Cool Coffee w/ Kansas Principals

CC#109: Communication, Culture, and Beyond w/ Shawn Henderson - Hays HS, USD 489

The 2024 Kansas Secondary Principal of the Year, Principal Shawn Henderson of Hays High School in Hays, Kansas, joins the show and discusses the challenges and triumphs of opening a new school building and shares insights from his dual role as a principal and project manager, emphasizing the importance of planning, teamwork, and culture. He also explores the value of mentorship, and strategies for effective communication and time management within a school setting. Shawn also shares specific efforts he and his team made to protect time of teachers in the after school hours. This episode also demonstrates how the job of principal never stops...an unexpected fire alarm sounds within the first 7 minutes and Principal Henderson must go into action...check it out!
Connect with Principal HendersonEmail: shenderson@usd489.comX: @hays489
Chapters:
Introduction and Building Challenges
Balancing Roles and Mentorship
Communication and Culture
Time Management Strategies
Advice for New Principals
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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Episode Transcript (timestamps are not actual due to editing needs)
Rick Sola (00:02.114)Hello and happy new year. Welcome to the first full feature episode of the 2026, I guess not even really school year, it's just a calendar year. Today's guest is Principal Shawn Henderson, Principal of Hayes High School, USD 489, home of the Indians. Welcome, Shawn.
Shawn Henderson (00:19.938)Thanks for having me, appreciate it.
Rick Sola (00:21.932)Yeah, Sean, you know, we were just talking here before hit and record and I'm excited to have you on here. I've I knew most recently I saw you at USA Kansas back in May of twenty five. But then I remembered I definitely saw you again. You confirmed that that you presented at KPA conference either twenty three or twenty four. And I know I saw you then. And so excited to have you on the show. And not to mention also you were recommended by another principal who filled out a form in the past and put your name down as someone who should be on this show. So
I appreciate that and that you're willing to be here. As we record here, it's January 2nd. So it's literally like the first workday back from the holidays. appreciate you being on and taking the time here to be on this show.
Shawn Henderson (01:09.622)You bet, away we go, right? Embrace the second semester.
Rick Sola (01:11.756)Yeah. Yeah. And so actually that kind of leads into what, you know, I want to talk a little bit about today, but, know, it is January 2nd. I don't know if Monday for you is when students return. Where I'm at, it's actually Tuesday. We have another professional development day. As you come back, what's I guess staring you in the face right away, good, bad, or indifferent that you just know, okay, I need to have some attention on this.
Shawn Henderson (01:38.19)Well, so we're really blessed that we opened a brand new school this year, brand new comprehensive 5A high school. And to go through that process and come out to the point that in August 12th, they gave us the keys and a week and a half later we're in school. And so to have a brand new school. So for us, it's kind of that opportunity to reset expectations. We're definitely looking at that process and protocol, all the norms that are associated with any school year.
and trying to maintain that. But for us, it's trying to make sure that our people feel really comfortable about our space because it is still very, very new. And so everything that we do is still kind of a first. And so we're just trying to, the word that I always use is calibrate. We're trying to calibrate how we do things. And so we, like you just mentioned, we have a professional development day, collaboration day, Monday, and then we'll have the kids Tuesday.
So those are the kind of things we're going to be talking about on Monday with our staff.
Rick Sola (02:41.528)Great, I love that word calibrate as well. I think it's so important. And I always feel like the time's well spent if you need to recalibrate or at semester to take the time to revisit expectations. And that's a message I try to get to staff as well is don't feel like there's a rush to get back into content. You're gonna make up the time by taking the time right now to revisit. For our kids, it's close to three weeks that they've been in a classroom and to take that time is so important.
Sean, I gotta say, I feel like it's a major oversight as a host of a podcast. I did not realize that you were in a brand new building.
Shawn Henderson (03:19.214)Brand new. I mean amazing. I took this job five years ago and we passed the bond that first year. We spent a year and a half planning it, several years building it, and I tell people all the time this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have this specific seat and to get to be in every meeting and the design process and all of the things that go into this. It is a blessing. I will tell you there are days that it's, ooh, I have learned a lot.
about getting a staff ready to and a community ready to embrace a new building. But it has been incredible to say the least.
