</li> </ul> Key Insight #3: Lead Around the 2% <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">What's broken: Spending 98% of energy on the 2% of toxic people who will never change</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">The shift: Set clear boundaries professionally, then invest energy in the majority who want to do good work</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">Impact: The 98% gain respect and momentum while toxic behaviors lose their power to derail the mission</li> </ul> Quotable Ruckus "When you run out of problems, you're dead. You want problems to come because you want to solve them, because not only does that keep you alive and sharp, but it allows you to do the good you want in the world." – Jennifer Schwanke Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: <ol class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-decimal space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words"> Tomorrow: Identify one "emergency" you're treating that could benefit from a 24-48 hour pause</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">This Month: Practice "trust willing" leadership by letting one capable team member handle something you usually micromanage</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">This Semester: Conduct your own "proflection" — identify which trust pillars you're building vs. trust killers you need to eliminate</li> </ol> Connect & Continue <ul class= "[&:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [&:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc space-y-1.5 pl-7"> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">🎯 Get the full episode transcript: here</li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">🔗 Follow Jennifer Schwanke: <a class="underline" href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-schwanke-ed-d-32aa70a7/">LinkedIn</a> | <a class="underline" href= "https://www.instagram.com/drjenschwanke/">Instagram</a></li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">📚 Jennifer's Books: <a class="underline" href= "https://www.amazon.com/Principal-Strategies-Solutions-School-Leaders/dp/1416622217/"> You're the Principal! Now What?</a> | <a class="underline" href= "https://www.amazon.com/Principal-Reboot-Revitalize-School-Leadership/dp/1416628819/"> The Principal Reboot</a> | <a class="underline" href= "https://www.amazon.com/Teachers-Principal-Leaders-Support-Motivate/dp/1416631305/"> The Teacher's Principal</a> | <a class="underline" href= "https://www.amazon.com/Principals-Guide-Conflict-Management/dp/1416632735/"> The Principal's Guide to Conflict Management</a></li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">🎙️ Co-host of <a class= "underline" href= "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/principal-matters-the-school-leaders-podcast-with/id1070576885"> Principal Matters Podcast</a></li> <li class="whitespace-normal break-words">💥 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: <a class="underline" href= "https://ruckusmakers.club/join">https://ruckusmakers.club/join</a></li> </ul> 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🧠 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — An opportunity to Do School Different 3x a week. Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞️ Read Ruckus Makers — Exclusive content on Substack. Premium leadership insights, AI prompts and custom gpts, new books before the bookshelf. ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Our private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven leadership system (The Ruckus Maker Flywheel) to help you transform your campus: Apply Now Every tool, community, and coaching program we offer is built to help visionary school leaders play the new game — one where leadership is creative, tech-enabled, and unapologetically student-centered. 🎙️ The podcast is your starting point. The movement is just getting started. Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. ✉ Join for FREE: <a href="http://ruckusmakers.news/subscribe">here</a> Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: IXL Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more: <a href="https://ixl.com/leaders">here</a> The Ruckus Maker Club Community beats compliance every single time. The Ruckus Maker Club is your on demand network of bold school leaders designing the future of education. Join today for $100 a month and get coaching on demand courses, AI prompts and custom GPTs and all our automatic school frameworks and tools within our private digital community. 🔍 Learn more: <a href= "https://club.ruckusmakers.news/">here</a> ODP Business Solutions "Our STEAM program is too complicated" = Code for "We're doing it wrong." Stop letting fear kill innovation. Some leaders are transforming STEAM with a three-part framework that's not what you think. 🔍 Get the playbook: :<a href= "https://www.odpbusiness.com/l/resource-center/blog/full-steam-ahead?utm_source=industrypub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=nl-na-25%27_brand-2025_awrs_edu_steam_better-leaders_native">here</a> Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?

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