The School Leader Paradigm in Practice: Dispositions, Wellness, and Growth - IPA Talk

January 5, 2026  52 min

Principal evaluation doesn't have to feel like a checklist. They can be a real conversation about growth. In this IPA Talk, Jason Leahy sits down with leaders from Avoca School District 37 to discuss how the School Leader Paradigm is shaping reflection, feedback, and leadership development.

Key takeaways:
• Why “person first” matters in leadership growth
• How the paradigm builds a shared language between superintendent and principals
• What it looks like to go slow, be honest, and learn through the process

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IPA Talk Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCjd05N0Zv_LkA_TaQS5w0ekHV_fHq9vN

0:00 Intro
12:11 The School Leader Paradigm
15:43 Using the Paradigm with Evaluation
21:30 Wellness, Vulnerability, and the Human Side of Leadership
29:39 Leadership Dispositions & the “Becoming” Side
47:25 Advice for Leaders Adopting the Paradigm

#IPATalk #SchoolLeadership #PrincipalEvaluation #ProfessionalLearning #IllinoisPrincipals