Rick Sola (03:54.905)So did you shut down a previous building to then move into this? Or is this a Brandy Heisman?
Shawn Henderson (04:00.418)Yeah, so we built, it's brand new. We built it next door to our high school. so talk about crazy, I'm gonna send some goodwill to my friends next door. Our former building has been gutted the last six weeks in terms of updating it. And they start school on the sixth with kids. So they are starting, they moved over the Christmas break, the middle school, into our former building. So that is a.
Rick Sola (04:05.228)Okay.
Shawn Henderson (04:26.69)substantial move in their world. So bless their hearts. I'm sending them all the best thoughts I can. So our district has had, it's been an incredible bond and process and we've been a big part of that having a new school, but our friends next door are moving in and it's a lot. So I'll be thinking of them January 6th and us because we all have to share the same drive lanes. the community is going to have to, students, staff, parents, we're all going to have to work on.
the new parking with 10 % of our town all on one block.
Rick Sola (04:57.216)Yeah, wow, what what an undertaking. I have seen recently a year ago, our district, we closed and then opened a middle school. And it was interesting talking with that principal, some of the things that came up as far as, you when you open a brand new school like you're in right now, I'm assuming everything in it is brand new, the furniture and everything. But you're coming, they're coming from their old classroom where they have all their the things they like and they want to bring with them. Was that a challenge to say?
this does not make the move or did you have some parameters you had to put in place?
Shawn Henderson (05:31.43)yeah, lots of parameters. mean, what was that UPS that said, you know, that phrase, said, we love logistics. did we love logistics. We had to, we had to embrace it. We had to talk about how badly we need the things from 45 years ago that have been in the back of a classroom. And, and, and to be honest, it's pretty cathartic and I don't think that it was necessarily bad for a lot of our people. I think the talking about it was horrible. The doing it actually ended up being, Hey, you know what? This is okay. I, I feel like I did get to clean up and clean out and
and it's really broader. May I have your attention please? they're testing something. I'm sorry. A fire has been reported in the building. Please leave the building by the nearest... Let me double check what's going on real quick. exit stairway. Do not use the elevators. Sorry. Hang on a second.
Rick Sola (06:04.898)Well, you all right over there?
Rick Sola (06:11.666)No, you... hey...
Rick Sola (06:16.982)Yeah, yeah, we'll hit, we'll pause right here, okay? I'll just kind of hang tight. Do what you need to do. Nope, you're good.
Rick Sola (00:01.788)All right, and we're back. Sean, you're back. Everything's OK. So let's start with that because I'm going to do a little editing here. But we just had a sounder go off and we were just talking about your new building. You know, this is a principal podcast. And isn't that just the way it goes that at any any given time you're going to drop what you're doing and you're going to head out and you got to take care of the the kids, the building, the staff or whatever. So do you mind catching us up a little bit? What happened?
Shawn Henderson (00:18.946)Absolutely.
Shawn Henderson (00:30.903)We just had something to do with the fire suppression system in the line.
And we've got guys here that are working on it. So I thought it might happen, but I had to go double check. So and especially, you know, going back to our conversation prior to the alarm is that, you know, when you have a brand new building, everything is new, every system is new. And so I've kind of joked that quite literally for the last X amount of years, I've kind of had two full time jobs. One of them was taking care of the business of this operation of building a new school. And the other was this, you know, small
side hobby called being a principal that we all know is all-encompassing. now about November 1st is the first time since August I was like I'm doing one job I'm the principal now and so it's felt good to to kind of roll back into that principal seat not project manager seat because it kind of occupied both there for a little while. I loved it though but it's it's okay to get back to the to the main thing so.
Rick Sola (01:32.446)Well, like you said, it's a unique opportunity. It's a once in a career opportunity. And from everybody I've worked with who has gone through it, I think that's all they want is once in a career. They don't want to open a second building, but the opportunity to open one is really pretty cool.
Shawn Henderson (01:42.412)Yeah.
Shawn Henderson (01:47.588)Well said and I completely agree, yes.
Rick Sola (01:50.036)I think where we left off was, and not to go back to this, but I just find this interesting because a buddy of mine did exactly what you did where they closed a building and opened a new one, but it turned into quite a bit of management and parameter setting of what can come with you from the old building. Was that something you put much thought into ahead of time or did it kind of present itself to you like, man, I need to really kind of establish what...
should and should not make its way over.
