IASP Podcast

Indiana school leaders need connection, practical support, and the courage to make the most of their opportunity to serve. Dr. Bret Bailey, principal of Hamilton Heights Middle School and 2026-2027 IASP President, joins Dr. Tiffany Barrett to open the new season of the IASP Leadership Podcast. Bret reflects on the mentor who first recognized his leadership potential, shares his vision for helping administrators succeed in Indiana's changing accountability environment, and explains why leaders need one another. He also discusses the School Leader Paradigm, healthy ways to remain grounded, and the importance of calling leadership out in others. His final message is a timely challenge: our window to make a difference is open for only a season, so use each conversation and each day to help others thrive. In This Episode · Bret's unexpected path from English teacher to middle school principal and IASP president · His vision for helping Indiana leaders succeed in a changing accountability environment · Why connection, practical resources, and the School Leader Paradigm matter this year · How trusted people, reflection, and healthy practices help leaders stay grounded · A challenge to recognize potential and invite someone else into leadership Timestamps · 00:00 Welcome and season introduction · 00:43 Meet Dr. Bret Bailey · 01:50 Bret's leadership journey · 03:27 A vision for IASP and Indiana leaders · 04:45 What school leaders need this year · 07:29 Staying grounded in demanding work · 09:54 Calling leadership out in others · 11:17 The open window of opportunity · 12:11 Closing reflections and IASP updates Guest Information Dr. Bret Bailey is the principal of Hamilton Heights Middle School and the 2026-2027 President of the Indiana Association of School Principals. He began his education career at Tri-Central and joined Hamilton Heights as an English teacher in 2009. He later served as dean of students and assistant principal before becoming middle school principal. Bret credits mentor Jared Mason with recognizing and encouraging his leadership potential and introducing him to IASP. Links and Resources Indiana Association of School Principals · IASP district meetings and fall conferences: visit iasp.org for current dates and registration. Author: Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) Language: English Copyright: Indiana Association of School Principals

IASP welcomes Dave Strouse as its newest Assistant Executive Director. After 20 years in school administration, including 13 years as principal of Batesville Middle School, Dave brings deep experience, a strong connection to IASP, and a passion for serving school leaders and students across Indiana. In this conversation, Dave shares his leadership journey, what drew him to IASP, and what he hopes to accomplish in his new role. He offers an encouraging reminder to never lose sight of your why and previews new student leadership lessons designed for elementary, middle, and high school students. These practical resources will help schools strengthen student voice and develop young leaders through the School Leader Paradigm. Listen for an encouraging start-of-year conversation grounded in service, purpose, and possibility.

Welcome back! The 2026-27 school year is underway, and so is a new season of the IASP Advocacy Podcast. This week, we're talking about what's happening in Indiana schools right now—from implementing new cell phone policies to celebrating another year of strong IREAD growth. And we're taking a closer look at something that needs your attention now: the 2025-26 Accountable School Audit. IDOE has opened a brief window for schools to review their 162-Day Eligible Student Rosters, which will be used in accountability calculations. Audit requests are due Friday, August 21, with supporting evidence due Friday, August 28. 🎙️ This week's guest is Jared Leiker, Principal of Lawrenceburg High School. Jared joins me to talk through the audit from a high school principal's perspective—what he's looking for in the dashboard, where school leaders may want to take a closer look, and why this isn't something to leave on next week's to-do list. Also in this episode: 📵 How are the new cell phone restrictions going in your school? We want to hear your stories, challenges, and unexpected situations. 📚 A huge congratulations to Indiana educators and school leaders as statewide IREAD proficiency reaches 88.7%, marking the fifth consecutive year of improvement. As you settle into another school year, we'll continue using the Advocacy Podcast to keep you informed about the issues affecting Indiana schools—and to bring school leaders into the conversation. Have a great start to the year!

We're in the middle of election season. Graduation is right around the corner. And for many of our students, especially our seniors, the future is no longer abstract—it's right in front of them. 🎙️ In this week's IASP Advocacy Podcast, I reflect on what we're preparing our graduates for—and the changing expectations from legislation that will shape their next steps. The common thread in this episode is the growing influence of current legislation focused on public university degree programs and return on investment (ROI). We're seeing clear signals—from the General Assembly to higher education—that outcomes, earnings potential, and alignment to workforce needs are becoming central to how postsecondary pathways are defined. And that matters for K–12, because those decisions don't start after graduation—they start in our schools. This is a short, reflective listen as we head into graduation season—and a reminder of the impact of your leadership.

