Little Wins

In this episode of Little Wins , host Karen Borchert sits down with Evan Hecker , principal and culture-builder, to talk about the power of relationships, visibility, and gratitude in leadership. Evan shares how he’s made trust the foundation of his work, why celebrating small successes fuels momentum, and how giving both students and teachers a voice leads to lasting change. From morning greeting...

In this episode of Little Wins , we meet Dr. Vito Perrone, superintendent of five small, distinct school districts in Western Massachusetts. In his first year at the helm of this uniquely complex and collaborative setup, Dr. Perrone brought a clear focus on people-first leadership, relationship-building, and transparent communication. Karen and Dr. Perrone dig into what it means to lead through co...

In this episode of Little Wins , Karen Borchert sits down with Jordan Stuhan , a principal who leads with humility, intentionality, and a fierce belief in people over performance. From his very first day on the job, Jordan flipped the traditional playbook—choosing to listen, observe, and connect before making any sweeping changes. In their conversation, Jordan shares how he's building a thriving c...

 In this episode of Little Wins , host Karen Borchert sits down with Jennifer Rosenblum, the founding Head of School at the Academy of Blanchard, part of the Academies of Oklahoma. Jennifer is doing something rare and powerful: building a school—and its culture—from the ground up. From incorporating nature-based learning and place-based design, to fostering trust through deep community involvement...

In this episode of Little Wins , host Karen Borchert sits down with Samantha Sebestik, principal of Pleasant Acres Elementary in Rantoul, Illinois—a school where joy, equity, and student empowerment aren’t buzzwords, they’re everyday practices. Sami shares how her team leads with connection, culture, and curiosity—from student-led school tours to jobs that give every child purpose and pride. You’l...

What does it take to lead with trust, transform a district, and ensure a legacy that isn’t about you—but about everyone? In this inspiring episode of Little Wins , Karen Borchert sits down with Alison Canter, Director of Student Services at Charleston CUSD #1, who believes school culture isn’t built with slogans—it’s built in the everyday work of connection, ownership, and shared leadership. From...

In this special episode of Little Wins , recorded live at ASU+GSV 2025, host Karen Borchert sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent of Saginaw ISD in Michigan, to unpack what it really means to lead with service, clarity, and trust. Dr. Collier shares how he built what he calls his “Saginawesome” team, a group of diverse thinkers united by a shared purpose. He dives into the systems tha...

In this episode of Alpaca’s "Little Wins," host Karen Borchert sits down with Gus Carter, principal of Guilford High School in Rockford, Illinois, to hear his inspiring journey from a reluctant educator to one of the youngest principals in the state. Gus shares how his approach, anchored in genuine relationships, an open-door policy, and simple, heartfelt gestures, has fueled a sense of trust and...

In this episode of Alpaca’s "Little Wins," host Karen Borchert sits down with Lindsay Pietrzak, an inspiring educator who’s taken an unconventional leap in her career. After more than 20years in education, including 12 years as a principal and administrator, Lindsay is returning to her roots in the classroom. At a time when most see leadership as an upward climb, Lindsay is redefining what it mean...

In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Jeff Dock, the first-year assistant principal at Thornapple Kellogg High School in Middleville, Michigan. After nearly two decades as a teacher, coach, and mentor, Jeff has made the leap into school leadership bringing with him a “team first” mentality and a belief that real school culture is built one relationship, and one conversation, at a tim...

In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Dr. Amber S. Henderson, a seasoned educator and transformational school leader with over eighteen years of experience in urban public education. Dr. Henderson shares her journey from classroom teacher to principal, highlighting her passion for instructional leadership, equity-driven reform, and fostering a community-centered school environment. D...

In this episode of Little Wins , Karen Borchert sits down with Dr. Luke Beall, principal of Fairview High School in Northwest Pennsylvania, to explore what it really takes to build a thriving school culture from the inside out. From spearheading a community-connected curriculum to letting students and teachers take the reins on culture-shaping initiatives, Dr. Beall offers a refreshingly real take...

In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Sheila Taylor, principal of Norwalk School District, to unpack the unique and inspiring practices that have made her school a beacon of connection and joy. With over three decades in education Sheila shares the special story behind her school’s “grade alike” structure where over 500 second and third graders learn and grow together. Sheila pulls b...

Welcome to Little Wins Podcast—where little moments matters!  This podcast is hosted by Karen Borchert to connect with education leaders about how they are building great cultures in their school. We’re sharing real stories from schools where small actions are making a big impact. Listen and subscribe to Little Wins Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Learn how we help schools build s...