MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Getting Through Hard Times
From Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker by Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker
April 13, 2026 · 21 min
About this episode
Jen Schwanke and Will Parker discuss finding solace in work during hard times and the importance of community in schools.
This week on Monday Matters Jen Schwanke and Will Parker take some time to talk about finding solace in work during hard times. Every leader experiences bad days and hard times, and we respond to them in a variety of ways. Some people need to be alone when they grieve, while some people need to jump right back into their routines so that they can feel some kind of control. Jen shares the story of when she lost her dog. For her, going to work was a safe place to land during a hard time, and was a welcome distraction from her sadness. While they are not saying that all listeners need to continue working through grief, Will and Jen both talk about how the sense of community that comes along with working at a school helps them during hard times. Listen in to hear the full conversation! This post was inspired by a newsletter from Jen Schwanke. You can check it out here ! The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Getting Through Hard Times appeared first on Principal Matters .
People in this episode
Host: Will Parker
Guest: Jen Schwanke
Topics covered
- hard times
- grief
- community
- leadership
Keywords
- solace
- bad days
- work
- school community
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – Getting Through Hard Times
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