CC75: Dr. Gail Holder - Mill Valley High School - De Soto USD 232

In this episode of Cool Coffee with Kansas Principals, Dr. Gail Holder, principal of Mill Valley High School, shares her journey to leadership, her philosophy on education, and the importance of community and culture in schools. She discusses her focus on professional development, school improvement goals, and strategies for sustaining momentum in education. Dr. Holder emphasizes the significance of belonging and collaboration among students and staff, and offers advice for new principals navigating their early years in leadership.

 

Connect with Dr. Gail Holder: GHolder@usd232.org

X: De Soto School District - USD 232

 

Chapters (timestamp does not account for intro)

00:00 Introduction and Background
01:24 Journey to Leadership
05:27 Leadership Philosophy and Experience
11:06 Professional Development Focus
16:25 School Improvement Goals
22:31 Sustaining Momentum in Education
26:36 Reflections on Five Years
31:04 Advice for New Principals
36:29 Community and Culture at Mill Valley

 

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Transcript (AI generated)

Rick Sola (00:01.56)
Hello and welcome to another edition of Cool Coffee with Kansas Principals. Today I am here with the principal of Mill Valley High School in the DeSoto School District, USD 232, Dr. Gail Holder. Welcome, Gail.

Gail Holder (00:17.358)
Well, well, well, thank you, Rick. I really appreciate the introduction. I thought you would do a little bit of a throwback to here is my sophomore English teacher, but I appreciate you keeping it above board and very professional.

Rick Sola (00:31.246)
Well, I was going to, but now, yeah, yeah, in the post-production of this high production show that we've got going on here. No, actually, I was going to say, first of all, congrats on the doctor, because we do have a history here as far as going all the way back to my sophomore year in high school at Olathe South, and you were my ELA teacher. And so, just out of habit,

Gail Holder (00:32.686)
We can weave that in later. How about that?

Gail Holder (00:43.875)
Great.

Rick Sola (01:01.038)
Every time I see it, it's, hi Mrs. Holder, hi Mrs. Holder. And so congrats on the doctorate, but then since then, I guess before we even get to that, because we could go into our history, but we kind of go back in both of our careers. But while we're on it, let's just start with a little bit of your road to the chair. You're sitting in Mill Valley. We were just talking before going live and how great.

It is a really good start, but what led you here to where you're at today?

Gail Holder (01:34.392)
Such a great question. And so, you know, I got my administrative license back in 2005 and 2006, something like that. I had gone through the Pitt State program to get an admin and, you know, took the praxis, did all the things, but had really no desire to move into administration or that kind of leadership at that time. And so to be honest, I let my seven years or whatever the grace period is lapse and continue to coach.

and but during that coaching and teaching time I kind of started moving into some leadership or other roles within the district and in 2016 when my when my daughter graduated from Olathe South I also had Dr. Jessica Dane who asked me to come with her over to district office and work in teaching and learning and having had worked on getting my master's in curriculum and instruction I

I felt like, and I'd always been somebody who very much focused on the academic success of students, although I know how important being involved in other activities in athletics is. So I moved over to that position in 2016, moved over to the district office, and I served there for two years and learned a lot about leadership. But to be totally honest, as much as I love planning

professional development and believe so strongly in professional development for professionals and especially in the area of education. I was really missing the sort of lasting impact of being inside of a building and working with teachers every day and seeing the impact on student learning and you know the use of data and what we were doing with that. So I asked if there would be an opportunity for me to move back to a building and go into administration.

2018, I was afforded the opportunity to go to Olathe East as an assistant principal. My roles there were curriculum and instruction and activities director and loved that role, loved Olathe East. It was really fantastic. And then in January of 2020, one of my friends who I had taught with, was an assistant principal here at Mill Valley, texted me and said, hey, our principal is

Gail Holder (04:03.962)
retiring, would you have any desire or would you like to even think about coming and interviewing for our principal position here at Mill Valley? And the rest is somewhat history. I accepted the position in February of 2020 here at Mill Valley. And of course, we all know what happened in March of 2020. And so I spent from March 2020 all the way through the summer on Zoom calls with over

170 staff members here at Mill Valley. had 15 minute Zooms with every teacher, secretary, custodian, para, just to have some time to get to know them quote face to face. I had planned to do it in person, but of course that got derailed by the pandemic. So just an incredible journey getting here. And I think starting my principalship in a space

where I was also managing and trying to navigate a pandemic was something that I don't know that I really signed up for, but I'm telling you, I wouldn't have done it any differently. The stretch was big to come into a new space, a new district, new leadership, all the things, and then on top of everything else, navigating what we were doing as it relates to education in the pandemic.

as well. I am so grateful and thankful. Every journey has been my favorite, I will say. So at this point in my life, I would say that this is my favorite stop in my education, in my professional journey has been having the opportunity to lead this absolutely incredible community.

