Shows
School Culture By DesignEpisode #128 - What to do when the cell phones are gone - Phil Boyte and Jason JedamskiWith 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 exactly what you need.2025-07-3033 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #127 - One Heart, One Mind: Leading with Joy and Connection with Guest Rob SousaIn 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.2025-05-1427 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #125 - Clarity, Consistency, and a Dash of Fun with Guest Bentli LewisIn 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 turnover, hosting pulse checks, and engaging in courageous conversations—all while keeping student and staff well-being front and center. If you want your...2025-04-1627 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #124 - The Power of the Pause: Small Moments, Lasting ImpactIn 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.2025-04-0224 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #123: Avoiding the Gotcha CultureEvery interaction—whether in a meeting, hallway, or casual drop-in—should build trust, confidence, and connection. But too often, staff feel watched instead of supported. In this episode, Phil Boyte and Shyana dive into the subtle yet powerful ways leaders can transform a gotcha culture into one where staff 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 create a culture where every visit feels like a celebration of grow...2025-03-0722 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #122 – Finish Strong: Inspiring Insights with Phil Boyte and Shyana FrostIn 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!2024-12-1124 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #119 - Wrapping Up the School Year with a Focus on PEOPLEPhil 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. 2024-05-0233 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #117: Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom - Guest Roni HabibRoni 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 Living2024-01-3135 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #115: Leading with Compassion - Guest Michele AndersonMichele 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.2023-11-2131 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #114: 3 Mindset Shifts for the FallPhil 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? 2023-10-0618 min
Leaning into LeadershipEpisode 98: School Culture by Design with Phil BoytePhil Boyte has traveled the continent for over 35 years working with educators in thousands of schools to transform school culture. He believes in the power of sharing our stories in order to build relationships and trust so everyone can say: I belong here, I am safe here, I can learn and grow here.He is the founder of Learning for Living and the creator of nationally known programs including, Link Crew, WEB, and Breaking Down the Walls. Phil authored the book, “School Culture By Design,” and is host of the "School Culture By Design" Podcast. Most recently, Phil...2023-09-2445 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #113: Dr. Tron Young - Be the ThermostatDr. Tron Young is the building principal at Joseph Arthur Middle School in O’Fallon, IL and was named the 2020 Illinois Middle School Principal of the year. During this podcast, Dr. Young shares his leadership philosophy of being a "thermostat, not a thermometer," which means setting the culture and tone instead of just reflecting it. In this dynamic interview, Phil and Tron talk about bus tours, the 4 goals Dr. Tron sets with his students each year, and his FRIDAY FIVE that has truly helped cultivate a school of people first. 2023-09-1337 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #112: The Impact of Core Values on CultureCraig Tucker from ImplementED joins the podcast to talk about how having clarity around your mission, vision, and core values can have a tremendous impact on culture. He shares why data is so valuable and gives a sample activity you can do to get perspective from different voices from your school/organizational community.2023-08-1532 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #111: PEOPLE FIRST for everyoneLeslie 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.2023-08-0229 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #110: Building a PEOPLE FIRST Culture Through ConnectionsAs 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, or even lack of priority… but they believe starting with the human work is vital to team success. Through stories, recent data, and simple examples of activities you can...2023-07-1630 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #109: Hire and Retain Great Staff - Guest Raleigh BameHiring 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 they provide strategies and ideas that can be applied to your hiring process to put people first and ensure a good fit both for the school and for th...2023-05-0233 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #108: Magic of Moments - Guest Shyana FrostThe 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 your routine and create joy amongst your staff, colleagues and students.2023-04-1118 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode # 107: The power of positive leadership - Guest Jennifer PrinceJennifer 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 to create more positivity in whatever role you play.2023-02-2333 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #106: The Chick-fil-A approach to culture - Guest David HamelDavid 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 podcast for every leader looking to grow their people.2023-02-1031 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #105: Be Great - Guest Dwight CarterDwight 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, and wraps up the podcast sharing about his book BE GREAT.2023-01-2537 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #104: The power of a pit stop - Guest Paul LundbergPaul 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. 2022-12-1624 min
