Claim OwnershipSchool Culture By Design
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During 30+ years of wandering the continent, visiting schools and listening to school people share their joys and frustrations, Phil Boyte has learned a lot about building great school culture. In this podcast you will hear examples Phil has seen work to enhance school culture, stories from some of his heroes in education and simple ideas to start implementing on your campus today!
We invite you along on this listening journey. You will hear simple and transformative stories about building community, vulnerability, and trust on your campus. No matter what role you play, we believe everyone has a hand in creating a school no one will want to leave.
We invite you along on this listening journey. You will hear simple and transformative stories about building community, vulnerability, and trust on your campus. No matter what role you play, we believe everyone has a hand in creating a school no one will want to leave.
131 Episodes
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On this episode, Phil is joined by Blake Hiemstra, middle school principal at Valley Christian School in Visalia, California—leader of what his staff proudly calls The Dream Team. Blake shares powerful (and practical) ways his team keeps their culture thriving: from one-minute video shoutouts and the “Final Bell Salute” to the Awesome Cup and the Can of Awesome. It’s an inspiring look at what happens when leaders intentionally create tiny moments that make people feel seen and celebrated. As Blake reminds us, the key to great leadership (and great schools) is to pay ferocious attention—to kids, to staff, and to the little moments that matter most. Listen in for ideas you can bring to your own campus this week—and a reminder that culture isn’t built in big events, but in everyday actions that make people feel valued.
In this episode of School Culture by Design, Phil Boyte sits down with Shyana Frost, to unpack the heart behind the People First framework. They explore why leading well starts with taking care of yourself, building authentic relationships, and cultivating trust through everyday “tiny moments.” From retreat stories to real-life examples of administrators transforming their schools, this conversation highlights practical ways leaders can prioritize people and create lasting impact.
When Jessica Brooks opened a brand-new school, she set out to put relationships and trust at the center. Leading from a place of resilience and a ‘What If We Can’ mindset, she and her team have built a culture where staff, students, and the community feel they truly belong. Now, heading into year three, Jessica shares how this approach has transformed their school—and why strong connections are the key to lasting impact. If you need a fresh reminder of why your work on culture matters, this episode will inspire you.
With new legislation pushing cell phones out of classrooms, Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski see a huge opportunity to build something deeper: real community. During this podcast episode, they share intentional, simple, and fun strategies that get students moving, laughing, and connecting beyond the lesson. Packed with practical ideas, this episode helps every student feel seen, heard, and truly part of the group. Ready to bring more purpose and heart to your classroom culture? This conversation is exactly what you need.
In this energizing conversation, Phil Boyte sits down with Principal Rob Sousa to unpack how he cultivates a culture of joy, connection, and service on his campus. From empowering staff to lead meetings to creating laugh-filled weekly newsletters (complete with baby name polls!), Rob shares practical strategies for building a team that feels seen, supported, and inspired. Tune in to hear how their “one heart, one mind” approach turns everyday leadership into something extraordinary.
In this episode, Dr. Jacqueline Johnson shares how she built connection and culture during her first year as principal at Lockport Township High School in Illinois. From storytelling and team retreats to monthly themed events and fun traditions like “Three Fun Facts and a Weird Thing,” she’s focused on making her team feel seen, supported, and human. Despite early challenges like safety incidents, Jacqueline prioritized visibility, collaboration, and joy—believing that strong relationships are the foundation of great schools.
In this vibrant and heart-filled conversation, Phil Boyte has a conversation with Bentli Lewis, a middle school principal who believes school should feel like an experience—not just for kids, but for adults, too. From inflatable dragon costumes to competitive staff egg hunts, she shares how her team creates joy and connection on campus every week. But the real magic? Her leadership philosophy centers on communication, consistency, and visibility. She opens up about earning trust after leadership turnover, hosting pulse checks, and engaging in courageous conversations—all while keeping student and staff well-being front and center. If you want your school to feel more like summer camp and less like a stress zone, this one’s for you.
In this episode, Phil Boyte and Shyana Frost explore how simple pauses can create deeper connections. From a barista’s unexpected kindness to a school leader’s thoughtful follow-up, they share powerful stories that highlight the impact of slowing down and truly seeing people. Tune in for practical ways to bring more presence and care into your daily interactions both at home and at work.