Rick Sola (05:56.079)
You know, I may have missed the how to lead through a pandemic course when I went through my Baker degree.

Gail Holder (06:03.513)
Yeah, that one, I don't know. Maybe they, you know, yeah.

Rick Sola (06:07.214)
But I had the same similar trajectory. I started at the same time and then it was the following school year and you probably can't see it, but it's like a twitch started to develop as you were talking about it. Yeah, what a crazy time and you know, going back a little bit, you referenced a late the East and being an activity director, you had a life.

Gail Holder (06:18.318)
Thanks

Rick Sola (06:30.446)
That was a big part. And for those who may not know, you're a legend around here when it comes to the dance team, drill team performance. And I bring that up specifically because I don't know if you at the time you thought about it as a...

probably a leadership position, but an administrative position, but I've worked very closely with different dance team coaches and it's a quasi administrative role. How did that prepare you for what you're doing now and kind of the road that you've had since then?

Gail Holder (07:07.426)
what a great question. You know, I loved my work with Dance Team and basically I would agree it is quasi administrative, if you will, because you're dealing with kind of a small community and you know, and I know you remember this, Rick, and you you calling me Mrs. Holder, there's a part of me that has to stop when I call you Rick, because you know, you were Ricky, like that, and that's what I knew you as, but.

Rick Sola (07:30.292)
You

Gail Holder (07:33.578)
Anyway, you know, I had 80 girls. You know, I had anywhere from 60 to 80 girls on dance teams. So it's almost like a, you know, a small school building that you were managing. So you had those girls and then you had, you know, their parents and whatnot. But I think really the philosophy is the same. And I've carried it with me through my administrative career as well is, you know, you set the bar high, you set the expectations high,

lead with grace and humility, but with strength and conviction and people will rise to the occasion and I feel like I've done that whether it was at Olathe East or here at Mill Valley. I've tried to lead just like I did you know back when I was 24 years old coming in as a first-year dance team director at Olathe South High School was you know these are the expectations this is what the guide

lines are, but I'm going to meet you where you are every day and I'm going to love you through it. But at the end of the day, if you don't do the right thing, then there's going to be a deeper conversation. And I feel like that's just, it doesn't matter if you're in a classroom or you're coaching a team that is recognized, whether it's statewide or nationally, or you're leading a school building. I really believe those same kinds of guidelines work for you.

Rick Sola (09:02.284)
Yeah, there's just so much overlap and I mean, there's hard decisions to make. There's there's personnel decisions that I mean, I know you had captains, you have placement on the floor, you know, routines and English. I, I am swimming in the deep end. You have no idea right now talking about dancing. But but no, I know there's so much that goes with that. Then, you know, there's potential for a parent.

Gail Holder (09:09.772)
Yes. Yep. Look at you knowing all the things about the Golden Girls. Yes. Yes.

Gail Holder (09:20.748)
You

Gail Holder (09:28.184)
Yes. You bet.

Rick Sola (09:28.418)
Concerned or upset or not to mention the building you're using lots of building you're coordinating between games and all sorts of things and

Gail Holder (09:35.394)
Yes.

Rick Sola (09:37.719)
Yeah, there's a direct correlation, I think, of what that was and what that's preparing for now. First of all, well, second, I guess a couple things. Well, you mentioned Ricky. I have so many people like, that's a really hard... For people, listeners of this show, was Ricky for a long time. I dropped the Y when I was writing emails home to parents and I felt weird having this serious email and then saying, you know, from Ricky Soler. So I dropped the Y, but it does

bother me. I've been called way worse. It's my name. It doesn't bother me at all. you also referenced Dr. Dayne, Dr. Jessica Dayne. And I tell you what, so in 2016, you said you made that transition. You're working with her. I became principal. I think it was that year, 2016, as my first year. And you talk about a dynamic duo, the two of you. And I mean that sincerely because as a first year principal, I mean, you're just kind of the

Gail Holder (10:14.648)
less.