Shawn Henderson (02:21.782)No, I'm quite a planner. My background's in band directing. And so I always took kids all across the country when I was the band director in Scott City. And I always said for every minute of a band trip, I spend an hour planning, right? And so...
to run that equation. don't know what the math would be, but we didn't do anything happenstance coming into this new school. Took a couple field trips, went and met with Piper, talked to Justin with that new school there. We went to actually visited Curtis Stevens from his time in Salina. He is a superintendent now, but we went and took a field trip and all we talked about was, so how did you move an entire school? How did you, what was that
process, what did it look like? And so kind of that would be, you're kind of something I always stress to principals is you're not the first person to do this. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. You'd be wise to reach out to people that are bright and have had this experience. And so I tried to model that. So I took a couple of field trips, took one of my assistant principals with me, superintendent, and we just picked the brains of really great people and said, how do we go about doing this? And so we felt like that that was time.
well spent and it helped things really, really run smoothly. Both for planning, getting rid of things, the way that we color coded all the rooms, the way that we color coded whole hallways, how the moving process went, how we ran the moving truck, I you name it. We tried to be very, very meticulous in our planning.
Rick Sola (03:56.477)I love that you brought up the you're not the first principle to do this. You don't need to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes I think there's a maybe this is just me, but there's sometimes a temptation of like, you know, you feel like, no, this is my job. I need to I need to put together all of these things. Like, no, it's the whole working smarter, not harder, but tapping into those who have done it before. Surely there's things that did come up in those conversations with Justin and Piper and Salina, whatever that.
you hadn't thought of or didn't consider or, that is something I need to think about. And that's part of the value of the network, I would say.
Shawn Henderson (04:32.782)Yeah, 100%. Absolutely.
Rick Sola (04:35.656)You you touched on your band background and that was something I had. I noted when I watched you present at one of the conferences, I am a former social studies teacher and coach and my eyes were opened when I got into administration of the music world, the band world and the just extraordinary amount of work.
that goes into those programs. And you mentioned organization. The organization is incredible. So when you mentioned that, that was your background when I saw you present, that was my first, one of my thoughts was how valuable of preparation for you to now be sitting in this chair. I want to get to the road to the chair, but can you spend some time on just your band background and how that prepared you to be an administrator?
Shawn Henderson (05:29.228)Yeah, I mean, I think it's, I love analogies, so anybody that works with me understands I use them all the time, but you know, as a band director, you are the person up on the podium, but you're working with all these individual...
We'll call them departments, we call them sections in the band, right? And so as a principal, I have to orchestrate all of my sections to operate at the best possible way, to create the best product, and to perform at the highest possible level for all of our stakeholders and our kids. And as a band director, it was just that. It was standing on the podium, being sure to work with each of the individual sections, taking time with the individual players, building teamwork.
Al talking about, you know, just being really intentional to make our ensemble get better week to week. And band world, just like the football coaching world or any coaching world, it is about your culture. And I think the thing that I benefited the most as a band director is working on that culture piece and the individual and really making sure that we're bringing everybody along with us and everyone's doing their best. And so, yeah.
I attribute a lot of my learning and knowledge for team building and culture straight from my band experience. There's no doubt about it.
Rick Sola (06:51.486)What's an intentional piece of culture that you bring into your building? You could say at the start of the year, but even at semester, you've got a semester's worth of wear and tear, and you hope that people come back energized and invigorated to get moving again. But there's an important cultural piece and morale piece that's a part of any school. Is there anything that you do intentionally at the midpoint in the year?
Shawn Henderson (07:16.951)So all points of the year I wear hokas.
I asked my boss, said, look, I can't wear dress shoes. I walk too much. I think one of the pieces of advice that I always had is that a principal needs to be visible. My mentor, Neil George, who was the middle school principal in Scott City, he was incredible. He caught me once and he said, Sean, I think you need more hallways. And I said, I don't know what you're talking about. And he said, you need to take your energy and your passion and you need more hallways than just the music wing of the school. And really the next day I signed up for
admin classes. had never even thought about being a principal. And just like the story goes that, you know, it takes somebody to look at you and say this is what you should be doing. I took it to heart. And when he told me you need more hallways, I went and I immediately got my master's degree so that I could have more hallways. And since that time, I've tried to be the same person that I was as a band director, which is people first, be where the people are, making connections. And so I try to
be around my school all the time. But I do joke, know, Hoka is the only way I roll. But I try to be visible. I mean, we are our admin team, our four principals. We are walking our school. We are trying to be where the people are. And I think that's, for me, the most important element of my leadership is to connect with everybody right where they are.
