The Principal's Office Podcast - Episode 1 - Zack Perfitt by Leaders Building Leaders

The Principal's Office Podcast- a podcast dedicated to teaching and accelerating the principals of school leadership.

In this episode we visit Wake Forrest Charter Academy in Wake Forest, North Carolina. This school is only in their second year of operation and serve almost 600 students in kindergarten through 6th grade. Zack Perfitt, the founding principal, has welcomed us into his office to talk about his leadership style. How did his build his team? And what is the most important personality trait he looks for in his team members? How did he open the school over its full capacity? How does he keep himself from feeling overwhelmed by the job in front of him?

And if you have never met Zack, he is an inspiring leader. He is the kind of leader who knows everyone in his school and talks to everyone the same way - from the Deans to his first graders, and from his teachers to the parents - everyone gets open honest accountable talk about their role in educating every child in the school. And he also welcomes - and expects feedback right back from everyone.

Thank you for listening and enjoy.

Please send any feedback to geoff@leaders-building-leaders.com

Notes:

2:04 “Can I give you some feedback?”
6:50 Zack’s journey as an educator
9:55 Who was your mentor?
11:10 Resources that cross from business into education
13:30 Engaging Families
15:20 How do you define a successful school?
18:15 How did you open your school over capacity?
21:35 How did starting a school with a management organization help you?
24:40 Who do you trust to tell you when you’re wrong?
29:35 How would you as a teacher feel about you as a principal?
32:30 Feeling the impact of your responsibility as a principal?
35:28 Strategies to make your workload manageable
37:14 Fighting burnout
38:59 Changing your mind in education
41:30 Advice to himself as a first year principal