Gail Holder (10:29.134)
you're kind.

Rick Sola (10:37.142)
Yeah, the fire hose is on, but you guys were such a support for especially the professional development aspect of just kind of getting my head wrapped around so many things as part of our school improvement plan, our goals, and both of you were just awesome and really kind of a lifesaver for me those first couple of years. So I appreciate that, but.

Gail Holder (10:59.662)
Oh, that's so kind of you to say. When we came into that position, there was professional development. But Jessica and I think the same way. The intentionality behind professional development has to be there. And there has to be sort of this linear vertical articulation to what it is your real goal is. So I'm glad you say that. whether you're saying it just for cool coffee or you're saying it in reality,

We'll never know the difference, but I do appreciate that. And I've tried to carry that. I know we'll probably talk about that here in a second. But I've carried that same sort of work and transferred it over to what we do here at Mill Valley.

Rick Sola (11:44.781)
Yeah, no, I mean it sincerely because, you know, I think we all have our strengths and honestly, you know, I value PD and there's a lot that we do, but I lean on our learning services department and especially as a first year. And you mentioned some of this earlier with the

the confidence and the capability that both you and Jessica brought in. It was very comforting in many ways as a brand new principle because things move really quick. But kind of to that point,

Gail Holder (12:13.93)
Thank you.

Rick Sola (12:18.806)
You know, the professional learning that you have for this year, we're recording this, it's August 19th. So it's early, we've started school, you got through your pre-service, but I'm sure you've got a little bit of a direction with PD or an arc, if you will. Where do you see Mill Valley going this year? What's your points of emphasis?

Gail Holder (12:36.622)
Yeah, no, I do. I'm a big one in the summer where I.

kind of push reset and I kind of slow everything down. And again, I try to be super intentional. I'm gonna start from our school improvement plan. When I first got here, know, I believe it or not, I spent a couple of years kind of not going full force. I tried to sit back, observe, see what's working and what's not working. And around year three, I decided when working with my department chairs collaboratively, I said, we've got to make this thing

so easy but so attainable. I need every single person to be able to articulate what are our building goals. So we made it as easy as ABC and it's academics, it's belonging, and it's collaboration. That's it. And of course underneath each one there's strategies and there's things like that but what I'm going to tell you is

You could ask any staff member in this building, what are your three building goals? And they could tell you. It might take them a minute, but they would go ABC, academics, belonging, collaboration. And we talk specifically this year under academics. Our focus this year is on high quality instruction and high quality instructional materials. So there's this emphasis this year on instruction. So academics is the focus of everything we do.

You know, we talk about, at Starbucks, they don't sit around talking about tennis shoes. They talk about, you know, they talk about coffee. They talk about customer service. They talk about all the things. And, you know, that's the work of our work. That's the business of our business. That's the talk of our talk as we talk academics. And then when we talk about belonging, we're talking, belonging sounds sort of fluffy and like, okay, well that just means that, you know, we want kids to be involved in athletics, activities, a club. But really, I've...

Gail Holder (14:35.126)
I've worked with our staff to say, you know, belonging is bigger than just saying, all of our students are, you know, have some sort of connection to a club or whatever. What belonging really means is that every single student that walks into every single classroom in this building feels like they belong in that classroom. They belong there, they can learn there, they're safe there. We've talked about the things you put on your walls, the things that you come out of your mouth.

is everything intentional. And we kind of joke between this rivalry between K-State and KU. Everybody kind of does that in Kansas. But for some kids, they walk into a classroom that has K-State flags all over the wall, and they immediately go, I'm not safe here, because my parents bleed red. They're Jayhawk fans. And I'm using a light example. But I also want teachers to be very cognizant of

being, I know these are sort of the terms that we're afraid of, but being really culturally responsive to, what are you putting up in your classroom? You don't see my entire office, but there's not one place where I have one degree up on my wall. I don't have my degrees hanging on the wall. I have a small little plate back here in the back of my office that says Dr. Gail Holder. I don't have it sitting out there because here's what I'm going to tell you that

based on the parents that I have coming into my office, the kids that I, they don't care about any of that. And not only that, are they really comfortable coming in where I've got all of my degrees and they haven't maybe gone to college, they haven't maybe gotten that extra degree. Are they immediately either on the defensive or feeling less than? This space is very common ground. There's not one person that

hasn't been in my office that doesn't walk in and the first thing they say is, I love your office. I don't think it has anything to do with the decor. I think it has to do with when they come in my office, they immediately feel like I'm on a level playing field here. I'm not coming into a place where I feel intimidated because this person has this degree or sits in that chair. Because it means nothing to them because what we're going to really talk about is how they can

