Hopes and Dreams: Principles from a Principal with Jay Posick – Releases Wednesday, April 30, 2025

In this heartwarming and insightful episode of the ParentCamp Podcast, host April F. Draine is joined by ParentCamp President Julie Pile and retired principal-turned-ParentCamp coach Jay Posick. From their first connection during a global book study on Beyond the Bake Sale to today’s family engagement work, Jay shares powerful lessons from over 35 years in education. You’ll hear how his simple “hopes and dreams” question transformed parent-teacher connections, why his office was in the hallway instead of behind a desk, and how being present with kids builds trust and culture.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or administrator, this episode offers actionable wisdom on creating inclusive spaces, building genuine relationships, and rethinking how schools engage families. Jay’s story proves that leadership grounded in presence, humor, and humanity can reshape school culture—one circle at a time.

Show Notes:

The power of relationship-based leadership
How Jay’s “hopes and dreams” activity deepens family connection
Why circles create equal, meaningful dialogue
Behind-the-scenes of a ParentCamp in Delaware
ParentCamp as a tool for whole-school transformation

Key Takeaways:

Circles equalize conversation—everyone’s voice matters.
“Hopes and dreams” is more powerful than setting goals—it invites lifelong vision.
ParentCamp is about all families, not just parents—it’s a community movement.
Leadership requires visibility: “If you’re in your office, you’re waiting for trouble.”
The best engagement doesn’t end after the event—it keeps growing between camps.

Key Quotes:

“Goals have an endpoint. Hopes and dreams can go on forever.” – Jay Posick
“ParentCamp isn’t just for parents—it’s for anyone who loves a child.” – Julie Pile
“The only thing you do in your office is wait for trouble. Get out and connect.” – Jay Posick
“We don’t have to do this—we get to do this.” – Julie Pile

Show Notes:

Episode Title: Hopes and Dreams: Principles from a Principal
Hosts: April F. Draine
Guest: Julie Pile, President, ParentCamp and Jay Posick, ParentCamp Coach
Topics Discussed: Relationship Based Leadership

Resources Mentioned:

Jay Posick on Twitter/X – https://x.com/posickj
Voxer – https://www.voxer.com/
Beyond the Bake Sale Book – https://thenewpress.com/books/beyond-bake-sale
Institute for Educational Leadership (IEL) – https://iel.org/
NAFSCE – https://nafsce.org/
Principals in Action Book – https://www.amazon.com/Principals-Action-Redefining-Jay-Posick/dp/1734051426
Positive Outcomes Charter School, Camden, DE – https://positiveoutcomescs.org/
Sussex Montessori Charter School, Seaford, DE – https://sussexmontessoricharter.com/

Call to Action:

Share your hopes and dreams for your child using #ParentCampHopes on social media and share with your child!
Visit the ParentCamp website (https://www.parentcamp.org/) to learn more and bring ParentCamp to your school or district
Sign up for the ParentCamp Newsletter – http://cerkl.com/org/profile.php?id=1999
Join us for our monthly Virtual ParentCamp – Sign-up for our Mighty Networks Community – https://parentcamp.mn.co/share/fgIj8OGPqR6TTW4O?utm_source=manual
Share your experiences with family-school partnerships on social media using #ParentCamp #TheParentCampPodcast