uLead PodcastPhil Boyte - The Importance of CulturePhil Boyte is a Culture Coach, as well as a Professional Development and Culture Summit Facilitator. Phil helps educational leaders to create schools that are so fun, encouraging, and safe they have to beg students and teachers to leave at the end of the day. He has travelled the continent for over thirty years working with school educators in thousands of schools. He is the founder of Learning for Living and the creator of programs such as Link Crew, WEB, and Breaking Down the Walls. He also wrote the book School Culture By Design.Hear...2022-12-1309 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #103: Purposeful play to build student engagement - Guest Dr. Deborah BeaglePhil 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 example to inspire positivity. 2022-12-1333 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #102: Culture of Trust - Guest Dr. Robert McBrideGuest 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! 2022-11-2237 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #101: Beat burnout and create connections - Guest Stephanie HaynesPhil 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.”2022-10-2528 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #100: Celebrate what you wish to perpetuate - Guest Dr. John EickPhil 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. 2022-10-0742 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #99: Tiny moments that cultivate culture - Guest Shyana FrostShyana 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.com2022-09-1326 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #98: Storytelling sparks connection - Guest Robin NottGuest 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.com2022-08-2426 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #97: Leadership and prioritizing people first - Guest Paul LundbergPhil 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. 2022-08-0931 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #96: Creating connections on campus - Guest Laurie BeyerIn 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. 2022-07-2631 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #95: Culture and Community - Guest Aaron RagonIn 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. 2022-07-0631 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #94: Igniting Culture and Breaking Down the Walls - Guest Jason JedamskiPhil 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!2022-06-0835 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #93: Hakuna Matata Culture - Guest Dr. Deborah BeagleIn 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 positive during her cancer journey and the encouragement she gives to have “no worries.”2022-05-0329 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #92: Spring ideas and traditions - Guest Melissa WrightJoin 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.2022-04-1231 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #91: Tiny moments make a difference - Guest Shyana FrostIn 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 about a NEW leadership program for administrators, “People First Administrator Training.” Learn more: https://www.learningforliving.com/administrator-training2022-03-3130 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #90: Mental Wellness - Guest Lianna GantzPhil 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 campus, and building relationships with a “10 Gives, 1 Ask” approach.2022-03-0828 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #89: Redefining Education - Guest Maureen StoverPhil 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.2022-02-2233 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #88: Student engagement ideas - Guest Scott BackovichIn 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.2022-02-0831 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #87: Leadership in Education - Guest Rachael GeorgeListen 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 each other's stories to create a culture that puts people first.2022-01-2534 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #86: Healthy Culture - Guest Vince CaguinIn this episode, Vince Caguin, Natomas Unified Executive Director of Nutrition Services & Warehousing, shares 3 mantras on building “Healthy Culture” with a focus on child nutrition, taking care of staff, and supporting local farmers. For Vince and his dedicated team, “it’s more than food” as they quickly became a cornerstone for the community during the pandemic. Listen in to hear Vince's secret recipe to the success of his program.2022-01-1128 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #85: SEL ideas to build community in the classroom - Guest Kelly GriffinKelly Griffin wants to “change the educational ecosystem” with an emphasis on social emotional learning (SEL). She shares numerous SEL activities to help build community in the classroom. Kelly also discusses the importance of teaching and practicing self-awareness, self-management, and coping skills. CLICK HERE for the Better Together Connect Cards that Kelly mentions during this episode.2021-12-0736 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #84: 3 skills to build a positive self-identity - Guest Donovan Taylor HallDonovan Taylor Hall, youth advocate and educator, is an inspiring, positive force for youth. He helps kids improve their most important relationship… the one they have with themselves. Donovan shares 3 skills to help students build a positive self-identity. Listen in to hear about the importance of encouraging helpful self-talk, creating a growth mindset, and practicing gratitude. 