Gail Holder (17:02.252)
we can support their student in a space of not having running water at their house. And even in a place like Mill Valley, we have those moments, right? How are we going to get food for their student in the morning? And how am I going to, you know, what are we going to do about their mental health? None of that matters. None of that stuff matters when we're really talking about the heart of what really makes this happen, which is students. So that's when I talk about belonging.

that's what I'm talking about. And then collaboration, of course, we have spent quite a lot, you know, quite a few years actually trying to get professional learning communities often running here in this district. And we finally, three years ago, pushed hard enough to get dedicated time on Wednesday morning, 45 minutes of a late start time where teachers can collaborate. And collaboration is all focused around

our first two goals, is academics and belonging. So regardless of those being three separate, they are all definitely.

They're definitely intertwined and they definitely intersect. And so even though you talk about them being these are our three goals, they really are all centered around the student.

Rick Sola (18:24.133)
Right? No, that's great. ABC, that breaks it down pretty simple, I imagine, for staff. you referenced your office. And of course, I'm sitting over with right next to my head is my chief's flag. So I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah. I'm looking at this. But I find that interesting. so when someone comes into your office, like a student comes in, and what's in your office that kind of

Gail Holder (18:29.346)
Yes.

Gail Holder (18:37.462)
You're good. No, no judgment. No judgment at all.

Rick Sola (18:53.428)
says you like, this is is Miss Holder, Dr. Holder's office. I mean, you know, how do they kind of see like what your passions are based on your office?

Gail Holder (19:04.366)
OK, I love that you asked that question. First is the picture behind me. I've had this picture since I started in school leadership. I bought it when I went to Lathey East. For me, every day, it's the first thing I see when I walk in, and it sits behind me. I never really sit behind my desk when I'm talking to kids. I try to move around. And it basically just says, every day is new, and we get a fresh start every day. It's reflection and strength. So yes, we want to constantly reflect, but we also want

to do that reflection in the context of strength and knowing that, being flexible, being able to change is really important, but there's always those firm foundations. I'll say that over here, I don't know if you can see it, but over here I have a table. And it's very interesting because the table is a collage of a variety of different things. It's got Mickey Manil, it's got Charlie Chaplin, it's got Marilyn Monroe, it's got John F. Kennedy.

and it's this montage of pictures and it's a conversation table. I purchased it from a bed and breakfast when it went out of business. so students come in and this is where we sit when we talk and it immediately, they always say, I love this table. And they love the table because there's something on that table that speaks to them. And I will always say, which one do you like the best? And every student will pick something different. I really like this.

astronauts. I mean, it's got everything on there. I have my sign over here on my wall that says, this is my happy place. And students know when they walk in here, hey, I'm in a place that this person loves to be. In my corner, which you can't see, I can't turn the camera that far, but I've got a whole litany of plants. I've got greenery. got good, I call it good juju. I believe in the power of plants.

exuding that really good oxygen. Up here on my bookshelf, it says, make every moment count. And I change that every year. And kids will notice that, you changed that. that's a new one this year. And I'll tell you why I have make every moment count when we get to that.

Gail Holder (21:25.174)
And I guess I'll finish my conversation if you're OK with that with my theme for the year, you are, you know, my idea for the year. So we have our school improvement plan. But our theme for the year is and I think one every year and I know you do too, because Reagan told me you pick a theme. But this year, our theme is momentum and.

Rick Sola (21:40.002)
Hahaha

Rick Sola (21:44.813)
nice. I like the logo. Yeah, yeah.

Gail Holder (21:46.734)
In a grade, I had our graphic design teacher design the logo, and then it says turning moments into momentum. And so unbeknownst to me, my science teacher told me on the last day of PD that MV, mass plus velocity equals momentum. Who knew? It was today years old. So what I do is I have our leadership.

Rick Sola (22:07.778)
Very cool.

Gail Holder (22:11.982)
I get these printed, I've done it every year for five years. I have five years worth of themes that I've done. The kids come in and they sign them for each individual teacher. Then the day before, and then they go around and put them outside on their doors. And so the teachers have these on their doors. when a lot of them, when you go in their classroom, they have all the years that they've been here, they've kept them. So when I started it, I really didn't even think about, well this will be something that the teachers will keep.

