Leading with Love
What does it look like to lead with love on an ordinary school day? For Jason Johnson, it can mean telling students over the morning announcements that he loves them, welcoming pushback from a teacher, or trusting a custodian to lead. The EdLeader podcast returns as Dr. Rob Jackson sits down with his friend Jason Johnson, the 2026 National Principal of the Year and principal of Orange High School in North Carolina. Jason shares how listening to students talk about the school and the world they wanted helped draw him back to the principalship. He also reflects on why he chose to honor his wife when he accepted the national award and how school leaders can make it easier for their staff to be present for their own families. Drawing on his article “Keep It Simple: A Lesson for New Leaders,” Jason explains how his staff built momentum by focusing on a few practices they could do well together. They looked at student data, planned lessons as a team, and took the next manageable step...
