"Am I Cut Out For This?"-Featu… - The Principal Liner Notes Podcast - Apple Podcasts Podcast Episode · The Principal Liner Notes Podcast · 08/16/2025 · 48m

🎙️ Wrapping up the summer season of #PrincipalLinerNotes with two incredible returning guests + friends: Elizabeth Dampf & Lauren Kaufman.

Listen/Watch here ⬇️
🔗 Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
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🔗 YouTube: youtu.be/1369WKJnS_M

A Mindset for Masterpiece Leadership What if we lived like the masterpiece was already within us? Not something to chase.Not something to prove.But something to uncover: one brushstroke, one note, one word, one choice at a time. Every…

What if leadership was less about chasing perfection and more about uncovering the masterpiece within?

My latest #PrincipalLinerNotes blog explores Masterpiece Leadership—a mindset of belief, belonging, and bold creativity.

seangaillard.com/2025/07/26/a...

Getting Back: Leadership Riffs from a Quiet Maine Lake Current State I’m writing this on a still, cool summer morning beside a lake in Maine. Loons call across the water, pine needles perfume the air, and sunlight pirouettes on gentle waves. After the …

My latest #PrincipalLinerNotes is live. It’s about getting back—back to purpose, clarity, trust, and service.

Written on a quiet morning beside a Maine lake, this reflection is a call to lead with less noise and more heart.

Read it here:
seangaillard.com/2025/06/26/g...

#LeadershipRiffs #EduSky

Light Our Fire: Leadership, Problem-Solving, and the Sound of Collaboration Recently, I came across a clip on YouTube of the late Ray Manzarek of The Doors telling the origin story of their 1967 hit Light My Fire. It’s one of those creative origin stories that just sticks.…

Leadership shines brightest when we solve problems together.

New post on collaborative problem-solving and shared purpose:
seangaillard.com/2025/06/19/l...

#PrincipalLinerNotes #LeadershipRiffs #EdLeadership

C’est chouette, Erin! Thanks for tuning in and adding to your adventure in Paris! #PrincipalLinerNotes #tlap @burgessdave.bsky.social

Thanks for listening!! Wow...great location! #PrincipalLinerNotes #tlap

Brian Wilson showed us how to turn pain into harmony. His music carried me through tough seasons.

I wrote this tribute with deep gratitude.
🎶 In the Key of Brian
seangaillard.com/2025/06/11/i...

#PrincipalLinerNotes #LeadershipRiffs #ThePepperEffect 💛

This was a fun episode with @smgaillard.bsky.social !! #PrincipalLinerNotes #tlap #dbcincbooks #ThePepperEffect #EduSky

#PrincipalLinerNotes: Back on Deck: Setting Sail with Dave Burgess The Principal Liner Notes Podcast · Episode

Thrilled to share the return of the #PrincipalLinerNotes podcast—featuring the incredible @burgessdave.bsky.social!

🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/3wUE...
📺 youtu.be/BxYkq96GBUs

Guess who’s the first guest on the return of #PrincipalLinerNotes? @burgessdave.bsky.social #tlap #ThePepperEffect #edusky

There’s a rhythm we often miss in the rush of end-of-year madness. I found it while locking up the school after a long day—& it reminded me that stillness is a gift we often ignore.

Learn why in my latest blog:
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/05/31/t...
#LeadershipRiffs #PrincipalLinerNotes

For the leaders who keep showing up, even when no one’s clapping—this one’s for you.

A new reflection on finding meaning in the quiet, and giving the applause we may never receive.

“The Applause We Don’t Hear”
#PrincipalLinerNotes
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/05/23/t...

#EduSky

Teachers see what others can’t—the future in their students. ✨

In honor of #TeacherAppreciationWeek, I wrote this post to celebrate those who inspire, uplift, and ignite hope every day.

📝 principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/05/05/s...

#PrincipalLinerNotes #HopeBuilders
#EduSky

Somewhere right now, someone believes in you completely.
Don’t lose sight of your light. Your leadership matters more than you know.
New #PrincipalLinerNotes:
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/04/25/s...
#LeadershipRiffs #YouMatter

Somewhere in the Universe, Someone Believes in You Completely As I write this, I’m sitting with the weight of another school year nearing its close—reflective, grateful, and searching for meaning in the midst of it all. I’ve been a principal for 16 years. I’v…

Somewhere in the universe, someone believes in you completely. A new #PrincipalLinerNotes is here: principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/04/25/s...