Rick Sola (08:41.78)Sean, as a principal, now two months into my first pair of Hokas, I can't disagree with you one bit on the game changer that that can be. I have been in a situation where I was wearing a particular pair of dress shoes that were really uncomfortable. And just like you had the sounder go off, we had one of those on that particular day and we were outside in January for two hours going and I was walking in these shoes and I thought, oh my gosh, what am I doing? I do too much walking to be.
Uncomfortable.
Shawn Henderson (09:12.674)Yep, agree. Yeah, so I always joke with people. Hocus is the way to go. So I'm not corporately endorsed by them, which would be great. I'd love to be, but no. But I do think that's good advice I'd give principals too is you got to have comfortable shoes because we stand, we walk. It's part of our job all the time.
Rick Sola (09:32.615)It's been a very welcome part of the professional attire world that more and more comfortable shoes, tennis shoes type are being introduced. You it's interesting you mentioned the mentor that tapped you on the shoulder and because as you were talking earlier about opening your building, was drawn back to the most recent episode we had Courtney Dominy on and she is opening a building in August of next year. And so much of what you spoke about
was a previous conversation, but she also talked about that exact, that situation where somebody tapped her on the shoulder and she hadn't really considered it. And just like you did, and it just really, I've had a lot of conversations on here and I hear that so often where it is someone from the outside that recognizes an ability or some skillset that would really be applicable. And it's just really great to hear you say that. You mentioned band, so complete your road to the chair.
your principal of Hayes High School, your band director, fill in between what occurred.
Shawn Henderson (10:37.09)Yeah, when I left Scott City, I went to Ellenwood and I was the middle school and high school principal.
there for four years and after those four years our family kind of felt like we were ready for a little bit of a change and so I always joked that I went back to college in that I was the director of field experiences and licensure at Fort Hays State and those four years, the next four years that I was at Fort Hays, I went from being a principal to talking to them every day, assigning student teachers, teaching classes in the College of Ed and it was just super eye-opening for
me to work with people that were entering the profession, but also to literally pick up the phone every day, call principals, chat with them about my student teachers, but certainly talk to them about being a principal. And it was a great job. I loved that job. But to be honest, I just missed being a principal. And so I told my wife that I wanted to be a principal again. She said, that's fine, but we're not moving. She loved her job. She works in the district here as well. And so she said, if you can find a place to drive to and
So I went to Russell, was the principal in Russell the year before COVID and COVID year. Had a great, great time there, learned a lot, worked with great people. And then the opportunity that Marty Straub, who is the principal at Hayes High, retired and I was already living here in Hayes and this was a job that I'd been eyeing a long time. And so when he retired, I came in and again, happened to be that was five years ago and that was the time.
that they that we passed the bond and again that kind of once in a lifetime opportunity to sit in this chair. So yeah it has been so I was four years in Ellenwood four years at Fort Hayes and five years here in Hayes and then as the high school principal and two in Russell. So I've got some years in administration now I guess across both high school and college.
Shawn Henderson (12:42.48)you
Rick Sola (12:43.092)Yeah, that's great. And years in administration, and then there are times where it feels like, this is a brand new situation. You know, that's what's great about it, Mr. That's what I love about it is it's it's something new all the time. So that leads me to really what I consider like the anchor topic of today. You know, you are recommended for this, but this is something I really found valuable when I was at your sessions is you spent a lot of time talking about
Shawn Henderson (12:54.978)Yeah, that's for sure.
Rick Sola (13:11.528)how you protect the time of not just you as an administrative team, but also your teachers. What does that mean to you? What does that look like at Hayes High School?