It has become a thing and they like can't wait to know what's the theme for the year. What's the next thing we're gonna do? And then, so this year one of the other things we have is along with Momentum, we have cards that say thank you for being a Mill Valley Moment Maker. So these are ones that we give to staff and to kids that if they have created a moment that has caused Momentum to happen, then.

We, so admin has them, teachers have them, our counselors have them, so people are giving cards to each other when they recognize that somebody has done something to really spark what's, you know, a movement in some way. So, we started out the year with a professional development around instructional strategies. I had a guest speaker come in. She also talked about belonging and teacher well-being.

We did some choice sessions all around best practices for instruction. We had some sessions on data, how to create momentum with data, and then that will carry through as we go into our October PD as well.

Rick Sola (23:49.689)
That's awesome. know, you're right. We have a theme every year. And I have five years worth of themes where I'm at as well. What I don't have is all the nice signatures and the postings all over the building and that sort of thing. So I'm like, why didn't we do that? But we do have some posters and I love the, I just love the tie in to the Mill Valley and the momentum and mass and volume. that you said? Mass and velocity.

Gail Holder (24:15.49)
Mass and velocity. Mass and velocity equals momentum. Yep.

Rick Sola (24:20.204)
And that's what I find, you know, coming up with themes is sometimes things just kind of, they kind of move into place. The next thing you know, you're like, boom, there it is. And so I love the momentum theme. I wish this is not a video podcast, but a really cool logo. It's August. And I always say it's, it's easy to, easier to have a lot of momentum, a lot of excitement, a lot of energy right now. How do you sustain momentum with your staff when it's like,

Gail Holder (24:26.488)
They do. Yep.

Rick Sola (24:49.614)
you know, October 28th, and we're grinding to Thanksgiving or whatever. What's something that might be intentional that you or your team does to really kind of like, we got to keep going, you know?

Gail Holder (25:05.422)
Okay, before I answer that question, might I say you are like a really good interviewer. You know what you do? You take something I said and then you craft it into another question. So I think you're amazing at this. You are amazing at this. I want you to know that. No, you didn't. You know, I think Rick, and you know this, and this isn't anything magical or, you know.

Rick Sola (25:19.24)
Well, you're very kind. I learned all of this in 1996 in my ELA class of Olathe South.

Gail Holder (25:33.858)
bits of wisdom, but the words that our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, right? And so I talk to staff a lot about in my weekly emails about, you know, the power of positivity. What is the narrative around your attitude or your approach to the work right now? And if it's feeling like this, the best thing you can do is start speaking.

differently, right? It's not I'm tired. It's I can't wait to get you know, get this next lesson created so that I can see what happens from here. And unfortunately, it feels like you are constantly with your foot on the gas a little bit. You know, you can tap the brakes every now and again. And I'm not talking about sort of toxic positivity. I'm not doing that. I'm not I'm not saying you need to have this, you know, sort of Pollyanna, you know,

high in the sky, everything is perfect. But I think what you also need to remember is that our students are coming to us every day, and this is the place that they feel the safest, where they belong. The work is so important. The learning that they're doing is the most important work that can absolutely happen in any profession. And so we are tasked with the...

the, whether it's the unfortunate or with the responsibility of being those people. All right. And so if you can't go to a place where you can sort of fake it a little bit and get to that place, then, then, you know, we let me, let me help you. Right. I think it also depends on what your leadership does. You know, I, I, I feel like I'm out of my office a lot, especially during passing periods.

I'm in classrooms, how's it going? And yeah, I I'm constantly in that space of being really positive. So for building leaders, mean, yeah, am I tired when I go home at night? You bet I am. But it's not because I've sat in my office all day. It's because not only is their responsibility to be their best self for their students, but it's my responsibility.

Gail Holder (27:50.516)
I feel like to be my best self and positive regardless of what's going on in my circle so that I can pour into and feed, whether it's verbally, whether it's just by being there, whatever the case might be, our staff. I just feel like that's my responsibility to do that.

Rick Sola (28:10.19)
Yeah, that's great. the whole lead by example piece, and I love the positive, know, and we talk a little, I talked a little bit about pre-service about, you know, kind of a little bit to that sustaining momentum, but the year can be a little bit of a coaster sometimes, and we all feel it kind of being there also for each other. We have a really tight staff. If you're down, find those that are up. But I love the speak differently, you know, think differently.

