What if the strongest leaders in your school are already in the classroom and do not need a new title to make a bigger impact? In this inspiring episode of Aspire to Lead, Joshua Stamper sits down with educator, author, and department chair Dr. Chris Jochum to unpack his book You Don’t Have to Leave to Lead , that reframes teachers as highly skilled influencers, not “just” a teacher. Dr. Jochum shares how his journey from ESL and Spanish teacher to leading a large teacher education department shaped his belief that leadership is rooted in character, courage, and service, and that teachers already practice Fortune 500–level leadership every day in their classrooms. Listeners will learn how to strengthen their leadership identity, craft a personal mission statement that actually guides daily decisions, and approach conflict with adults using the same relational skills they use with students. Whether you are a first-year teacher or a veteran educator wondering about your next chapter, this conversation offers a clear first step, recognize the “superpowers” you already have and choose one small leadership behavior to intentionally grow this year so you can expand your influence without ever leaving the classroom. About Dr. Chris Jochum Dr. Chris Jochum currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Teacher Education at Fort Hays State University, where he leads a teacher preparation program of over 900 students. His career, spanning more than two decades in K-12 and higher education, began in the public schools teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language before holding faculty appointments at the University of Central Missouri and the University of Nebraska at Kearney. His research focuses on leadership development in both K-12 and higher education, as well as the value of study abroad. As the founder and CEO of CJ Leadership Solutions, LLC, Chris translates his research into practice and is a sought-after speaker, trainer, and coach in the United States and abroad. He hosts The Department Chair Leadership Podcast and is the author of The Department Chair: A Practical Guide to Effective Leadership, You Don’t Have to Leave to Lead: A Practical Guide to Teacher Leadership, and co-editor of the forthcoming book, Profiles in Educational Leadership: A Practical Approach. Follow Dr. Chris Jochum Website: https://cjleadership.com/ Twitter (X): https://x.com/jochumcj Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjleadership/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.jochum.7 Linkedin:
