PMP503: Time, Tools, and Tactics of Instructional Leadership with TJ Vari & Joseph Jones

About this episode

Will Parker and Jen Schwanke discuss a listener's career dilemma and welcome guests TJ Vari and Joseph Jones to share insights on instructional leadership.

A Quick Note to Listeners: Before this week’s episode Will Parker and Jen Schwanke take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is: How do you know when you should stay or leave? I’m in a place in my career where I’m wanting to do something different and not finding as much joy in my role as in the past. What should I do? Listen in to hear their response! Meet TJ Vari and Joseph Jones: Joseph Jones and T.J.Vari have spent years as instructional leaders in various schools and districts. They have also provided professional learning and coaching to hundreds of school leaders. They have tested the strategies they recommend with principals, assistant principals and teacher leaders. They understand that the work we ask school leaders to do is complex and often time sensitive. They also know that schools are filled with daily distractions that often derail and take the leader away from the most important work which is getting into classrooms where they observe and provide feedback to teachers about the quality of instruction provided to students. They have shared many of these lessons in their other books such as Invest In Your Best, Passionate…

People in this episode

Host: William D. Parker

Guests: TJ Vari, Joseph Jones

Topics covered

• instructional leadership
• professional learning
• coaching
• school leadership
• teacher feedback

Keywords

• instructional leadership
• school leaders
• teacher feedback
• professional development
• career advice

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Time, Tools, and Tactics of Instructional Leadership: A Principal’s Guide to Leading Learning Momentum, Invest In Your Best, Passionate Leadership, 7 Mindshifts for School Leaders, Retention for Change, Building a Winning Team, Candid and Compassionate Feedback

More episodes of Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

• PMP504: Ready to Lead with AI with Dr. Kip Glazer · June 10, 2026 · 44 min
• MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Perspective Question · June 1, 2026 · 23 min
• PMP502: Strategies for Effective Leadership with Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera · May 27, 2026 · 42 min
• MONDAY MATTERS: Making an Impact with Ohio Mastermind Members · May 25, 2026 · 31 min
• PMP501: Developing Teacher Leaders with Dr. Chris Jochum · May 20, 2026 · 41 min
• MONDAY MATTERS: “What Would Mastermind Do?” with Archdiocese of Louisville School Leaders · May 18, 2026 · 33 min