Shawn Henderson (13:23.362)Yeah, so I'm going to fast forward a little bit to this morning. This is the first time that I've seen our team, our admin team and Chris Dries, who is one of our assistant principals. He's our newest member of our team as our athletic director and assistant principal. He came in and he said, wow, I only received a couple emails over the last two weeks. And to me, that's triumph. That is a is a statement about our culture. Every time I present, I ask the room, how many of you control emails with your staff?
No one ever raises their hand. So I'm not trying to say that I'm world trending or setting here, but there is something that we started a couple of years ago where I, got back from Thanksgiving or it would have been spring break. I looked at our admin team, the four of us who were sitting there in the midst of trying to plan this new school and all the things. This was probably three years ago. And I said, team, we've got to quit sending emails late at night to our staff. It's not a testament that we're hard workers.
It's we're reaching out and bothering them in their life and if they read that email the wrong way we're going to pull from them energy and emotion that is not fair or professional in my opinion so so for the next nine weeks as we face the the fourth quarter I'm gonna tell you and again. I'm only talking to my assistant principals. We're done emailing after six o'clock at night We're gonna lead by example, and then we'll take it to the next year so we did and then
the following year and people noticed immediately. The following year we told our staff at the beginning of the year meeting and I have a graphic that says communication guide and it has 6 p.m. and it has 6 a.m. and we just said you are not communicating with each other via email from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. We've now done that two full years and it has been probably the best thing that we could have done for our staff and
People can still get a hold of us, they do. You know, if there's an emergency, of course. But relative to email correspondence that...
Shawn Henderson (15:33.581)I'm sure this never happens to anybody. Passive aggressive email that happens at 8.05 AM on Saturday morning when you're trying to drink your coffee. That we've stopped. I take it one step further personally. I don't even have the email notifications on my phone, especially over the weekend. But we've now built it into our culture that 6 PM to 6 AM. It is the entire weekend as well. So we are just not emailing each other.
And it's taken some practice, but we're getting there.
Rick Sola (16:06.676)So Sean, was that something that was born out of maybe a certain situation or was it just, did you have a recognition like, my gosh, this has gotten out of control? mean, kind of what led you to make that decision?
Shawn Henderson (16:22.38)Yeah, really it starts with me is that like so many of my colleagues, we just carry all this around with us all the time and we hear the things and we read the phrases or the memes or the YouTube that says, hey, you got to leave things at work or whatever. But that's not very practical for a person that carries the level of responsibility that we all do as a principal. And so as I carried those things around to an unhealthy point, I analyzed what's the thing that's causing me
the most grief and it's the emails, it's that passive aggressive.
leading email that or em that happens after hours maybe just say, hey, know about that tomorrow, but t for me. And if it doesn' for me, it probably doesn for anybody. Um and then mo is I didn't want to be th an email that pulls that away from my staff. If, lose something in translat
sending an email and it c concern for a staff membe up or pulling time away fr to about something I started with our admin te that caught on, we do it w received a lot of thank y who say you're just allowi
Shawn Henderson (17:56.591)person that I don't have to work 24 hours a day.
Rick Sola (18:00.147)That's a really good point when you send an email. could be the most benign, intent email that you send. Hey, know, question about whatever, but that lost, could get lost in translation and it's received on a Saturday morning. And what did, what did principal Henderson mean by this? This is my boss. I, know, and you, you, they're, they're stewing over it. And it was maybe a nothing email, just an informational type deal, but
Because I'm sure you've probably been in that situation just throughout your career where you've received something and kind of jolts you a little bit like, well, what is that? What's the real intent behind this? And maybe there wasn't anything, but you're stewing over it.
Shawn Henderson (18:39.542)Yeah, exactly. so we tried to model it first, and now it's something that we're really proud of. And this morning when my assistant principal looked at me and he was like, look, he's like, it's amazing how few emails I've received. And I just smiled and I said, well, that's very much on purpose. And so I think that's a sign of our culture buying in and saying, yeah, let's try to protect this time.
Rick Sola (19:06.26)Do you see any byproduct from it, like guess unintended consequence in a good way that maybe it's generated some additional problem solving skills amongst people? Maybe rather than first reaction is I got to email, take some time, pause on it, and either some problem solving occurred or have you been able to recognize that at all?