Be with bandmates who catch you when you miss a beat—who nod with reassurance and remind you that your sound matters. #LeadershipRiffs #PrincipalLinerNotes

In case no one told you this morning…

The world is better because you’re here.
You are a reason to #CelebrateMonday—and every day.

Pass it on.

#LeadershipRiffs #PrincipalLinerNotes

Leadership can be lonely. That’s why I make time for Impact Visits—non-evaluative moments to reconnect with purpose and see the good happening in our schools.

Read the reflection here:
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/04/19/k...

#PrincipalLinerNotes #LeadershipReflection #Impact

Spinning “Blue Afternoon” by Tim Buckley as the soundtrack for a quiet stretch of blogging and drafting a new book proposal. His voice floats like a memory—perfect for writing deep into the day. #NowPlaying #VinylVibes #AmWriting #PrincipalLinerNotes

The Loneliness of Leadership: A Heartfelt Reflection for School Leaders Typically, I don’t write blog posts back-to-back. I’ve kept to a steady rhythm of weekly writing since my heart episode last year. That ritual has become part of my healing—recommended by my therap…

Leadership can feel heavy in the quiet moments.

You’re not alone.

A heartfelt reflection for school leaders walking the road with heart.

#PrincipalLinerNotes #SchoolLeadership #Heartwork

principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/04/13/t...

Leadership can be lonely. Friendships fade. The title isolates. But connection is still possible—and necessary.

A heartfelt new post is up:
“The Loneliness of Leadership”
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/04/13/t...

#PrincipalLinerNotes #LeadershipRiffs

Just shared a new #PrincipalLinerNotes blog post on a theme that’s been on my heart lately: legacy.

Not the kind tied to ego or awards—but the quiet kind. The kind that shows up in small wins, teamwork, & the impact we leave behind for others.

principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/04/12/e...

It's a very early morning and I can't sleep. Blogging right now. I hope my words are received by others when I press "Publish." I hope I make sense. #PrincipalLinerNotes #LeadershipRiffs

Sunday morning listening: “Fragments: Time Out of Mind” by Bob Dylan. Each take, each lyric, each echo is a brushstroke of reflection. The beauty of the unfinished, the brilliance in the searching. A masterclass in listening with heart and soul. #LeadershipRiffs #PrincipalLinerNotes

A Principal’s Rebirth: Finding Life, Love, and Leadership Again “Call 911.” These were the last words I heard from our SRO before everything went dark and I fell to the ground. This was not just a sudden medical emergency—it was the culmination of years spent s…

Stress. Gaslighting. Imposter Syndrome. High Blood Pressure.
All of it sent me to the hospital. I had to confront some hard truths.

This is the story of how I found life again.

Read “A Principal’s Rebirth” now on #PrincipalLinerNotes:
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/03/16/a...

Leadership, like vinyl, is best experienced with intention and soul. Drop the needle on some reflective grooves, curated for principals, dreamers, and difference-makers.

New posts and archived tracks: principallinernotes.wordpress.com
#PrincipalLinerNotes

The Power of a Check-In “So, what’s on your turntable?” That question was a daily gift during my final year of teaching at Bedford High School. It came from my colleague and kindred spirit, Barry Low, our brilliant music …

Start the week with presence. A simple check-in can unlock connection, clarity, and care.

New #PrincipalLinerNotes blog post: “The Power of a Check-In.”

Let’s lead with heart and intention.

#CelebrateMonday #LeadershipRiffs #MSMatters2025

principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/03/22/t...

A simple check-in. A kind question. A shared song.
Sometimes that’s all it takes to remind someone they matter.

New #PrincipalLinerNotes blog: The Power of a Check-In
🎶 Connection. Belonging. Leadership from the heart.
👇
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/03/22/t...

#EduSky

A simple “How are you really doing?” can open the door to connection, healing, and hope. Check in. Reach out. Be the rhythm someone needs today. You never know how your kindness might shift the entire song. #LeadershipRiffs #PrincipalLinerNotes

A year ago, I faced the darkest moment of my life. Today, I’m sharing my journey toward rebirth—rediscovering love, authenticity, and true leadership. I hope my story inspires you to choose yourself and cherish what matters most. #PrincipalLinerNotes
principallinernotes.wordpress.com/2025/03/16/a...