The Instructional Leadership Imperative with Principal Kafele

This episode of FocusED features Principal Baruti Kafele, one of the nation’s most influential voices in school leadership and equity. With over 35 years of experience as a celebrated teacher, award-winning turnaround principal, bestselling author, and keynote speaker, Principal Kafele shares powerful insights drawn from transforming schools like “The Mighty” Newark Tech and delivering more than 3,000 trainings nationwide. He discusses his newest book, his work with the AP & New Principals Academy, and the mindset leaders need to truly add instructional value to their schools, offering FocusED listeners clarity, challenge, and inspiration.

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Principal Kafele Brings a Tons of Experience to FocusED Listeners

A highly-regarded urban educator in New Jersey for over twenty years, Principal Baruti Kafele distinguished himself as a master teacher and a transformational school leader. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and New Jersey State Teacher of the Year finalist.
 
As a middle and high school principal, Principal Kafele emerged as a turnaround school leader which included the turnaround of "The Mighty" Newark Tech, that went from a low-performing school in need of improvement to national recognition, including U.S. News and World Report Magazine recognizing it three times as one of America’s best high schools. This culminated in Principal Kafele receiving the coveted Milken Educator Award for his leadership.
 
One of the most sought-after school leadership and classroom equity presenters in America, Principal Kafele is impacting America’s schools. For over 35 years, he has delivered more than 3000 conference and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars and student assemblies. In addition to writing several professional articles for popular education journals, he has authored fourteen books, including seven ASCD best sellers. His newest book, What Is My Value INSTRUCTIONALLY to the Teachers I Supervise? was recently released.
 
Principal Kafele is the creator and host of the popular AP & New Principals Academy, streamed live every Saturday morning on his AP & New Principals Academy YouTube channel. He is the recipient of over 150 educational, professional and community awards which include the prestigious Milken Educator Award, the National Alliance of Black School Educators Hall of Fame Award, the East Orange, NJ Hall of Fame Award, recognition as one of the World’s Top 30 Education Professionals for six consecutive years (2020 – 2025) by Global Gurus Top 30, recognition for creating one of the world's top school leadership training programs by Global Training (2025), recognition by District Administration as one of the Top 100 Influencers for Educational Leadership in America for 2025 and the City of Dickinson, Texas proclaiming February 8, 1998 as Baruti Kafele Day.
 

FocusED Show Notes with Guest Principal Kafele

Principal Kafele notes that being an instructional leader is a non-negotiable responsibility for any administrator who supervises teachers.​

He says that schools should prioritize instructional coaching over just operational or disciplinary management, ensuring that every teacher receives support for instructional growth.​

Principal Kafele notes that he wrote his recent book to help school leaders focus on their value to teachers and shift away from outdated practices where administrators only manage discipline and logistics.​

He says that schools should provide leaders with a “leadership plan” as intentional and well-crafted as a teacher’s lesson plan, rather than leaving each school day to chance.​

Principal Kafele emphasizes that culture in a school requires attention just like a relationship—if neglected, disruptions will result, but if nurtured, the environment becomes positive and productive.​

He says that schools should cultivate a culture where classroom visits are paired with meaningful, methodical conversations that build trust and promote teacher growth, not anxiety or fear.​

Principal Kafele tells listeners that sending a timely, specific feedback after classroom visits helps teachers focus on their students and not worry about the leader’s perceptions.​

He says that schools should recognize that one size does not fit all in leadership—experienced teachers and new staff have different needs and require differentiated support.​

He says that schools should help leaders overcome “instructional blind spots” and understand they are not expected to master every content area, but must be expert in pedagogy and committed to continuous learning.​

Principal Kafele says that effective instructional leadership means partnering with teachers, learning alongside them, and bringing culturally relevant perspectives into the classroom to reach every student.​

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FocusED is your educational leadership podcast where our mission is to dissect a particular focus for teachers and school leaders so that you can learn to lead better and grow faster in your school or district. Let us know who you would like to hear from next.