2021-11-1632 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #83: Get on your feet leadership - Guest Brooke BartonBrooke Barton is on a mission to build positive school culture and develop “get on your feet” leaders … because as Brooke says, you can’t lead sitting down! Don’t miss her school’s unique approach to the typical canned food drive that gets more students involved, the “Big Greet” to welcome students mid semester, and more ideas that help build amazing campus culture! 2021-10-2127 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #82: Learning from wins and losses - Guest Kenny MondayBe inspired by Kenny Monday, former Olympic gold medalist wrestler and current Head Coach and Director of the wrestling academy at SPIRE Institute. Kenny shares the value of learning from all experiences, including wins and losses, to drive us forward. Kenny is creating opportunities for youth and student athletes as he believes “when we re-invest in our youth, we make a deposit into our future.” 2021-09-1426 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #81: Road to Awesome - Guest Darrin PeppardTake a journey on the “Road to Awesome” with Phil Boyte and guest Darrin Peppard, keynote speaker, author, and former teacher and administrator. Darrin shares ideas on how to build positive school culture and how focusing on what people are doing right changed his mindset.2021-08-3133 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #80: Back to school with excitement - Guest Christina OnuskanichIt’s back to school time, and we are chatting with Christina Onuskanich (Mrs. O), Teacher at Central Mountain Middle School in Mill Hall, PA. Christina shares ideas on how she is kicking off the new school year with a focus on engagement and building relationships. Ideas include dedicated circle time, welcome back activities, mindfulness tools, team building, and a school wide book reading of “Deep Kindness” with her goal to “Let kindness lead the way this year.”2021-08-1018 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #79: Celebrating and Supporting Staff - Phil BoyteListen in to the CULTURE LEVER series finale and hear ideas on how you can CELEBRATE and SUPPORT your staff. It starts by creating and building genuine connections with colleagues. Phil Boyte shares ideas to consider this fall, such as relationship builders, check-in’s, and the Love List to get to know your staff and how they like to be celebrated or supported. Download the staff Love List (plus some student love list questions in this blog post): https://www.learningforliving.com/cultureblog/2020/8/18/the-love-list2021-07-2715 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #78: Creating Irresistible Experiences for Students - Guest Jason JedamskiJoin Phil Boyte and guest Jason Jedamski, Director of the Vanguard Academy of Broken Arrow, OK, as they share ideas on "Creating Irresistible Experiences for Students." Jason shares his passion to create an environment of emotional commitment among staff and students across campus and in the classrooms. JJ believes in micro experiences and that these moments create momentum. Listen in and consider how you can create irresistible experiences at your school this fall!2021-07-1325 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #77: Build connections at your gatherings - Guest Shyana FrostNext up in the CULTURE LEVER series, join Phil Boyte and guest Shyana Frost, Learning for Living COO, for an episode packed with ideas and tips on how you can intentionally build connections at your GATHERINGS from staff meetings to social events. #PeopleFirst2021-06-2919 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #76: Welcoming Students Back - Guest Ted GoergenIn this episode of the School Culture By Design CULTURE LEVER series, Phil Boyte welcomes back guest Ted Goergen, Director of Student Activities at Adlai E. Stevenson HS in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Ted views this fall as an opportunity to recalibrate and reimagine school culture and shares ideas on “Welcoming Students Back.”2021-06-1526 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #75: Reboarding ideas to welcome staff back - Phil BoyteContinuing the Culture Lever mini podcast series, this episode focuses on the “Onboarding/Reboarding” lever and gives ideas for welcoming staff back to your campus this fall. Hear how to communicate “we are so glad you are here” from day one with culture at the forefront.2021-06-0111 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #74: Culture Levers & Communication - Phil BoyteListen in as Phil Boyte provides an overview of the CULTURE LEVERS, four core areas that can be leveraged to intentionally build thriving school culture. In this episode, Phil focuses on the COMMUNICATION lever and shares simple ways to take a “people first” approach to communicate with your staff leading into the fall semester. 