GAEL UnscriptED
Podcast Description
GAEL UnscriptED, the podcast that goes beyond the headlines and handbooks to bring you unfiltered insights from Georgia’s top educational leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Hosted by Ben Wiggins, Executive Director of GAEL, this show dives deep into the challenges, opportunities, and unexpected twists that shape education today.From leadership strategies to policy discussions—and everything in between—GAEL UnscriptED is your go-to source for candid conversations that make an impact. No scripts. No fluff. Just real talk from those leading the way in Georgia’s schools.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Topics covered in GAEL UnscriptED include leadership strategies, policy discussions, professional learning, and community engagement. Notable episodes feature insights from the Summer GAEL Conference, highlighting the unique blend of professional development with family activities, and discussions on initiatives like the Aspiring Principals Academy aimed at addressing leadership shortages. Specific focus areas include educational partnerships, district performance metrics, and effective networking.

GAEL UnscriptED, the podcast that goes beyond the headlines and handbooks to bring you unfiltered insights from Georgia’s top educational leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Hosted by Ben Wiggins, Executive Director of GAEL, this show dives deep into the challenges, opportunities, and unexpected twists that shape education today.
From leadership strategies to policy discussions—and everything in between—GAEL UnscriptED is your go-to source for candid conversations that make an impact. No scripts. No fluff. Just real talk from those leading the way in Georgia’s schools.
Start the new year with a clean slate and a smarter plan for leading your school. We kick off season two by inviting members to share their best campus ideas on the show and by laying out concrete support you can plug in right away. From statewide cohorts to targeted coaching and a literacy series that finally gives writing the airtime it deserves, the focus is practical help that saves hours and moves student learning.
We explain how our February needs assessment guides next year’s professional learning, then dig into two pillars: the Aspiring Principals Academy and the New Principal Institute. Splitting cohorts north and south opened access across the state, while new leaders in years one through four get a durable network plus face time with voices from the Department of Education, PSC, and GOSA. That mix of peer support and agency insight turns policy into practice and makes it easier to navigate certification, accountability, and reporting with confidence.
Leadership coaching takes center stage next. Our one‑day training with three short follow‑ups walks you through a full coaching cycle focused on adult growth, not compliance. You’ll build listening and questioning skills, practice in a safe setting, and leave with tools you can use with APs, teacher leaders, and teams. We also share time management tactics principals can start tomorrow: time blocking for morning presence and classroom visits, reverse time blocking to reveal hidden patterns, and email sprints that stop constant inbox checking. Round it out with our spring literacy webinar series on writing, plus a weekly Capitol update that keeps you ready to advocate on funding and policy.
Ready to lead with more clarity and less chaos? Subscribe for season two, share this episode with a colleague who needs these tools, and leave a quick review so more school leaders can find us.

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