Shawn Henderson (19:26.572)Yeah, for sure. The other thing that we do is, you know, we're a Canvas school, so we're running Canvas classrooms. We created a Canvas home page for the principals, so in this instance, we're the teachers of the Canvas page, and our students are the teachers. I'm sure other schools do this as well. But we call it the Hayes High Hub, and everything's on the hub. The agenda's on the hub, the resources, the handbook, the staff expectations, any resource that they need to be successful to do their job, we put on the hub.
And so one of the things that we've tried to do is that if someone emails us an information gathering email, we point them back to the hub. So not that we're trying to be passive aggressive or we're trying to not give them the information they're asking for, but if we're going to do it the right way and follow through with our Canvas page, we point them back there. So that's kind of something that we've also been trying to do.
you
Rick Sola (20:26.876)And, you know, kind of going back to the topic at hand, saving and protecting time with staff and teachers. You have a hub with information that's there. So someone is home at nine o'clock at night and they're trying to work through something. That's a place they can go.
Shawn Henderson (20:39.278)Yep, 24 hours a day, yes. And then, you the other thing that we've tried to do that I share often is we do more meetings but for way less time. So we stand by this practice called Tuesday 10. And Tuesday 10 is a 10-minute faculty meeting every Tuesday morning. And it is from 7.25 to 7.35. And that's it, not one second longer. And for us,
It's been fun. I even run the stopwatch. And so somebody could say, wow, that's not very much time. I say, right. So the things that we share are really valuable. But that's not why we did it. To be honest, I started Tuesday 10 because I wanted to see all the faces of my staff every Tuesday morning. When I was principal of a 2A school, I talked to every teacher every day. It's not as practical now with 70 teachers. I try. But on every Tuesday morning, I know.
going to see my people and we try to save the email level things for that time as our important touch point. The other thing that we follow up with the Tuesday 10 is a winning Wednesday. I stole this idea from the elementary principals in our district and they they call it what I need now win and once I heard that phrase I went okay that's it I'm stealing it we're going to do win and so we do a winning Wednesday and we feed the staff every Wednesday.
fun snacks, healthy, not healthy, a little bit of both. And we put our counseling team there, we put the admin team there, we try to have a secretary on site, and we're basically like parent-teacher conference style where we kind of sit around and if one of our teachers need to come and meet with one of us, they can. So we, a real touch point to where they're like, hey, by the
this was really important when we had a brand new school, my new door is not locking correctly. So they could bring that to me on a Wednesday instead of emailing me. I've got my notes there, making sure that I'm covering things that need to be taken care of. And so that's kind of the way that we've been communicating. And I've shared that when I've presented recently. And it's really worked well for us. A, because people love free food. B, maybe they don't want anything. They just want to be around adults that are not teenagers to talk to.
Shawn Henderson (23:08.848)come and eat some food, smile at a friend and leave and we found a lot of success with that and have really enjoyed it.
Rick Sola (23:16.36)I really like the Tuesday 10 idea and we do a monthly staff meeting and there's times I refer to it as our staff celebration time, you know, because it kind of frames a little differently, but it really is for us a time to be intentional about recognizing and celebrating each other. But like you said, it is a time not just for us to see their faces and interact, but for them to see each other and especially in a high school.
as big as you are, you've got different wings and different things. You may not see that person. It could be early in the year, and you may not realize that person, who is this person that's maybe new to the building? And it's a chance to see each other and kind of have that camaraderie that we all have a part to play in this building.
Shawn Henderson (24:05.568)Agreed and we start every Tuesday 10 with shout outs and and it's fun to watch the teachers shout out each other and I think it does and again talk about a positive school culture. I think it does bring that that level of pride and care and concern for each other, which is awesome.
Rick Sola (24:24.222)So Sean, I appreciate you sharing all that. And as we transition here into the second half of the school year and thinking about maybe there's a principal who's in their first year or an aspiring principal, what advice would you give to somebody who may be going into their first, second semester as a principal or just advice in general as an administrator?
Shawn Henderson (24:47.714)Yeah, so.
