School Culture By Design

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 c...

As Brene Brown said, "We are hardwired to connect with others, it's what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering." Join Phil Boyte and Shyana Frost as they talk about the power of starting with connections in order to build a PEOPLE FIRST culture. They have heard all the reasons it can feel hard to focus on this work between not enough time, resistant participants...

Hiring the right people is critical for school culture. Think about it, the team you hire is the team you will come together with everyday, the team you'll be in the trenches with, and the team that becomes like a second family. Join Shyana Frost and Raleigh Bame, Principal, Laurel Park Elementary, as they discuss the importance of hiring and retaining great people to fill your staff. Listen in as...

The tiny moments that you conclude your year with can be a marker for what people remember about the school year. Join Phil Boyte and Shyana Frost, COO at Learning for Living, as they discuss how to infuse "Moments of Magic" into the last weeks of the school year to create a fun and engaging environment. Gain ideas on tiny moments you can use as is, or twist - think Rubik's cube - to change up you...

Jennifer Prince joins Phil to talk about the power of being a positive leader. She is the Executive Director of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation for the Glendora Unified School District and shares pieces of the research she did for her dissertation focused on the relationships between positive leaders, teacher satisfaction, and overall staff morale.  Listen in as she and Phil give practical ways...

David Hamel, Owner and Operator of Chick-fil-A in Durham, North Carolina joins Phil to talk about how Chick-fil-A approaches building a people focused culture. He has seen the strongest leaders are willing to be intentional and inconvenienced, shares the companies CORE 4, and the concept of calling people UP versus OUT. Looking for amazing inspiration from an excellent company? This is a great pod...

Dwight Carter has been an educational leader in a variety of capacities over the past 25 + years and has a passion for building great culture. During this podcast, he shares why re-setting expectations coming out of the pandemic is so vital, how to practice those expectations, and then the power of trusting your staff and students to live them out. Dwight believes in the power of a smile and hello...

Paul Lundberg believes every good team needs a healthy PIT STOP along the way and during his conversation with Phil, he talks about leveraging the acronym RISE (Reconnect, Inspire, Serve, and Evaluate) to ensure teams are connected and clear on where they are going next. See the CULTURE BLOG for a PIT STOP template to guide your teams reflection time.  

Phil Boyte and guest Dr. Deborah Beagle, Director of Student Activities, share activities that build connections and school culture! From playdough, coins, balloons, to paper airplanes, hear how Debbie uses common items with activities to teach lessons of being intentional, kind, seizing the moment, and more! Check out our Culture Blog for resources to download, including Debbie's paper airplane e...

Guest Dr. Robert McBride, Superintendent of Lockport Township High School District 205, shares three ways leaders can build trust. Hear his examples of scheduling time to be present and available, being fully transparent, and teaching others to cultivate a culture of trust. Plus, try the "Fun Facts" activity by asking someone, "What is one fun fact about you?" to build a connection!  

Phil Boyte and guest Stephanie Haynes, veteran educator, speaker, coach, and author, discuss causes of educator burnout and provide ways to cope with it. Don't miss their ideas on building connections, including the classroom activity, "Uplift Jar."

Phil Boyte and Dr. John Eick, Executive Director at Westlake Charter School, share ideas on how to celebrate staff, create opportunities to share stories, and build a school culture prepared for disruptive change. Don't miss Dr. Eick's relationship building activity everyone can do with a photo on their cell phone. 

Shyana Frost, our resident culture guru and COO, puts on her Kindergarten Mom hat to reflect on how tiny moments have helped create trust in her school community. Listen in to hear examples (some accomplished in just one minute!) that made a huge impact and how everyone on campus can create a "people first" culture. www. LearningForLiving.com

Guest Robin Nott, Fine Arts Artist and Educator from Richland, Michigan, discusses how storytelling enables students to share their true story and connect with each other in a meaningful way. Download his " Story Sparks " activity to build connections at your next staff meeting or in the classroom. As Robin says, "everybody is a storyteller." LearningForLiving.com

Phil Boyte and guest Paul Lundberg share ideas on leadership and prioritizing "people first." Paul breaks down 3 ways for managers to evolve into leaders. Leaders invest in their people, create fellow leaders, and inspire by listening. He further states how listening and being engaged in a conversation without tapping out builds strong relationships and breaks down conflict. 

In this episode, Phil Boyte and Laurie Beyer, Principal at Maidu Elementary School in Roseville, California, share ideas on how to connect with kids, build trust with staff, and build community on campus. Laurie reminds us of the importance of focusing on what is going well and being present. Listen in to hear more about her superpower of knowing every student's name. 

In Episode 95, Phil Boyte and guest Aaron Ragon, Lead Counselor for Douglas County School District in Colorado, share ways to support staff and student well-being. Listen in to hear how Aaron builds community and trust with his team of counselors. He also reminds us to find moments of humor in our day. 

Phil Boyte and guest Jason Jedamski, School Culture Coach and owner of Ignite2Unite, share ideas on creating irresistible experiences, building campus and community connections, and creating a school no one wants to leave. Stay tuned until the end for an exciting announcement about the future of Breaking Down the Walls!

In this episode, Phil Boyte and guest Deborah Beagle, Director of Student Activities at Vernon Hills HS, Illinois, discuss school culture, leadership development, and the value of a supportive school community. Debbie shares her inspirational journey with breast cancer and how her school and network supported and encouraged her. Listen in to hear about her Hakuna Matata theme that helped her stay...

Join Phil Boyte and guest Melissa Wright for ideas to encourage and celebrate staff and students at the end of the school year. Melissa shares ways to build school culture, boost morale on campus, and bring back fun and meaningful spring traditions.  Melissa is a Jostens Renaissance Advisor and Mathematics and Dance Teacher at Kennebecasis Valley High School in Quispamsis, NB, Canada.

In this episode, Phil Boyte and Shyana Frost, COO of Learning for Living, talk about how tiny moments everyday help build trust and relationships on campus. Shyana shares examples why it is important to communicate effectively and acknowledge the dedication, achievements, and hard moments that our colleagues and students are experiencing.  Also, stay tuned until the end to hear an announcement abo...

Phil Boyte and guest Lianna Gantz, Central HS Teacher and 2021 Texas Student Council Advisor of the Year, discuss school culture and mental wellness. Lianna and her students work together to plan "Mental Wellness" Week and "Stop the Silence" Week to increase awareness and understanding of mental health and suicide prevention. Listen in to hear her ideas on sharing positivity, creating a caring cam...

Phil Boyte and guest Maureen Stover, 2021 National Teacher of the Year finalist, discuss redefining education coming out of the pandemic. Opportunities include creating a culture of trust, support, and intentional communications. Also, hear about Maureen's equity in education initiative with her North Carolina regional team.

In this episode, Phil Boyte and guest Scott Backovich, founder of ENVOLVE Schools, share "Student Engagement Ideas." Scott shares his approach on being a silver lining specialist, the importance of staff and student acknowledgement, and student activities you can do this spring to increase student involvement and create community.

Listen in to hear Rachael George's incredible journey to education and her passion to pay it forward. She shares advice from her book Principaled as well as her newly released book, She Leads: The Women's Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership , including strategies to navigate leadership positions and building school culture. Phil and Rachael also discuss the value of taking time to hear eac...