Every interaction—whether in a meeting, hallway, or casual drop-in—should build trust, confidence, and connection. But too often, staff feel watched instead of supported. In this episode, Phil Boyte and Shyana dive into the subtle yet powerful ways leaders can transform a gotcha culture into one where staff welcome visitors with confidence. Through tiny moments of presence, intentional encouragement, and shared leadership, we explore how to build a school environment rooted in trust. Tune in for real stories and practical strategies to shift mindsets, strengthen relationships, and create a culture where every visit feels like a celebration of growth. Learn more about building trust with your team: https://learningforliving.com/ School Culture Summit: https://learningforliving.com/school-culture-summit People First Cohort: https://learningforliving.com/peoplefirstcohort Tiny Moment Challenge: https://learningforliving.com/tiny-moment-challenge
In this uplifting episode, Phil and Shyana dive into the powerful concept of “a mint in your tongue”—a fresh perspective on leaving a lasting impact. Discover practical strategies to uplift and encourage staff and students as the semester closes out, while also prioritizing your own well-being during the holiday season. Tune in to gain actionable tips and inspiration to close the year on a high note!
Welcome to today’s episode, where we dive into the world of Danny Steele, a veteran educator with 31 years of experience as a Principal, Assistant Principal, Teacher, Coach, and Assistant Professor. Celebrated as Alabama’s ‘Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year’ in 2005 and ‘Secondary Principal of the Year’ in 2016, Danny’s approach centers on the contagious power of positive energy. He emphasizes the importance of remembering your 'why,' bringing positive energy, and fostering an environment where vulnerability is embraced. Join us as we explore his insights on inspiring growth, valuing contributions, and making a meaningful impact in any room you enter.
Join us as we welcome our longtime friend, Efa Huckaby, the 2024 ACSA Secondary School Principal of the Year for California, and Dana Johnston, Assistant Principal from Liberty High School. Grab a notepad as they discuss how they have taken a PEOPLE FIRST approach to fostering TRUST across their school. They share practical ideas, such as Monday morning check-in’s, Efa’s approach for empowering his administrative team, and the benefits of leveraging simple huddle-up time to support one another. All great reminders as you prepare to kick off the new school year.
Phil and Shyana want to leave you feeling encouraged as you head into the final weeks of the school year. Together they share simple ideas that will leave your team feeling connected, reminded why they matter, and with anticipation as they look to return next year. They remind us all that creating a PEOPLE FIRST culture is truly in the tiny moments.
Mike Brasier is an innovation Principal in his fourth year leading Thompson Junior High School and has a deep passion for building schools that provide equity, empowering kids and teachers to do what they love, and creating opportunities to do so. Mike shares how leveraging the ‘Four P’s’ - Passion, Peers, Play and Projects, has empowered his people and created unity and excitement across his campus. Listen in to learn how Mike puts these principles into action to create a school where teachers love what they do and kids are engaged and having fun!
Roni Habib is a speaker, author, and expert in helping leaders, educators, and parents become happier and more resilient. During this podcast, Phil and Roni talk about the value of creating vulnerability and connection with students. Roni shares how he uses the concept of RAAMP to help build emotional intelligence for everyone. Check out his new book: Happy & Resilient: The Complete Guide to Joyful Teaching, Learning, and Living
Step into a conversation with Casey Giovannoni, a dedicated advocate for student well-being, who took on the role of principal at Central Valley High School amidst post-Covid challenges. In this podcast, Casey offers a glimpse into the journey he and his team undertook to harmonize excellent student academics with a thriving staff culture. He shares ideas, lessons learned along the way, and the impactful outcomes seen through their efforts to enhance staff culture.
Michele Anderson is the principal at Sunnyside HS in Fresno, California and believes great change starts by leading with compassion. She shares lessons in partnering with the parents and the power of inviting students into PD with your staff. Simple reminders to start with a PEOPLE FIRST approach with both staff and students.
Phil and Laurie Boyte take listeners on a journey through their recent trip to Italy, discussing mindset takeaways they gained from their travels. Embrace the unknown and unpredictable aspects of life for more fulfilling experiences. Infuse passion and love into work to create meaningful connections. By shifting your mindset, you can experience life in new ways and build deeper relationships with others. How can you implement these mindset shifts into your school culture?
Dr. Tron Young is the building principal at Joseph Arthur Middle School in O’Fallon, IL and was named the 2020 Illinois Middle School Principal of the year. During this podcast, Dr. Young shares his leadership philosophy of being a "thermostat, not a thermometer," which means setting the culture and tone instead of just reflecting it. In this dynamic interview, Phil and Tron talk about bus tours, the 4 goals Dr. Tron sets with his students each year, and his FRIDAY FIVE that has truly helped cultivate a school of people first.
Craig Tucker from ImplementED joins the podcast to talk about how having clarity around your mission, vision, and core values can have a tremendous impact on culture. He shares why data is so valuable and gives a sample activity you can do to get perspective from different voices from your school/organizational community.
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