One of the great pieces of advice that my band director from high school shared with me, Connie Rickard, she said, don't create a rule that you don't intend to enforce. And I've used that my entire life, both as a teacher and certainly as a principal. And then my mentor when I got to Ellenwood is the great, great elementary principal, Eric Shugrin from Lindsburg. And he always told me, he said,
if someone starts a fire, they should feel the warmth of that fire. And I said, I'm not following you. And he said, Sean, I've watched you. You're really good at solving problems. You're so good at it sometimes that you solve it for the person that created the problem in the first place. And that advice really made me think a little bit. So, wasn't too long into my principal, first principal job, I went and listened to Todd Whitaker speak. He's a great writer on.
on administration and he has that great book, Shifting the Monkey, which I love the analogy of that. And he always talks about that the monkey, we all carry monkeys, but sometimes we pick on the people that are really good at carrying them. So you have a staff, you have that one person that's carrying all the monkeys, and then you have a couple staff members who are just pleased as ever that those people are carrying the monkeys for them. A great leader puts those monkeys where the monkeys go. And that analogy has been really profound for me.
And the other thing that Todd Whitaker says in his book, and I think it's great, is you should focus on your best people. And I remember that as a band director, is I could stare at 65 of my band kids, and I loved them all, and we were all trying to do this great thing, but I could see the couple kids that hated it. And for the first couple years of my teaching, all I could see was the kids that didn't like it. They occupied all my thoughts. Couple years into being a band director, it dawned on me that my focus needs to be on the people
Shawn Henderson (26:48.304)that are really into this because they're the ones that are going to drive this bus. And that's the advice I would give to a newer principal is you've got to get with the people that are really buying into what you're doing because they're going to be the one that drive this bus the right direction. The others will follow. They will.
Rick Sola (27:07.988)I wrote down your quote, if you start a fire, you should feel the warmth of that fire. Really, that's pretty profound. you know, it can kind of generate a chuckle, maybe even almost like initially cynical, but really, like, there's some value to that. I think about the times where I've had to feel the warmth of a fire that maybe I was a part of. That's how you learn. And that's how you adjust and correct for moving forward. So it's not necessarily
a negative thing, but probably an important valuable professional growth thing.
Shawn Henderson (27:41.867)for sure. And if you think about teachers, all of us that are in education, we kind of like to avoid conflict, which I get. But the thing is, is that if I never ever get near the warmth of that conflict, I'm not going to have any resolution skills. I'm not.
I'm not going to be able to learn how to work through the things that are challenging. And I think what Eric did for me is he reminded me, Sean, it's OK that if there's conflict, you can help a teacher through it. You don't just need to use all your skills to make it go away. it really took a while for me to work through that in my head, what he was after. And I've shared that with people ever since, is that that's how people grow.
Rick Sola (28:23.059)Well, that's empowering too, though, to hear as a new principle, perhaps, because I think there's that feeling of I have to solve everything and I have not done my job well if I didn't solve it. But to be able to know, like, step back and let a person kind of work through whatever situation with your guidance, that's probably the more appropriate balance of leadership versus just swooping in and taking over.
Shawn Henderson (28:47.084)Yeah, and I think the best thing that I tell my staff is, it's completely fine if you use the words, I think it would be best if we engage Mr. H in this conversation. That's me, Mr. H, sorry. And it doesn't mean that you have not done your job. It just means that it's okay understanding that maybe the thing that you're working through, the parent conversation that's turning negative, of course it may not go well. That's just part of human nature. Then my boss tries to do that for me if a parent says,
something to me and it's okay for me to say, k would be best if we en in this. And I understand trust there. But when we are about human interaction, opportunity that things d that's okay. Um, and we c and think one of the wa our staff is to tell them through a situation that's to say, I'd really like to in this conversation beca
That kind of allows them an out, but it's then now they have someone else to work through again to get a positive outcome.
Rick Sola (29:56.392)And that's a really good tool to give your teachers. Sometimes they don't know how to get out of a conversation they feel is going south and maybe then it gets derailed. But to be able to go to, know, I just think it'd be good to involve our principal. I think that's a really good tool just to have in their toolbox. Well, Sean, you have shared a lot and you've referenced a lot of really not just great things, but great people out at Hays. This is an opportunity. It's a state podcast here to brag on.
your people that you get to be with every day and the people of the Hays community.