Gail Holder (28:35.426)
Right.

Gail Holder (28:39.511)
Always.

Rick Sola (28:40.144)
And that's a really good way to do it. So right before we actually hit record here, you mentioned your five years and you spoke about this at beginning, but your five years in, what are the fruits of being five years in? Like what's that like? That's really a good position. You were saying how great things are going. And I'm sure it has a lot to do with the hard work you did out of COVID and into, and you mentioned that balancing of like, okay, the first couple of years you're assessing and then it's like, okay, let's.

Let's go. So you're five years in. How does it feel right now at Mill Valley?

Gail Holder (29:14.338)
You know, it just feels so great. I mean, and I'm not just saying that. Like, it's not like I'm, you know, I'm saying that, but I'm thinking something else. I, you know, I've learned from some really, really great leaders who have, and I've taken note. I'm a great observer, and I try to take all of those things in. You know, I've adopted Todd Whitaker's, you know, philosophy of,

You know, every teacher, you should have the expectation that every teacher should be like your best teacher. And I've told staff that. That's what we all desire to be. Who would you, in your mind right now, who's the best teacher in this building? And are you standing shoulder to shoulder with that person? And if you're not, what can you do to get there? And it doesn't matter who the teacher is that you consider to be the best teacher, but are you standing shoulder to shoulder? What are those characteristics? And I think a little bit of this is,

feeling like, I don't want to say I've arrived, that's not it. You know, I had these big hopes and dreams about what it would feel like to be a building principal. And you know, I've got to be honest, it's not easy coming into a new community. know, this community didn't know me. I mean, it wasn't like I was taking over a high school in Olathe where I kind of had a little bit of street cred or people kind of knew me. I no one knew me. And so there had been two.

who had been principals at Mill Valley High School for 20 years, both of them 10 years each. And then here comes this gal who comes in a little bit with guns a blazing, like, all right, let's go. And it was rough. mean, I'm not gonna lie to you. It was not roses and whatnot. I I was stood a lot of criticism, a lot of criticism. But...

Unfortunately, what everybody didn't know is that was gas in my tank. that's not that I enjoy it, but I'm not going to let it beat me down because I always kept in the forefront that I know what it takes to create an environment that is best for kids. I know what that looks like, and I will not stop till I get there. And that's just kind of what I've kept in the.

Gail Holder (31:34.498)
in the forefront. know one of the things you shared in the invite was this is what it was going to look like and one of the things was what was the best advice you got. And it's interesting because I'm combining it with watching The Kingdom and I don't know if you've watched it on Netflix yet, have you? Rick, you've got to watch it. Well, I've only watched the first two episodes. I'm kind of savoring it. But the second episode is fantastic and it's titled Don't Judge.

Rick Sola (31:51.532)
Not yet. Not yet.

Gail Holder (32:03.756)
So it's this beautiful moment where Andy Reid talks about that's his philosophy in working with players is, and I'm watching this on Sunday, this past Sunday, and I'm thinking, my gosh, that's what we do. That's what we do as educators, that's what I try to do as a leader, and ultimately the bottom line is that I won't give it away, but it's, I'm not judging anybody based on what they've done in the past. I take them where they are, where they, I meet them where they are, and I move forward from there.

And I thought about how often we do that. I put that in my newsletter this week. How often we do that. And we are tasked in doing that. Regardless of what a student did yesterday in your class or said to you or whatever, you're tasked with the next day when they walk in, it's a new day, meet them where they are, and you move forward from there. And don't judge them and don't hold it against them. And I loved that. I loved that so much. I feel like we've.

We've arrived in that place where staff understands that that's how we do business. We work with kids, we do what we have to do, we set the expectations high, we make sure that they have everything they need, and we move them forward and we get them across the stage. That is what our job is.

Rick Sola (33:16.13)
And it sounds like too, you mentioned the safe place for kids, but the safe place for the staff members as well. Five years in and, you know, I was just sharing in a meeting the other day, know, conflict.

Gail Holder (33:22.21)
Absolutely.