What does real advocacy look like in a school? This week on the IASP Advocacy Podcast, we're highlighting a powerful, practical example. 🎙️ Featured Guest: Rick Davis, Principal at Sheridan Rick joins the podcast to share how Sheridan has built—and sustained—a strong tradition of connecting legislators with students. This isn't a one-time event or a formal program. It's a consistent, intentional effort that has created meaningful relationships and authentic civic learning experiences for students. If you've ever thought about inviting a legislator into your building—but weren't sure where to start—this conversation is for you. 💡 Ready to try it in your school? IASP has created resources to make this easy. You can find our Principal for a Day guidance here: 👉 Indiana Association of School Principals Advocacy Page This resource walks you through exactly how to invite a legislator into your building and structure a meaningful visit. And if you're already doing this—or decide to get started—we want to hear from you! Reach out to IASP so we can highlight your work and your partnerships with legislators. 🏛️ Why this matters This conversation connects directly to a broader statewide focus on civic engagement. This week, the Indiana Bar Foundation and iCivics hosted the Indiana Civics Summit and Educator Convening, highlighting Indiana's civic health and the role schools play in strengthening it. If you haven't yet, I encourage you to explore the 👉 2025 Indiana Civic Health Index It offers valuable insight into how participation, connection, and community engagement are shaping our state—and reinforces the important role schools play in that work.

This week on the IASP Advocacy Podcast, we're making the shift. The legislative session may be over—but your influence as a school leader is just getting started. In this episode, I take a step back from tracking bills and focus on what comes next: How to use the new IASP website—especially the Advocacy page—to support your work Why primary season is a critical (and often overlooked) opportunity for school leaders A simple way to find out who is on your ballot—and who you should be connecting with now This is a great time to move from understanding policy to building relationships—and this episode will help you take that first step. 🔗 As mentioned in the episode: • Explore the new IASP Advocacy Page: https://iasp.org/about-iasp/advocacy/ • Find out who's on your ballot: https://indianavoters.in.gov As always, thanks for the work you do every day for Indiana's students!

Aspiring Leaders Conference 2026: Your Launchpad into School Leadership Are you ready to take the next step into school leadership? In this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett sits down with Indiana's 2025 Principals of the Year—Todd Reagan, Tom Hakim, and Amy Boone—to explore what it really takes to move from the classroom into leadership. Together, they share: What inspired them to pursue leadership What aspiring administrators often don't realize How to strengthen your resume and interview skills The qualities principals look for when hiring Why the IASP Aspiring Leaders Conference is a must-attend experience The IASP Aspiring Leaders Conference (April 24–25 in Indianapolis) is designed for educators who are ready to explore leadership, build confidence, and gain practical tools to step into their first administrative role. With hands-on learning, mock interviews, resume reviews, and real conversations with current administrators, this conference provides a powerful, low-risk opportunity to grow. If leadership is on your heart, this episode—and this conference—are for you. 👉 Register now: https://iasp.org/aspiring-conference-registration/ Keywords: aspiring school leaders, assistant principal pathway, education leadership Indiana, principal leadership development, school leadership conference, IASP, teacher to administrator transition

Assistant principals and deans play a critical role in shaping the culture, systems, and learning within our schools—but leadership growth doesn't happen in isolation. In this episode of the IASP Leadership Podcast, Dr. Tiffany D. Barrett highlights the IASP LEADing APs program, a statewide mentoring experience designed specifically for assistant principals and deans who want to grow their leadership capacity while connecting with colleagues across Indiana. Dr. Barrett is joined by two outstanding mentors in the program—Kris Warner, Assistant Principal at Newburgh and Sharon Elementary Schools, and Kyle Coffman, Principal at Oak View Elementary School. Together, they discuss how the LEADing APs program creates a trusted space for leaders to collaborate, reflect, and tackle real challenges facing schools today. Throughout the conversation, they explore: How mentoring relationships create meaningful leadership growth The power of discussing real problems of practice with colleagues How the School Leader Paradigm frames leadership development Why reflection, connection, and networking are essential for assistant principals New program adjustments designed to make participation even more accessible Whether you're a new assistant principal, an experienced dean, or someone preparing for your next leadership role, this episode offers insight into how intentional mentoring and collaborative learning can strengthen your leadership journey. 🎧 Learn more or register for the LEADing APs program at: IASP.org Lead on, Indiana.