2021-05-1813 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #73: Potential this spring - Phil Boyte Mini PodcastSpring is here and before we know it school will be out for summer, so what a great time to pause and consider the potential we have before staff and students leave for the year. During this mini podcast, Phil shares the concept of "intent versus capacity" and thoughts on prioritizing this spring for optimal impact.2021-04-1312 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #72: Digital4Good: Empowering students to be part of the solution – Guests Kim Karr and Malorie BournazianJoin Phil Boyte and guests Kim Karr, co-founder of #ICANHELP, and Malorie Bournazian, Lead Intern at Digital4Good, as they discuss using technology and social media in a positive way and empowering students to be part of the solution. They share tips on how educators can encourage students to have safer and healthier digital habits as well as the importance of training students to help and support fellow students as they often turn to one another. Additional resources, including free curriculum and the “21-Day Digital Wellness Challenge” to create healthy technology habits can be found on ICANHELP.net...2021-04-0138 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #71: COVID-friendly Spring Ideas for Staff and Students – Guest Debbie HawkinsJoin Phil Boyte and Debbie Hawkins, Campus Culture Director, at Sunnyside High School in Fresno, California, for a run down on virtual and social distancing ideas for this spring. Debbie has created possibilities and fun events for her staff and students during this pandemic without skipping a beat. Listen in to hear how she helps her school stay connected, including STUDENT events such as Senior Shout Outs on Instagram, Move Up Day, and Virtual Prom; and STAFF events including social distance lawn chair lunches, staff competitions, and a virtual holiday party.2021-02-1237 min
The Green Room Podcast SeriesEpisode 36: PC & Phil BoyteThis was a super fun conversation I had with my good buddy, Phil Boyte, right before the holidays. We talked about school culture, baseball, traveling, beaches, and a whole lot about self-care. Enjoy!2021-01-071h 03School Culture By DesignEpisode #70: Culture, Life, and People First – Guest Phil CampbellJoin PB and PC as they bounce questions back and forth about culture, travel, books, self-care, and so much more! Get to know the two friends who are deeply passionate about building great culture, as they share both personal and professional experiences and insights.2021-01-061h 00School Culture By DesignEpisode #69: Habits of Leadership – Guest Jennifer DustonIn this episode, Phil Boyte interviews guest Jennifer Duston, former teacher and administrator, and current Client Partner with Franklin Covey Education. Hear Jennifer’s views on celebrating hard work, being yourself, and how leadership skills prepare students for life after school. She also shares a virtual spin on making “emotional bank account” deposits to help increase engagement and build relationships among the school community while distance learning.2020-12-1531 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode 68: Celebrating the Wins – Mini PodcastIn this mini podcast, Phil Boyte encourages you to take a moment to REFLECT on what is positive in your life and to CELEBRATE those around you! This year we have challenged ourselves in many new ways… be sure to celebrate the incredible, resilient person that you are.2020-12-0111 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #67: Community, Culture, and Cause - Guest Rhett LadnerIn Phil Boyte’s latest podcast, hear Rhett Ladner, 27-year veteran educator, share ideas on creating a school where everyone is excited to be there. Don’t miss Rhett’s “mullet philosophy” of injecting some fun into everyday activities and the pivotal question from his colleague that transformed his mindset and approach… Be Yourself!2020-11-1240 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #66: BUILDING STRONG RELATIONSHIPS – GUEST DR. MARIA PEEKHear Phil Boyte and Dr. Maria Peek, Educational Consultant at Future Behavior and former teacher and administrator, share ideas on how students and staff can connect virtually. Maria has a passion for building relationships with students, parents, and community. Listen in to hear how she prioritizes building relationships and takes what works well in-person to the virtual environment. Maria grounds herself in her “why” and encourages others to reflect on their “why.”2020-10-2230 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #65: Virtual campus connections and self-care – Guest Sara CoweyHear from Sara Cowey, Educator and Activities Director, on creative and fun ways she is connecting students virtually this fall, ideas for staff collaboration and recognition, and the importance of self-care. As Sara and Phil discuss, everyone on campus (virtual or in-person) is “in this together” and it is critical to not only take care of each other but also ourselves.2020-09-2534 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #64: Teach to Make a Difference – Guest Dr. Farah (Meadows) Ortega-Choate When your mantra is “Teach to Make a Difference,” the outcome is amazing. Dr. Farah (Meadows) Ortega-Choate shares what she is doing this fall to inspire culture with both students and staff while distance learning. Hear her ideas on building relationships early in the semester and the importance of “connection before content.” Farah is in her twentieth year of teaching in Desert Sands Unified School District at the secondary level and is currently the Activities Director, AVID Coordinator, ASB and Renaissance Teacher, and AVID Teacher at La Quinta Middle STEM Academy. 