Hello everyone! As the world grapples with crisis after crisis, we have all turned our gaze to the leaders of our communities. Leadership is hard. It is a lonely profession. Yet, according to my guest Jimmy Casas, it is the single most vital piece to an effective institution. In part one of our talk, Jimmy details why ineffective leadership is so prevalent (poor systems), what the cost of ineffective leadership is (a poor culture), and how mentors can be the difference makers for leaders new and old to the profession. Whether you are a parent, teacher, administrator, or some other vital piece to the educational puzzle, this episode is sure to inspire you to reach for new heights and serve with a deeper purpose. While you wait for part 2, check out my episode with Todd Whitaker on what great leaders do differently.      This episode is sponsored by Heinemann—the leading publisher of professional books and resources for educators—and their professional book, We Got This: Equity, Access, and the Quest to Be Who Our Students Need Us to Be by Cornelius Minor. Powerful teaching is rooted in powerful listening. What we hear can spark action that allows us to make powerful moves toward equity by broadening access to learning for all children. In We Got This, Cornelius Minor identifies tools, attributes, and strategies that can augment our listening, empowering us to take the steps to start influencing the systems that govern our classrooms and schools. We do not teach for what is. We teach for what can be. Craft better heroes…not just for the students that you hope to teach, but for the world that you hope to build.  We Got This  is available as a book, ebook, and audiobook. To learn more visit Heinemann.com.