Helping School Leaders Lead with Purpose, Clarity, and Joy

A woman with long wavy hair is sitting on concrete steps outside a house, smiling at the camera. She is wearing a white and beige striped sleeveless top, wide-leg blue jeans, and beige high-heeled sandals. The house has a stone and siding exterior, with a basket of greenery next to her. The background features a grassy area, trees, and a partly cloudy sky.

Hi, I’m Jayme Braida, an elementary principal, author, and speaker, passionate about helping educators lead with authenticity, courage, and joy.

I currently serve as the elementary principal at Columbus Elementary in Chariton, Iowa. I’ve spent nearly two decades building school cultures where every student and staff member feels seen, heard, and valued.

As the 2025 Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year and an NAESP National Distinguished Principal, I know what it takes to lead through challenge, change, and chaos, and still find joy in the work.

My Journey

My story is one of resilience, purpose, and hope. I didn’t grow up planning to be a principal — but along the way, through moments of adversity and unexpected grace, I discovered the transformative power of authentic leadership.

I’ve led through seasons of burnout, heartbreak, and breakthrough — and each one has taught me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about being grounded enough in who you are to lead with empathy, strength, and heart.

That belief inspired both my memoir and leadership framework, where I share my journey from childhood adversity to award-winning principal — and how those experiences shaped the way I lead today.

Through it all, one truth remains:

Joy is not the absence of struggle — it’s the presence of purpose.

The LEAD Framework

My LEAD Framework helps leaders Lead by Example, Embrace Their Narrative, Align Their Actions, and Do the Work. It’s practical, heart-centered, and built on the idea that when leaders know who they are, others know how to follow them.

What I Believe

  • Leadership begins with self-awareness and ends with impact.

  • Joy isn’t accidental — it’s cultivated through alignment and purpose.

  • Culture isn’t created by accident; it’s created by design.

  • Every person deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued.

  • Educators, and especially leaders, have the power to transform lives.

Let’s Connect

Share your name, email, and a quick note about what brought you here or how I can support you in your leadership journey.