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PODCAST

School Culture By Design

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

education courses

All Episodes

29:25

Episode #134 - Hopeful and Helpful with Guest Tara...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/12/04

Tara Schwerdt, School Counseling Coordinator in Shasta County, joins Shyana for a conversation full of clarity, warmth, and hope. Supporting counselors and ALT Ed leaders across the region, Tara shares what she's learning about believing big things for students, building trust within teams, and infusing shared humor and joy into the work. You'll leave with simple, culture-centered ideas you can use right away—including a playful "game board" perfect for sparking connection at your next staff

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25:21

Episode #133 - Noticing the Glimmers with Phil and...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/11/17

In this episode, Phil and Shyana talk about noticing the glimmers, the small wins and moments of good that can get lost in the busyness of the school day. They share simple ways to make noticing a habit: celebrating wins at staff meetings, sharing "Best Day Ever" stories, and prioritizing people and culture. By noticing these moments, leaders can spark energy, connection, and joy across their teams, even during the busiest weeks.

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28:11

Episode #132 - Turning a School Around: One...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/11/04

Once upon a time, Olive Chapel Elementary wasn't the school families lined up for. Today, it has a waitlist and thriving academics — thanks to the intentional leadership of Principal Ms. May and her incredible staff. In this conversation, Shyana Frost sits down with Ms. May to uncover what turned things around — from meaningful staff meetings to bringing core values to life in real ways. You'll hear how she empowers her team to dream big, stay aligned, and build a culture where every person matters

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28:17

Episode #131 - Inside the Dream Team: How Staff...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/10/09

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

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17:10

Episode #130 - The People First Framework

School Culture By Design ·

2025/08/26

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.

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29:58

Episode #129: What If We Can? - Guest Jessica Brooks

School Culture By Design ·

2025/08/13

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

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33:07

Episode #128 - What to do when the cell phones are...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/07/30

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

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27:46

Episode #127 - One Heart, One Mind: Leading with Joy...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/05/14

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.

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27:26

Episode #126 - Rooted in People with Guest Dr....

School Culture By Design ·

2025/04/30

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

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27:23

Episode #125 - Clarity, Consistency, and a Dash of...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/04/16

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

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24:31

Episode #124 - The Power of the Pause: Small Moments,...

School Culture By Design ·

2025/04/02

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.

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22:45

Episode #123: Avoiding the Gotcha Culture

School Culture By Design ·

2025/03/07

When leaders casually drop by classrooms, do staff feel supported—or scrutinized? In this episode, Phil Boyte and Shyana dive into the subtle yet powerful ways leaders can transform a gotcha culture into one where teachers 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

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24:55

Episode #122 – Finish Strong: Inspiring Insights with...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/12/11

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!

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36:03

Episode #121 - The Contagious Power of the Energy We...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/09/11

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

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41:10

Episode #120 - Empowering those around you - Guest...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/07/17

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.

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33:33

Episode #119 - Wrapping Up the School Year with a...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/05/02

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.

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29:39

Episode #118 - The Power of Creating Opportunity...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/03/13

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

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35:21

Episode #117: Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/01/31

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

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33:11

Episode #116: The value of focusing on staff culture...

School Culture By Design ·

2024/01/04

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.

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31:50

Episode #115: Leading with Compassion - Guest Michele...

School Culture By Design ·

2023/11/21

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.

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