Little Wins
Little Wins
Podcast Description
Little Wins is a podcast that shines a light on the small moments making a big impact in schools. Hosted by Karen Borchert, each episode features courageous conversations with principals, heads of school, and superintendents who are building trust, sparking belonging, and shaping culture—one hallway celebration, heartfelt gesture, or coffee-fueled conversation at a time.
Because in education, it’s the little things that often matter most—and they’re the reason people stay.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the small yet impactful actions that education leaders take to foster strong school cultures. Specific topics include building community trust, enhancing student engagement, and the importance of recognition and celebration, with episodes such as 'Joy Is the Strategy' highlighting innovative approaches to culture-building.
Little Wins is a podcast that shines a light on the small moments making a big impact in schools. Hosted by Karen Borchert, each episode features courageous conversations with principals, heads of school, and superintendents who are building trust, sparking belonging, and shaping culture—one hallway celebration, heartfelt gesture, or coffee-fueled conversation at a time.
Because in education, it’s the little things that often matter most—and they’re the reason people stay.
In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert talks with Stacey Green, Elementary Principal and longtime leader at Stockton Grade School in rural Kansas. Stacey has served her district for 36 years and has been principal for 13, leading a unique PreK–8 school where culture isn’t a strategy it’s the heartbeat of the building.
Stacey shares practical, highly repeatable ways to build belonging for staff and students: a simple “tap out” support system for tough days, staff-to-staff celebration routines, a joy-fueled Hoopla Committee, and High Five Fridays that bring community members into the school day in a fun, welcoming way.
You’ll also hear about Stockton’s Foster Grandparent Program (intergenerational classroom support), their mixed-age community groups that stay together from kindergarten through 8th grade, and the mindset shifts Stacey uses to keep culture strong—like noticing effort over compliance and turning complaining into curiosity.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- Culture as the heartbeat: Leading a PreK–8 building with presence and care
- Tap-out support: Normalizing quick breaks for teachers on hard days
- Foster Grandparent Program: Intergenerational support that builds belonging
- The Power of Mattering: Noticing, affirming, and showing people they’re needed
- Hoopla Committee: Staff-led fun that sustains morale and joy
- High Five Fridays: Community members welcoming students into the day
- Mixed-age community groups: Same group and leaders from kindergarten to 8th grade
Key Moments
01:44 36 years in one district
03:30 Long-term relationships with families
05:54 Stacey’s leadership mindset
07:26 Navigating retirements and staffing transitions
09:50 Culture as the heartbeat of the building
11:56 Peer learning and staff celebrations
13:49 Foster Grandparent Program
15:30 The Power of Mattering
17:14 Intergenerational impact on students
18:23 Trauma-informed practices
21:04 CharacterStrong and mental health supports
23:25 Visibility and daily teacher support
25:07 Tap-out in action
28:27 Changes in the profession
Connect with Stacey Green
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-green-35186283
Website: https://www.usd271.com/
Follow Us
Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert
Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca
Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/
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.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.