Leadership isn’t about staying busy—it’s about making an impact. In this episode, Dr. Samuel Nix, author of 6 Steps to a Strong School Culture, shares how school leaders can shift their focus from activity to meaningful results. We dive into the leadership cycle, common pitfalls in creating change, and real-world examples of schools that have successfully implemented sustainable improvements. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by daily responsibilities, this conversation will provide actionable steps to help you think more systemically and lead with purpose.

About  Dr. Samuel Nix:

Dr. Sam Nix has served as an Assistant Principal and Principal of both middle and high schools. While serving as a high school principal, Dr. Nix’s campus was named as a National Model School by the National Association of Black School Educators (NABSE) and was named as one of the Top 32 Urban Schools in America by the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST). His school was ranked in the Top 10 (comparable group) in the state of Texas for the four consecutive years that Dr. Nix was principal. Dr. Nix currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer in the Duncanville Independent School District. Dr. Nix has earned his Masters of Education in Educational Leadership, his Superintendent Certification and his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas A&M Commerce University. He has been awarded a Leadership-in-Education Award from the Texas House of Representatives; was presented the Mary McLeod Bethune Heritage Award for Education by the NAACP in 2010, the Dr. June James NAACP Education Award in 2016 and the Leadership Legacy Award from the Future Schools Network in 2019. Dr. Nix is the award-winning author of Six Steps to a Strong School Culture, a book that offers innovative and common-sense strategies for leading a school culture where teachers and students thrive. Follow  Dr. Samuel Nix: Website: www.snix3consulting.com   Twitter (X): @_SamuelNix Facebook: Sam Nix YouTube: @LeadThroughIt2succeed https://www.amazon.com/Six-Steps-Strong-School-Culture/dp/1960574523?crid=70K1YTXH3SLI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.LwbPl8ZDfH4aa6cNxH6SMO5PIMKFgvkSCmHZ_eptKFrGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.c_6bg4FzqgmjKkAyYm8dyLj-YJ2CD38-_J0d_YmUPD8&dib_tag=se&keywords=6+Steps+to+a+Strong+School+Culture&qid=1743368364&sprefix=6+steps+to+a+strong+school+culture%2Caps%2C283&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=aspirewebsite-20&linkId=90ec5e1b77f99f6fe9fcfd9638db7517&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl https://youtu.be/ahdmv5bwptw — Thriving Educator Free Webinar I want to invite you to a free webinar on Student Mental Health + Behavior! On April 29, I’ll be co-hosting this event with Thriving Educator to share practical tools and strategies for supporting student well-being in schools. 👉 Free Registration: https://thrivingeducator.myflodesk.com/thrivingeducatorwe 👉 Special guests: Julie Schmidt Hasson, Mike Sipple Jr., Herb Monroe 👉 For: Administrators, District Leaders, School Counselors, Teacher Leaders, School Social Workers If you’re looking for ways to transform mental health support in your school or district, this is for you! — #1 New Release, "The Language of Behavior" is NOW Available!  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVT32KQ1?&linkCode=ll1&tag=aspirewebsite-20&linkId=d18e5a44a6582a22d15ee23193af7bb8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl The Language of Behavior is an essential guide for school leaders committed to transforming their school culture and addressing student behavior through a more compassionate, effective approach. Drawing on their extensive experience in education, Charle Peck and Joshua Stamper challenge outdated disciplinary practices and offer a clear, trauma-informed framework that empowers educators to interpret student behavior as a form of communication. Through three core tenets—Consider the Environment, Explore the Root Causes of Behavior, and Respond with Intentionality—this book equips leaders with actionable strategies to foster positive behavior, build stronger relationships, and cultivate a more supportive school climate. Packed with real-world case studies, evidence-based practices, and insights into the lasting effects of childhood trauma, The Language of Behavior provides school leaders with the tools to create lasting, meaningful change. It offers a roadmap to reduce behavior issues, re-engage students and staff, and establish a culture of accountability and empathy. This book is not just a reference—it's a call to lead with vision and transform how we approach discipline, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive. Bulk Orders: https://www.connectedd.org/bulk-orders  —

Need a Presenter for a conference or school PD?

Contact Brad Waid to book Joshua Stamper for your next event on Improving Student Behavior, Impacting School Mental Health, or Creating healthy habits.  

Follow the Host, Joshua Stamper:

Contact: https://joshstamper.com/contact/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/Joshua__Stamper Instagram: www.instagram.com/joshua__stamper Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-stamper Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspirePodcast Subscribe: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aspire-the-leadership-development-podcast/id1384210762?mt=2  

Aspire to Lead Won the FireBird Award!

I’m happy to announce that my book, “Aspire to Lead”, won the 2022 Leadership Book Award from Speak Up Talk Radio!  It is a great honor to get this kind of recognition and I really appreciate all your support! The book is available for purchase on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1953852386/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1953852386&linkCode=as2&tag=aspirewebsite-20&linkId=0d9c336e3db6ab16cbb08421ef3e4175

Review the Podcast

I want to give a huge shout out to those who have taken the time to provide a review on Apple, Spotify or any other podcast platform. It truly means the world to me that you would take the 30- 90 seconds to share how the podcast has positively impacted you or why other educators should check out the show. [caption id="attachment_3022" align="alignnone" width="300"] Teach Better Podcast Network, Aspire: The Leadership Development Podcast[/caption] This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase through these links, The Aspire Podcast gets a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.