Rick Sola (33:27.862)
conflict occurs. We want to be positive and productive with conflict as far as if we're having a BLT discussion or whatever, we need to be respectful, that sort of thing. you know, we're going to have different opinions. That's what's going to make us sharp and that's what's going to help us excel. And you mentioned the advice and just how rough it was early on. And I feel like I bet every principal who's, you know, gone through a first year, second year, knows exactly what you're talking about. There may be somebody listening that

is in their in that moment. They're in their first year. They're in their second year and they just feel like, man, I'm just taking bullets left and right and what advice would you give them?

Gail Holder (34:06.702)
you

You know, think one of the, I mean, I'm going to say advice, but I'm going to say like what I did. I think one of the things I've learned to do in this position is to step back and own what I own, you know, and you're taking these bullets, you know, or emails or phone calls or whatever the case. And then, okay, what is it that I have done and I own and I can control? And what is it that is beyond my control? Do they just not like me because I'm new or because, you know, whatever the reason is,

Or is it something that I've actually done? And I think once you start sort of focusing, you know, bringing it from this huge problem to something really micro, okay, these are the things I can control. I need to be, I need to do this, I need to be like that. Okay, that's fine. But there's other things that are outside of your control and you've got to be able to compartmentalize that and you have to be able to release it and say, you know what, I'm going to stay the course.

I'm always going to have students at the forefront of every decision I make, every conversation I have, whether it's good, bad, or indifferent, students are always going to be at the forefront. And if you can get to that place, I think that's where you just say, I've got to hang in there. Because you will come through it on the other side, but it can be rough. And I'm telling you, I am a living example of how rough it was for the first two, probably two to three years. It was rough.

not with my staff. The staff like literally was open arms from the beginning. They could see my heart, my passion, but it wasn't quite as easy with other things.

Rick Sola (35:52.623)
Sure. Yeah. And I'm sure that the support that you receive from district leadership too is helpful and you know, that empowerment like hang in there. And you referenced this is just a real quick, you referenced a newsletter. When do you send your newsletter out? What's your day of delivery for the newsletter, the weekly?

Gail Holder (35:57.804)
Yeah. Very, wow.

Gail Holder (36:12.622)
I'm didn't talk we talked about this didn't we I think we talked about it maybe at USA maybe just a little. OK. Yes, you've just been like when does she do it?

Rick Sola (36:17.038)
Yeah, maybe. You can tell I've been bothered by this all summer. like no, I know I change because I changed my day this year. I changed my day. So so well, I'm curious what your day is. So well, so so my day was always.

Gail Holder (36:27.278)
What is your day now? Well, I want to ask you first. I'm kidding. I'll end. What is your day? No, really.

Rick Sola (36:37.024)
It's a terrible day. I'll admit that it was always Sunday morning. It was always in preparation for the following week. This is my my parent newsletter and I have an automated email that would go out in a text. Then it was always Sunday morning or Sunday noon ish. In part because a lot of times I got information Friday and late Friday that I would want to include and so and I just never felt prepared like I'm just going to.

I'm going to do it. I'm have it mostly ready. Send it out Friday or Sunday. I'm sending out Friday now, which is really for me getting me, you know, I have to rush and I don't feel as secure because I feel like I'm rushing through it. But when do you send yours out?

Gail Holder (37:18.342)
So,

And I totally understand that. And I think probably you feeling like, or people are feeling like Sunday morning, now my whole Sunday is occupied with the words from the principal and whatever. So I have sent my family email, my community email, I sent it to both students and parents. I send it at 5 p.m. on Sunday, 5 p.m. And then my staff email, I try to send by four because what I do is I prep the,

Rick Sola (37:41.902)
5 p.m. Sunday. Okay.

Gail Holder (37:49.674)
of the community email and then I copy and paste that and put it into the staff email so they can see what I'm sending to the community. And I have an hour buffer so that I have a few people that wait, like they're on it. Like at four o'clock when that email sends, if I've got a correction, then I can go into the community email and correct it. So I've got staff that will sometimes say, hey, I think this date is wrong or that. Yep, you're right. Boom. But the thing is, I don't require my staff

Rick Sola (38:05.219)
Yeah.

Gail Holder (38:19.628)
to read the email on Sunday. They can read it Monday, but I have not had one staff meeting, one faculty meeting in this is six years. I don't have faculty meetings because I think probably in my career I sat through a lot of faculty meetings that could have been an email and so but what I do tell my staff is you know

Every bit of information that you will need for the week and the upcoming week and maybe looking ahead is all going to be in that Sunday email. And I don't want to ask people to have additional meetings. So I send mine on Sunday at 5. I'm going to tell you right now, if that email does not go out at 5, we just flipped over to a new platform. And the connection was weird and wonky. And people didn't get it until Monday. On Monday morning, parents were calling.

