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 culture rooted in trust, shared ownership, and relational leadership. From recess duty to vision-sett...
Aug 13, 2025•44 min•Ep. 10
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, Jennifer shares the bold vision behind a school that puts joy, autonomy, and connection at the cent...
Aug 06, 2025•46 min•Ep. 9
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’ll hear how intentional hiring, high-fives in the hallway, and conscious discipline are shifting stud...
Jul 30, 2025•40 min•Ep. 8
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 revitalizing family engagement to empowering paraprofessionals and creating student-led initiatives ...
Jul 23, 2025•44 min•Ep. 7
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 that make his leadership work: from clarity as a cultural value, to humble curiosity as a leadership su...
Jul 16, 2025•19 min•Ep. 6
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 belonging in a large, urban high school. From hallway conversations and daily check-ins to a school-...
Jul 09, 2025•44 min•Ep. 6
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 means to lead by choosing to work side by side with students once again. We’ll dive into what drew her b...
Jul 02, 2025•42 min•Ep. 5
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 time. In this candid conversation, Jeff shares the surprises and challenges he’s faced moving from a cl...
Jun 25, 2025•49 min•Ep. 4
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. During their conversation, Dr. Henderson opens up about her hands-on approach to leadership at Mayra ...
Jun 18, 2025•33 min•Ep. 3
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 on leadership. Dr. Beall shares what it means to lead in the very halls where he once walked as a s...
Jun 11, 2025•43 min•Ep. 2
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 back the curtain on what it means to build a sense of family among both staff and students; how inten...
Jun 03, 2025•47 min•Ep. 1
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 strong culture at getalpaca.com
May 30, 2025•1 min•Ep. 1
