In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Frank Macri, Superintendent of Voorheesville Central School District in upstate New York, a small, tight-knit community that “bleeds purple and gold” and treats the school as its gathering place.

A Voorheesville resident for over 20 years and a former music teacher and jazz saxophonist, Frank shares how leading where you live changes everything how he thinks about visibility, presence, and the tiny interactions that build trust. From greeting students, to tracking his connections with over 200 staff members, to a district-wide “Blackbirds” mantra, Frank shows how intentional, everyday actions turn culture into a lived experience for students, staff, and families.

💡 Little Wins in This Episode:

1. From First-Gen Grad to Superintendent: How Frank’s journey from aspiring musician to educator shaped his belief in school as a place that breaks cycles and opens doors.

2. Culture in the Micro-Moments: Why a sprint down the hallway and the feedback that followed transformed how he thinks about presence, tone, and perception.

3. The Connection Tracker: How logging meaningful interactions with staff and students helps ensure everyone feels seen, valued, and included.

4. Learning to Lead (Again): How professional development at Harvard and in situational leadership reframed his approach to visibility, support, and growth for his team.

5. Shared Decisions, Clear Roles: Inside Voorheesville’s committee and shared decision-making model and why “input” doesn’t always mean “final say.”

Key Moments

01:19 “We bleed purple and gold”: Community, homecoming, and fireworks on campus

03:03 From first-gen high school graduate to music teacher and school leader

04:09 Jazz saxophone, caroling, and bringing music into the superintendent’s role

05:36 When running to a situation escalated everyone else and what it taught him about perception

07:37 Smiling, whistling, and greeting students: tiny behaviors with big impact

09:31 The “connection tracker”: how Frank logs interactions with 200+ staff members

17:19 Professional development, Harvard courses, and discovering the ladder of inference

20:18 One Minute Manager, situational leadership, and building a goal-setting culture

24:37 How admin goal tracking shifted focus, feedback, and personal growth

29:14 Redesigning shared decision making, committees, and incentives for educator voice

Connect with Frank Macri

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-macri-9a54b8124 

Website: https://www.voorheesville.org/

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Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert

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Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library 

🧵 About the Podcast:

Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures.

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