E18: From Teacher to Leader: Why Nobody Teaches Leaders How to Lead

Many school leaders step into leadership roles because they were great teachers, but teaching the "little people" and leading the "big people" require very different skill sets. In this conversation, we’ll unpack the leadership gap in education and why so many new leaders suddenly find themselves navigating staffing, culture, and business decisions they were never trained for. We’ll explore what actually helps them to make the leap from classroom expert to confident leader, and how intentional leadership development, mentorship, and peer support can make all the difference. Melissa Blotter is a leadership development consultant and the founder of Directed Success, where she partners with education organizations to design impactful training experiences, leadership programs, and conferences. With more than two decades in early childhood education, she has led large-scale onboarding initiatives, leadership development programs, and national conferences focused on strengthening school culture and retention. Melissa is passionate about helping educators grow into confident leaders who create environments where both teachers and children thrive!