In this episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, turnaround principal Dr. Timothy Howell shares how authentic school leadership and relationship-building can transform entire school communities. He raises the questions: Teach or Suspend?

Dr. Howell opens up about leading from the heart, building trust through accountability, and the power of vulnerability in creating meaningful change. Together, we explore what it takes to shift school culture, improve academic performance, and foster a sense of belonging for students and staff alike.

If you’re a school leader, teacher, or educator striving to lead with purpose and impact — this conversation will remind you that the most powerful transformation starts with human connection.

🚌 On the School Bus with Dr. Spates

So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together.

This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people:

1. The passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 school experiences, and
2. The once-passionate leaders who may have lost a bit of their spark and just need a dose of inspiration to find their way back.

As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.

👤 Connect with Today’s Guest: Dr. Timothy Howell

Principal | Author | Turnaround Principal

Email: timothy2howell@gmail.com

📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates

Website: KrishnaSpates.com

Email: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.com

Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates

LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.

📸 Production Studio

Recorded at 661 Creators Space — a creative studio dedicated to amplifying local voices through high-quality audio and visual production.

Website: 661CreatorsSpace.com

Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace

Email: 661creatorsspace@gmail.com

🎼 Music

Theme Song: “Call of Duty”

Artist: Mutanix

Instagram: @mutanixs

Email: mutanixmedia@gmail.com

Used with permission. All rights reserved.

💛 Support the Work

If this episode inspired you, please follow, rate, and share with another school leader. Our students, families, and communities are counting on us.