Supporting Character Energy - Amanda Katagiri - Stepping into [ed]Leadership

Supporting Character Energy

In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we welcome Amanda Katagiri, Director of Professional Practice at the Franklin School in New York. Amanda brings deep expertise in supporting teachers to thrive across a whole career, not just survive their first few years. In her current role, she leads professional learning, coaches teachers in pedagogy and practice, runs performance conversations, and thinks strategically about teaching and learning across the school. Her leadership style embodies true supporting character energy: walking alongside those she leads rather than managing from a distance.

In our conversation, Amanda generously shares her approach to difficult conversations, offering practical strategies for creating safe spaces where teachers can grow. She explains how to clearly signpost where a conversation is going, name the hard thing directly, and use clarity, empathy, and structured processes to turn potentially challenging moments into opportunities for genuine development. Amanda’s commitment to consistent support and ongoing mentoring shines through as she describes how she builds a culture of continuous growth, where professional learning is teacher-led and not a one-off event, but an embedded process. We also explore the role of AI in education, and how we can support students to avoid cognitive atrophy, instead encouraging them to use it as a thought partner.

Our conversation underscores the importance of carving out time for reflection, both for teachers and leaders, and how we can encourage leaders to remain curious about others’ feelings and perspectives. From systems thinking programs for students to intentional mentoring structures for staff, Amanda’s work at Franklin School reflects a holistic plan and vision for developing people, young and old, who are prepared to think critically, grow continuously, and lead with purpose. Her insights remind us that great leadership is always about creating the conditions for others to flourish.

Credits:

Podcast theme music composed by Julian Ferraretto

Logo Design by Meredith Baker

Photography by Carmen Roberts