What if the leadership crisis everyone’s talking about isn’t a talent problem—but a systems problem?
In this episode of Teach Me, Teacher, I sit down with Muriel Summers, founding principal of the first Leader in Me school and a global voice in transforming how schools think about leadership. From her work at A.B. Combs Elementary—twice named the top magnet school in America—to influencing thousands of schools worldwide, Muriel has helped redefine what leadership actually looks like in K–12 education.
We dig into a bold idea: leadership isn’t a title or a personality trait—it’s a set of habits that can be taught, practiced, and lived by every student. In a time when schools are navigating staff shortages, budget pressures, and questions about student readiness, this conversation challenges the idea that leadership development is “extra.” Instead, it makes the case that it’s foundational.
Muriel shares real stories, hard truths, and practical insight on how schools can move beyond surface-level student voice and build cultures where every kid sees themselves as a leader.
If you’ve ever wondered why students disengage—or what it really takes to prepare them for life beyond school—this episode will push your thinking in all the right ways.