Where is the Sunday email at 5 o'clock? Wanting to know.

Rick Sola (39:17.75)
Yeah, no, I remember we did talk about this because I was so intrigued by students receiving the kind of the general the general email. I really like that. No, that's great.

Gail Holder (39:24.482)
Yes.

Gail Holder (39:28.384)
And they read it, and they read it. I'm telling you, they have got, I mean, I don't know how many of our freshmen do, but I'm telling you, our kids read that email. They wanna know what the learning schedule is, they want announcements, they wanna see if their friends got a shout out in the congratulations section. And it's not Canva or whatever, some more, I don't do any of that.

Rick Sola (39:45.026)
Yeah.

Gail Holder (39:52.266)
It is literally an email. I do have a format, but it is literally an email and no fancy stuff at all.

Rick Sola (40:00.205)
Yeah, no, that's great. Thanks for revisiting that conversation with me. Before we sign off here, and you've done a lot of this and it just sounds so great and it's really cool to hear so much more about your community, but this is an opportunity for those in Mill Valley listening, brag on them. What makes Mill Valley so great?

Gail Holder (40:05.679)
sure, absolutely, yeah.

Gail Holder (40:26.478)
Oh gosh, you know, I, I, I...

When, before I came here, people would say to me, know, it's a fantasy land over there, it's utopia, it's this, that, and the other. I mean, there's nothing truer. We have this incredible parent community that is so incredibly generous and kind and supportive, do anything for teachers, do anything for their students. And then I've got this staff, you know,

I tell them I hire the best, that's what we do here. And I'd rather leave a position open and I fill them and they fill me with all of this trust and support that we need. I think our kids are fantastic. Our kids, they say please and thank you. They clean up the lunchroom. One of our speeches at graduation talked about the special place that Mill Valley is and she gave an example of, I held a door in a classroom

you know, a couple weeks ago, and this has been at graduation, and every single student that walked out of the door said thank you to me for holding the door, you know, and so we live in a space where kids, again, they know that you say please and thank you, you appreciate your building, you have these kinds of things in place that create a community of learners that you can really focus on the learning. You're not really worried about

a lot of ancillary things. You are totally focused on student learning and it is just an absolute joy and privilege to just be a part of that as a building principal for sure.

Rick Sola (42:13.89)
very cool. And I love the example and I love the door holding and I've used the analogy of quick trip. I tend to go there too often, but it's like the quick trip culture. There's something about it's a gas station and but when you go there people hold doors for each other. You always are welcomed when you come in. You know it's a culture thing and I love the culture that you've described there. It sounds really awesome.

Gail Holder (42:23.426)
Yep, hurry back. Yep.

Gail Holder (42:37.676)
You know what else is a good one? Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A, how can I serve or whatever they say. My pleasure. My pleasure, my pleasure. I mean, you're right. mean, culture is everything. Culture is everything. Trust is first, then culture. I trust culture, yeah.

Rick Sola (42:40.62)
Yeah. Yeah.

My pleasure, yep.

Rick Sola (42:52.514)
Yeah.

Yeah, I really, really have enjoyed talk with you. I feel like we talk for lots of other topics. I really appreciate your time and all the best to you on a great school year. And hopefully we'll run into each other again. I don't know if you'll be at KPA in November or USA again, or any other local deal, because we're not too far from each other.

Gail Holder (43:21.24)
Right.

Rick Sola (43:22.188)
But just thanks so much for taking the time. I really appreciate it. And I hope there's a lot of listeners to this, because there's so many great things that you shared that's going on and that people, think, can steal for their own buildings. So thank you.

Gail Holder (43:34.51)
Well, thanks Rick. I just want you to know I'm so proud of you. I just want you to know I'm proud of you, Rick. I mean it. I am very proud of you. You yourself are very incredible and you've made quite a name for yourself. So I couldn't be more proud of you.

Rick Sola (43:40.418)
Well.

Rick Sola (43:48.367)
You're very kind and I thank you for that. That's very, very nice. But I appreciate it and thanks again and we'll see you around at some point.

Gail Holder (43:59.478)
Okay, sounds great. Thank you.