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 community, vulnerability, and trust on your campus. No matter what role you play, we believe everyone has a hand in creating a school no one will want to leave.
- Update frequency
- every 22 days
- Average duration
- 30 minutes
- Episodes
- 103
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Episode #130 - The People First Framework
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 yo…
Episode #129: What If We Can? - Guest Jessica Brooks
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…
Episode #128 - What to do when the cell phones are gone - Phil Boyte and Jason Jedamski
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 int…
Episode #127 - One Heart, One Mind: Leading with Joy and Connection with Guest Rob Sousa
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 meeti…
Episode #126 - Rooted in People with Guest Dr. Jacqueline Johnson
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 retreat…
Episode #125 - Clarity, Consistency, and a Dash of Fun with Guest Bentli Lewis
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…
Episode #124 - The Power of the Pause: Small Moments, Lasting Impact
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 powerf…
Episode #123: Avoiding the Gotcha Culture
Every 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 …
Episode #122 – Finish Strong: Inspiring Insights with Phil Boyte and Shyana Frost
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 encou…
Episode #121 - The Contagious Power of the Energy We Bring - Guest Danny Steele
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. …
Episode #120 - Empowering those around you - Guest Efa Huckaby & Dana Johnston
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 n…
Episode #119 - Wrapping Up the School Year with a Focus on PEOPLE
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 th…
Episode #118 - The Power of Creating Opportunity Across the Campus
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…
Episode #117: Emotional Intelligence in the Classroom - Guest Roni Habib
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 vulnerabi…
Episode #116: The value of focusing on staff culture - Guest Casey Giovannoni
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 podc…
Episode #115: Leading with Compassion - Guest Michele Anderson
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…
Episode #114: 3 Mindset Shifts for the Fall
Phil 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 l…
Episode #113: Dr. Tron Young - Be the Thermostat
Dr. 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 …
Episode #112: The Impact of Core Values on Culture
Craig 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 valuab…
Episode #111: PEOPLE FIRST for everyone
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, an…