2020-09-0939 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #63: THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX – GUEST SABRINA GOODWIN MONDAYIn this episode, Phil Boyte and his guest, Sabrina Goodwin Monday, Global National Sales Director of Mary Kay Cosmetics, encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and think in an innovative way. Get a dose of positive mental attitude (PMA) as Sabrina shares many inspirational ideas on how to motivate others, the importance of listening and understanding, and working with an end goal in mind. 2020-08-2039 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #62: Finding the humor as an educator - Guest Mark SchumacherListen in as Phil Boyte and his guest Mark Schumacher, former high school teacher turned keynote speaker and stand up comedian, share some educational humor! Mark has a brilliant way of finding humor in the classroom setting or staff meetings. Take Mark’s challenge on how you can find more humor around you! Also, he shares tips on what you can do if a comedic student becomes a distraction and ideas to bring laughter into the virtual classroom environment. 2020-08-1429 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #61: IDEAS TO CONNECT VIRTUALLY – GUEST STEVE BOLLARIn this episode, Phil Boyte and Steve Bollar, a.k.a. Stand Tall Steve, an educational thought leader and former superintendent and principal, share IDEAS TO CONNECT VIRTUALLY with staff and students as many of us begin the school year with remote learning. One approach Steve recommends is to go “old school” during these virtual times to help build connections… from picking up the phone, defining classroom values, supporting social emotional needs, to learning about new students and staff… because we are people first! Don't miss Phil and Steve demonstrate a Relationship Builder, “HIGH, LOW, CHEER,” th...2020-08-0535 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #60: RE-THINKING BACK TO SCHOOL - GUEST JIMMY GLEICHDuring Episode #60, Phil Boyte talks with Jimmy Gleich, Director of Activities at Bishop Gorman High School, about re-thinking how we return to school this fall. While the start of every school year is important, this fall we have a tremendous opportunity to change how we welcome back students and staff! In their conversation, Jimmy shares ideas and activities to build connections as you kick-off the fall semester… whether that is in-person or distance learning, or a hybrid. Looking for ideas on how to plan an unforgettable Day 1, how to create time/places for students to soc...2020-07-2140 minSchool Culture By DesignEPISODE #59: CULTIVATING AWARD WINNING CULTURE - GUEST HANS APPELListen in as Phil Boyte and Hans Appel discuss ideas to cultivate positive culture. Hans reflects from his recent book, “Award Winning Culture” to bring you real life examples of where to start to impact your school and what he does to make himself approachable to students. As we think ahead to fall and what returning to school may look like, Phil and Hans share a reminder of how we can check-in and support the adults and students on campus and build in intentional time.2020-07-0736 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #58: Ways to cultivate connections virtually - Guest Phil CampbellJoin Phil Boyte as he and his good friend, Phil Campbell of The Green Room Podcast, talk about the power of cultivating relationships during a virtual time. They share thoughts on the using social media, creative ways to connect with those who feel disconnected, and offer approaches to help shift mindset even from afar. Looking for ways to expand your perspective and find the possibilities in the midst of whatever might be ahead… you won’t want to miss this idea filled podcast!2020-06-1639 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #57: Staying positive in an ambiguous time (Part II) with Guest Heather GarciaPhil welcomes back Heather Garcia to dive deeper into “Staying Positive in an Ambiguous Time” - Part II. Heather pulls from her vast experience and shares ideas for administrators and teachers to carry a mindset of HOPE, JOY, and COURAGE in their lives. Listen in as she shares her thoughts on using this time to focus, provide clarity for teams, and encourages you to consider the “boomerang” challenge! 2020-05-2642 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #56: Staying positive in an ambiguous time (Part I) - Guest Heather GarciaJoin Phil as he welcomes Heather Garcia to the podcast. Heather has played many different roles in education including teacher, coach, activities director, principal, and eventually at the district level as an associate superintendent. While her roles have evolved overtime, one thing has never changed… her contagious attitude and way of staying positive even in the most challenging of days. During this podcast, Heather talks about the power of staying positive even in the midst of ambiguity, ideas she has seen work for her own life and ideas you can take back to the school environment. 