
People Before Programs: Servant Leadership, Trust, and Ethical AI with Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket
From Voices for Excellence by Dr. Michael T Conner
February 23, 2026 · 46 min · Season 4 · Episode 118
About this episode
Dr. Michael Conner and Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket discuss the importance of prioritizing people in educational leadership amidst rapid changes in the field.
What does leadership look like when education is evolving faster than ever? In this powerful episode of Voices for Excellence , Dr. Michael Conner welcomes Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket — President of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals, nationally recognised keynote speaker, and two-time bestselling author. Together, they explore: • Why people must come before programs • How relational intelligence strengthens teacher retention • Building trust as the foundation for school transformation • Ethical AI integration and protecting student privacy • Preparing Generation Alpha and Beta for a radically different workforce Dr. Edoho-Eket shares practical leadership insights grounded in service, high expectations, and culture-building. She challenges leaders to think beyond policy and focus on recommendations, adaptability, and human-centred innovation. The conversation closes with three anchoring principles for educational leadership today: hope, service, and love. If you are a principal, superintendent, educator, or system leader navigating change, this episode offers clarity and direction. Listen now and join the conversation.
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Michael Conner
Guest: Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket
Topics covered
- servant leadership
- trust in education
- ethical AI
- teacher retention
- school transformation
- Generation Alpha and Beta
- human-centered innovation
Keywords
- leadership
- education
- trust
- AI integration
- teacher retention
- school transformation
- Generation Alpha
- human-centered innovation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals
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