Barb:
Welcome to The Principal’s Handbook, your go-to resource for principals looking to revamp their leadership approach and prioritize self-care. I’m Barb Flowers, a certified life coach with eight years of experience as an elementary principal. Tune in each week as we explore strategies for boosting mental resilience, managing time effectively, and nurturing overall wellness.
From tackling daily challenges to maintaining a healthy work-life balance, I’m here to help you navigate the complexities of school leadership. Let’s reignite your purpose and passion for the job. Welcome to a podcast where your well-being is the top priority.
Barb:
Welcome everyone! I’m thrilled to be here today with two incredible guests—Jenice Pizzuto and Steven Carney—authors of the book Implement with Impact: A Strategic Framework for Leading School and District Initiatives.
Today, we’re diving into what it really takes to implement initiatives effectively and sustainably. But first, Jenice and Steven, would you mind introducing yourselves?
Jenice:
Hi everyone! I’m Jenice Pizzuto, and most importantly, I’m a practitioner—an implementer, just like you. My journey began as a kindergarten and first-grade teacher. Since then, I’ve served as an administrator, supported over 40 schools through change, led statewide initiatives, and consulted internationally.
I’m the founder of Impact Lead Succeed, where I help schools and districts implement change effectively. Steven and I wrote this book because we saw a massive gap between knowing what to do and actually getting it done. We wanted to bridge that gap with a framework that supports real, lasting change. I’m so excited to be here!
Steven:
Thanks, Jenice! And hi, everyone—I’m Steven Carney. My background includes being a teacher, principal at all school levels, and working with county offices of education. I’m currently the executive director of Redis School Vancouver, a charter school focused on building upward mobility for students.
I’ve also spent years consulting nationally and internationally. Through that work, Jenice and I realized that the single biggest barrier schools face is the implementation gap—that space between intention and action. That’s what this book is all about.
Barb:
Yes! And that gap is so real. In my principal prep program, we never talked about implementation science. I didn’t learn about it until I pursued my superintendent’s license. So let’s start there. What does it mean to “implement with impact,” and what does the acronym IMPACT stand for in your book?
Jenice:
Great question, Barb. IMPACT is more than just a clever acronym—it’s built on deep research and years of working with schools. Here’s what it stands for:
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I – Inclusion of implementers from the start
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M – Meaningful Leadership that empowers others
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P – Professional Learning that is ongoing and job-embedded
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A – Assess and Adjust using data and feedback loops
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C – Collective Efficacy—shared belief in success
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T – Team, because implementation is a team sport
What sets our framework apart is the focus on human- and learning-centered design. We don’t just talk about “rolling out” initiatives—we focus on who is doing the work and how they’re supported. We want to avoid what we call pigeon PD—you know, fly in, drop some info, and leave.
Steven:
Exactly. Each component of IMPACT ties to the science of change. For example, “Assess and Adjust” is about using real-time feedback to improve the work. “Team” isn’t just about having a group—it’s about building team competencies for communication and coordination.
All of these pieces are backed by research and are essential to helping change stick.
Barb:
So good. And so many of these components are often missing in schools, just because of how busy we are. Can you explain what implementation science is and why it matters?
Jenice:
Sure! In its simplest form, implementation science is the study of how to put evidence-based practices into action effectively and sustainably. It’s about closing the gap between what we know works and what actually happens in schools.
It focuses on three core components:
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Effective Innovation – What’s the evidence-based practice you’re implementing?
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Effective Implementation – Are you using proven strategies to make it happen?
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Enabling Context – Are the conditions in place to support success?
If you’re missing even one of those, implementation fails. In fact, research shows that without all three, you might see as little as 14% implementation even after 17 years. But with strong teams and systems? You can reach 80% in as little as two to three years.
Steven:
Yes! Implementation science gives us strategies for adoption, integration, and sustainment. But it can be dense and academic. Our goal with Implement with Impact was to simplify that science into a practical framework for schools.
Barb:
I’m in Ohio, where we’ve had a big push around the Science of Reading. What you’re describing really resonates—we have the research, but implementation has been all over the place. Your point about “active and effective” is such a good reminder.
How long should it take to implement an initiative the right way?
Jenice:
Research tells us it typically takes 2–3 years to fully implement an initiative with fidelity. That’s why we built our book around four stages:
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Decide – Define the problem, assess readiness, build your implementation team
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Plan and Prepare – Identify the active ingredients and create a plan
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Implement – Monitor progress, provide ongoing support, and adjust as needed
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Spread and Sustain – Ensure long-term success and scalability
Most schools skip right to “implement” and miss the planning and preparation stage—which is the most important.
Steven:
That’s right. And if you rush implementation without building readiness, training your team, or aligning leadership, you’ll burn out your staff and never hit your goals. We’ve seen it happen.
But with the IMPACT framework, we’ve worked with schools who saw more progress in one year than they did in ten years of “checking the box.”
Barb:
This ties right into my next question. One thing I talk about a lot on this podcast is principal well-being. And one thing that makes implementation stressful is the school culture—especially when teachers are resistant. How does your framework support the culture shift needed for successful change?
Jenice:
Barb, this is where our hearts really live. You’re not meant to do this alone. With the IMPACT framework, you build a shared culture of learning, support, and improvement.
You’ll also:
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Proactively address resistance using change theory
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Engage your team in transparent planning
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Create a culture of shared ownership—no more “That’s the principal’s project.”
The result? Less stress, more buy-in, and stronger results.
Steven:
One part of the framework I love is assessing readiness before diving in. That means:
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Asking if the initiative is the right fit
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Gauging the collective attitudes and beliefs
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Evaluating if the school has the capacity to implement well
When principals do this upfront, they avoid a lot of downstream stress—and their teams feel heard and supported.
Barb:
That makes so much sense. I know I’ve rushed into things before, only to realize the school just wasn’t ready. Or worse—I hadn’t built a team around me to sustain the work. This framework really shifts that mindset.
Before we close, is there anything else you’d like to share with listeners?
Steven:
Yes—this book isn’t just for principals. It’s for leadership teams and anyone involved in implementation. Our goal is to build implementation literacy across education. When schools understand how to do the work right, they go further, faster—and avoid burnout along the way.
Jenice:
Exactly. Our vision is to shine a light on implementation in the education sector and equip educators with tools that are approachable, practical, and grounded in research. We owe it to our students to get this right—because they’re counting on us.
Barb:
Well said. And I’m so grateful for the work you’re doing. Jenice and Steven, thank you so much for being here today. This was such a valuable conversation, and I know it’s going to help a lot of school leaders.
I’ll link to your contact information and the book in the show notes so listeners can connect with you.
Thanks again for joining us—and thank you to everyone listening to The Principal’s Handbook.