2020-05-1434 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #55: Virtual Spirit Week with Alumni - Guest Kristin PattenJoin Phil as he welcomes back Kristin Patten, for a second interview on the podcast as she shares an amazing idea they rolled out at Antelope High School in April called “Titans ALL IN Virtual Spirit Week.” Many schools have been rolling out virtual spirit weeks, but what makes this one unique is the idea that Kristin, the Activities Director at Antelope High School in Antelope, California had to include alumni from her past student government classes to participate and help coach her current leaders. Listen in as Kristin shares the idea, how they set it up, and the ripp...2020-04-1430 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #54 - What we give energy to - Guest Rochelle WhellamsDuring this episode, Phil talks with Rochelle Whellams, a motivational speaker and leadership facilitator about the mindset she lives by and how it impacts her everyday life. During their conversation, Rochelle shares how being intentional with what she gives her energy has been life giving and shares the 5 questions she recommends using to filter thoughts. Looking to hit this week with a new dose of perspective? You won’t want to miss this great episode. 2020-03-3035 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #53: Small changes for deep impact - Guest Christiana KrausOn this episode, Phil interviews Christiana Kraus about the importance of intentionally building relationships as a new administrator. Christiana views her role as an educator as an opportunity to serve others well, with heart and with intentionality. She believes as leaders; we must foster and build clear communication, processes, and practices that focus on relationships, which is the building blocks to a strong foundation of positive culture and climate in a school community. Listen in as Christiana shares a few practical tips she has implemented this year as the new principal at Paramount High School in Los Angeles.2020-02-1936 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #52: Psychological Safety - Guest Dean WhellamsJoin Phil Boyte and his guest Dean Whellams as they talk about the power of building trust over time and the concept of Psychological Safety. Dean spends his life helping cultivate incredible leaders, so you won't want to miss as he shares very practical ways he has seen educators cultivate the culture they want through organic change.2020-01-1635 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #51: Activities to build culture in the spring - Guest Tamara GivensListen in as Phil interviews Tamara Givens, the Activities Director at Granite Bay High School about a few activities they do in the spring to build culture with both their staff and students. Tamara is passionate about finding ways to include people from across campus, so we hope you walk away with even one simple idea you could pilot in the spring. 2019-12-2923 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #50: Supporting staff at the end of the fall semester - Mini PodcastWith only a few weeks before the end of the semester, how can you support staff during an often busy season? Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski talk about why taking the time to check-in is so important, share a few ideas that could be easily implemented, and leave you empowered to find even just one thing to do over the next few weeks.2019-12-0123 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #49 - Mentor with a Mop - Guest Steve MoosDuring this podcast, Phil Boyte interviews Steve Moos, the lead custodian at Country Lane Intermediate in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Steve has become the heartbeat of his campus and through this highly inspirational interview, we hear why he believes his role is simply a “mentor with a mop.” Phil and Steve talk about creative ways he builds relationships across campus, how he empowers students to help, and simple ways to take care of non-instructional team members. Looking for reminders of how every single person on campus can build thriving culture? You won’t want to miss this episode.2019-10-0323 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #48: Counter Mentors - Guest Robby RiggsDuring this podcast, Phil Boyte interviews Robby Riggs, a dynamic consultant focused on unlocking the potential in the 4-generation workplace. Robby shares quick examples of each generation, why great managers take the time to stop and listen, and how people can think about using counter mentors at the school level. Ready for a fast and furious look at building even more trust and communication across your team? Check out the podcast today.2019-09-1840 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #47: Teacher Appreciation Winner Interview - Guest Kelsey GrahamWhen we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week back in the spring, we pulsed our School Culture By Design Facebook group followers for teachers who are doing incredible culture work on their campuses. Out of all the great nominees, Kelsey Graham a teacher from Middle Township High School was selected! During this podcast, Phil Boyte interviews Kelsey as she shares a few of the great ideas she implemented on her campus this past year. Listen in as Kelsey shares how they catch students doing great things around campus, support their staff members monthly, and focus on building thriving culture a year...2019-08-1624 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #46 - Reflections after my first year - Guest Allie SnyderJoin Phil Boyte as he interviews Allie Snyder as she reflects back on this past year as she started her teaching career at Weaverville Elementary in North Carolina. During this podcast, Allie shares simple things that were helpful to her and things she wished she would have known from the start. Looking to support your brand new teachers, take a listen and maybe you will walk away with one more thing you can do to make your brand new staff feel welcome this year!2019-08-0828 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #45: What does your campus display about your culture - Mini PodcastWhen was the last time you took a tour of your campus with culture on the brain? Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski both know there are some limitations on what can be changed within physical spaces, but during this podcast they share simple ideas for making people feel welcome from the moment they step up to the curb. It is a combination of what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like... so listen in today! 2019-07-3028 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #44: Not your typical first day back - Mini PodcastOn this mini podcast episode, Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski talk about the power of the first day back for faculty. They talk about what a typical first day is expected to look like and contrast that with a variety of ideas that will get your staff excited to be back! Many of the ideas they share don’t take too much time or energy, but can truly set the tone for the rest of the year. Looking to remind the adults on campus that relationships are key to a successful year... you won't want to miss this one! 2019-07-2633 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #43: Welcoming new staff members - Mini PodcastOn this mini podcast episode, Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski talk about why welcoming new staff members strategically can have such an impact on culture. Throughout the conversation they share a variety of ideas (some big and some small) that will leave your team re-thinking your on-boarding model. Looking to create a school where no one will ever want to leave… check out this brand new podcast today!2019-07-2324 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #42: What are you communicating with your graduation ceremony?On this mini podcast episode, Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski share ideas on how to use your graduation ceremony to support the culture you want using the "look like, sound like, feel like" filter. Phil and Jason also discuss the power of traditions at graduation and offer several easy-to-implement ideas to communicate who you are and what you believe as a school. Ready to be more intentional with your messaging at graduation? Check this podcast out today.2019-05-0222 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #41: 4 things that "make it or break it" for Week of WelcomeOn this episode, Phil interviews Corissa Stobing, the Director of Activities at Ygnacio Valley High School in California, about the 4 things that "make it or break it" for a Week of Welcome. Corissa has learned so many valuable lessons when designing a great week for both staff and students! Listen in as she shares things they have learned about what activities to include, how to involve staff in decision making, and how to use this week to launch a great year! 2019-03-0734 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #40: 5 actions that create new norms on campusOn this episode, we interview Dr. Amy Besler about the 5 actions that create new norms on campus. Amy began her career as a high school English teacher and has since served in the roles of dean of students, assistant principal, and principal and is now a director of secondary education for Elk Grove Unified School District. Her passion for school culture led to her dissertation on the topic, through which Amy studied the ways California high schools had positively transformed their school cultures. Listen in as she shares her top 5 actions and great ideas to start using immediately. 2019-02-1444 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #39: 4 books to consider for your shelfOn this mini podcast episode, Phil Boyte shares 4 books he would highly recommend picking up to build a great culture. He shares a simple concept he found helpful from each book and reasons to pick them up today! Want to keep growing? Listen today! 2019-01-0918 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #38: 3 Ideas for a new semesterOn this mini podcast episode, Phil Boyte shares three simple ideas to kick-off a new semester. He shares 2 simples ideas for the classroom and 1 idea for the hallway. Looking for easy, yet impactful ways to create connections? Check this podcast out today.2018-12-2716 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #37 - Connected Classroom Mini PodcastOn this episode, Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski share the importance of building great relationships in the classroom. They talk about the design for a brand new resource called Connected Classroom; a strategic online course (which provides a simple system), that equips teachers to build relationships through PLAY which grows TRUST and engages students to LEARN. To learn more go to www.learningforliving.com2018-12-2018 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #36 - Dynamic Classroom Culture - Guest Azul TerronezOn this episode, Phil Boyte interviews Azul Terronez who is international leader in project based learning, educational entrepreneurship, and innovative practices. During the podcast, Azul and Phil talk about the power of classrooms focused on relationships first and creating a community of care. Azul shares about the importance of celebrating mistakes, an awesome project called "design a classroom," and how to stay fresh as an educator.2018-10-1143 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #35 - Accessible leadership that builds great culture - Guest Becky LathamPhil Boyte and Becky Latham talk about how she has seen culture on her campus grow rich by being open to feedback, saying YES more and making your leadership programs more accessible. Working