School Culture By Design

Whether you're wrapping up a school year, finishing a big project, or simply trying to catch your breath after a busy season… it takes intention to actually pause long enough to notice what mattered. In this episode, Phil Boyte and Shyana Frost share 3 simple, practical ideas teams can use to slow down and reflect on the little things that often get missed along the way. From honoring progress and celebrating people to creating moments of encouragement for staff, students, and yourself… this conversation is full of tangible ways to build more hope, connection, and meaning into the everyday. Because sometimes the smallest moments are the very things that help people keep going.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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?

Leslie Loewen has served California's Central Valley as a teacher, coach, club sponsor, and administrator for more than 24 years. She is focused on active learning, positive relationship-building, and planting the seeds of knowledge and leadership through student engagement. During this podcast, she and Phil talk about how slowing down and truly listening to people can help cultivate a healthier culture. She also talks about the power of building relationships with the "forgotten" staff members and how to cultivate a "check-me" culture.