Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders cover art

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders

Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders

By: Dr. Mel Vandevort - Educational Leadership Educational Consultancy Teacher Transition Coach Educational Administration Educational Entrepreneurship
Listen for free

About this listen

Are you a passionate educator stepping into leadership—or thinking about making that leap?



Maybe you just accepted your first admin role and feel the weight of leading well.



Or you’re a classroom teacher who feels the calling to lead with purpose and impact.



The Empowered Educator Show is your space to grow as a leader without losing who you are.



I’m Dr. Mel—former administrator turned leadership and instructional coach, educational consultant, and now your guide to navigating the real work of school leadership. With over 25 years in education, I help new and aspiring leaders shift their mindset, strengthen their strategies, and build Confident Classrooms—where teachers feel supported, students are engaged, and learning thrives.



Each episode I bring you real talk, practical tools, and heart-centered leadership support designed to help you:



Create a school culture rooted in confidence, clarity, and trust



Develop teachers who feel empowered, not overwhelmed



Lead with boldness, even when the road gets bumpy



It’s about becoming the kind of leader who creates ripple effects across classrooms, campuses, and communities.



Let’s power up your purpose and put your leadership in motion.



© 2025 Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Principal Leadership, Teachers as Leaders Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Power Surge ⚡It’s Not Too Late to Change the Ending #217

    Power Surge ⚡It’s Not Too Late to Change the Ending #217
    Dec 26 2025

    Send us a text

    In this Power Surge follow-up episode, Dr. Mel reminds building leaders that leadership growth doesn’t require a new role, a new year, or perfect timing. Inspired by A Christmas Carol, this short reflection challenges principals and school leaders to remember that even late in the school year, small, intentional leadership shifts can change culture and impact.

    Reflection Question:
    👉 What is one small leadership decision I can make this week that changes the ending of this school year?

    Perfect For:
    Principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, superintendents, and aspiring building leaders who need encouragement and clarity during the busy holiday season.

    Inspired By:

    • Dickens, C. (1843). A Christmas Carol. Chapman & Hall.


    Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

    Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.


    Calling All Educators!

    I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

    • I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
    • I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

    Join here: Empowered Educator Community


    Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

    Grab a complimentary POWER Session

    With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

    email: melinda@empowere...
    Show More Show Less
    4 mins
  • Lesson From A Christmas Carol About Leadership, Legacy, and More #216

    Lesson From A Christmas Carol About Leadership, Legacy, and More #216
    Dec 25 2025

    Send us a text

    In this holiday episode of The Empowered Educator Show, Dr. Mel reflects on leadership lessons from A Christmas Carol and connects them to the real work of building leaders. This episode focuses on reflection, relationships, school culture, leadership legacy, and the power of transformation.

    What I Cover:

    • Why relationships matter more than authority
    • How leadership experiences shape decision-making
    • What school culture reveals about leadership impact
    • Why legacy matters more than title
    • How leaders can change course at any point in the year

    Best For:
    Principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, superintendents, and aspiring school leaders.

    Resource Mentioned:

    • Dickens, C. (1843). A Christmas Carol. Chapman & Hall.


    Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

    Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.


    Calling All Educators!

    I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

    • I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
    • I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

    Join here: Empowered Educator Community


    Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

    Grab a complimentary POWER Session

    With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

    email: melinda@empowere...
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
  • Peace Over Pressure: A Christmas Eve Power Surge #215

    Peace Over Pressure: A Christmas Eve Power Surge #215
    Dec 24 2025

    Send us a text

    On Christmas Eve, the noise fades and the pace slows—inviting leaders to pause in a way they rarely allow themselves to do. In this special Power Surge episode, Mel speaks directly to school leaders who have been carrying responsibility, expectations, and unseen weight all year long. This episode is a reminder that leadership doesn’t always look like doing more. Sometimes, the most faithful leadership choice is stillness, trust, and rest.

    Grounded in the Christmas story and Scripture, this episode encourages leaders to release pressure, reflect with gratitude, and remember that God often works most powerfully in quiet moments.

    Scripture Referenced:

    • Matthew 1:21 — Hope entering the world quietly
    • Psalm 46:10 — The power of stillness and trust


    Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

    Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.


    Calling All Educators!

    I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

    • I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
    • I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

    Join here: Empowered Educator Community


    Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

    Grab a complimentary POWER Session

    With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

    email: melinda@empowere...
    Show More Show Less
    2 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.