at a school with a high number of students with adverse childhood experiences (ACES), Becky and her team have been very intentional to find ways of involving students early on to give them the skills and motivation they need to be great leaders. This podcast is a great reminder of engaging students from diverse backgrounds to be part of building a great campus culture!2018-09-2041 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #34 - Looks like, sounds like, feels like - Guest Jason JedamskiDuring this episode, Phil Boyte introduces listeners to the newest member of the Learning For Living team, Jason (JJ) Jedamski. JJ joined the team from Broken Arrow High School where he was the Director of Student Activities. During the podcast, JJ shares a tool he used called the “looks like, sounds like, feels like” filter to help students face each event on campus from a strategic standpoint. He talks about the importance of communicating a BIG vision and spreading the word through a number of ways. Looking to take your student culture from good to great? You won’t want t...2018-08-2328 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #33: Mini podcast with Phil Boyte - School Culture is up to all of usJoin Phil Boyte as he talks about how school culture is truly up to all of us. During this podcast, Phil talks about a few different people on campus who may feel a bit like "ghosts" and given the opportunity could bring unbelievable value to the culture. Listen in to hear examples of people you may have never considered and how you might engage them in simple conversations! Great podcast as you head into a new school year.2018-08-0325 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #32 - Turning around a struggling school - Guest Jeff EbenJoin Phil Boyte and his guest Jeff Eben as they talk about transitioning a struggling school into a vibrant and thriving home for staff and students. Jeff shares recommendations from his experience as a principal on how to empower your staff, find a trademark routine, and ensure the mission/values are leading all major decisions. Jeff has an incredible story of overcoming major obstacles in life and has used this to help drive his passion towards better schools for everyone. Listen in today to be encouraged!!2018-05-1034 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #31 - The impact of elective classes on school culture - Guest Robyn GuestJoin Phil Boyte and his guest Robyn Guest, Dance Program Director at Antelope High School in Northern California. Robyn has a passion for teaching students leadership skills through the art of dance and shares how she sees the connection between electives and great school culture. Listen in to hear about their dance internship program, what she makes the student’s do to kick off the new year and ways she has been impacted the her students. You won't want to miss this!!2018-04-2632 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #30 - Think Outside the Box - Guest Paul BranaganJoin Phil Boyte and his guest Paul Branagan, the Principal at Middleborough High School in Massachusetts as they talk about the power of being intentional with your staff and students. Paul has implemented incredible programs at Middleborough to help celebrate and inspire everyone who steps on campus. Listen in as he shares how they transformed staff meetings into faculty expositions, guide students through their STRONG program and partner with parents to celebrate what is going “right" on campus. This podcast will encourage you to “think outside the box” and consider ways to reinvent traditional programs.2018-04-1236 minSchool Culture By DesignEpisode #29 - Building a Team Mentality with Coach Pat MurphyJoin Phil Boyte and his guest Pat Murphy, the Bench Coach for the Milwaukee Brewers as they talk about the power of culture in sports and how to build a great team mentality. Pat’s coaching and managing career has spanned over three decades at all levels of the game and he shares from his perspective how to set your team up for success. During this podcast, Phil and Pat talk about the importance of leaders first seeking to understand each player, the power of building positive connections and why facing challenges together is so key. Looking for a fe...2018-03-0844 min
The Speaker Lab PodcastHow To Build A Speaker Program Beyond Yourself with Phil BoyteAre you interested in speaking to youth or a school audience? On today's episode of The Speaker Lab my close friend and mentor Phil Boyte joins us to share his insights on that very topic. Phil focuses exclusively on speaking in schools, everyone from students to teachers to the district administrative team.He begins episode 64 by discussing what speaking looks like for him. He also offers his advice on how to truly make an impact when speaking to young people, and why his assembly schedule works well in the school system.And if you're curious...2016-05-1934 min
The Speaker Lab PodcastHow To Build A Speaker Program Beyond Yourself with Phil BoyteAre you interested in speaking to youth or a school audience? On today's episode of The Speaker Lab my close friend and mentor Phil Boyte joins us to share his insights on that very topic. Phil focuses exclusively on speaking in schools, everyone from students to teachers to the district administrative team.He begins episode 64 by discussing what speaking looks like for him. He also offers his advice on how to truly make an impact when speaking to young people, and why his assembly schedule works well in the school system.And if you're curious about the most effective way...2016-05-1935 min