Shawn Henderson (30:29.612)Yeah, I mean, the thing that I, and I can't not talk about a brand new school. It's too real because it's right here.
what it takes to take a school and move next door into a brand new building that is just an incredible amount of work for our staff. Their level of dedication, their level of care and support and endless hours to make sure that things are the best for our kids is incredible. The timeline, of course, like all projects, got real compressed at the end. Our teachers had to put in tremendous amount of energy and effort.
to get the school year re what educators do. They didn't want the kids to kind have not quite ready for you exp we're gonna open this do and we're gonna make it h Ron Wilson has done a gre pace and saying we're go our people, it's the rig I've just been so incredi how hard our people in ou
and worked through everything's a first. We never had a home football game. We always played at Fort Hayes, so we had a first football game. We just built a softball stadium. We've always played off-site. We've never hosted a track meet. We didn't have our own auditorium inside the building. Everything is a first, which is exciting, but it means there's a lot of infrastructure that goes with it. And so, yeah, I'm just really, really, really, really proud of our team and the incredible work that they've done.
to make this place a home so quickly.
Rick Sola (32:14.099)And everything you just described, the way you articulated your first football, home football game, and softball and so forth, what a great sense of community pride. You have a brand new, I haven't seen it, I'm sure it's a beautiful building that the community gets to see and be a part of, and to be able to see the evolution that led to that. And then now you've got a middle school, it sounds like, that's being renovated a little bit, and they're moving in.
awesome for communities to be able to go through. So congratulations to you and your people out there for getting through it and getting through all the, you you open the doors, it's not like everything's magical and brand new, just like we saw earlier in this podcast, you know, some things will continue to come up.
Shawn Henderson (32:58.966)Yeah, for sure. And you just take your team and you just face whatever's there coming at you. And again, our team is Becky Hickert, who's Assistant Principal Fred Winter, who's another Assistant Principal, and Chris Dries, who is our Assistant Principal AD. And they've been helping lead this charge that has been substantial, but also super, super rewarding.
Rick Sola (33:24.925)Well, awesome. Well, Sean, thanks for taking the time today and for coming back after some building needs that popped up. I appreciate your time. And I know it's a kind of a brief calm before we get back to the storm of the school year. But there's so many great things ahead, I'm sure. So all the best to you as you get started in 2026.
Shawn Henderson (33:46.818)Thanks, you as well.

CC#108: Reflections, Goals, and Connections w/ Cool Coffee Host Rick Sola

In this episode of KPA's Cool Coffee, host Rick Sola reflects on the new year and what a break means for the building principal. He discusses the challenges school principals face as they prepare for the second semester as well as new goals moving forward into the second half of the school year. Sola also highlights Cool Coffee as a platform for principals to connect, share insights, and support one another in their leadership roles. Check out the entire Cool Coffee archive for personal and professional growth!
Contact the host: rfsola@olatheschools.org or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
 
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
 
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Click for ALL Cool Coffee episodes!
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Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
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Contact the host: rfsola@olatheschools.org or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com

CC#107: Opening a New School w/ Courtney Domoney - Wolf Springs MS, Blue Valley USD 229

Episode Summary
In this conversation, Cool Coffee host, Rick Sola, interviews Courtney Domoney, the principal of the upcoming Wolf Springs Middle School in Blue Valley School District. They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of opening a new school, including the importance of building a strong team, creating a welcoming culture, and engaging with the community. Courtney shares her journey in education, her vision for the new school, and the significance of the 'runway year' she has to prepare for the opening in August 2026.
Connect with the guest: 
Email: CDomoney@bluevalleyk12.org
Website: https://wsm.bluevalleyk12.org/
Find more episodes like this one at https://coolcoffee.podbean.com or at your favorite podcasting platform. 
Chapters (timestamps do not account for intro music)
00:00 Introduction to Wolf Springs Middle School05:43 The Journey to Principalship11:44 The Runway Year: Preparing for Opening14:14 Staffing and Building the Team19:26 Creating a Welcoming Culture24:59 Anticipating Challenges in a New School31:01 Holiday Reflections and Community Connections
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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Contact the host: rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
 
Full Transcript (timestamps do not account for intro)
Rick Sola (00:01.762)Hello and welcome to Cool Coffee. I'm here today with Mrs. Courtney Domoney from Blue Valley School District, USD 229 and the principal of the yet to be Wolf Springs Middle School opening August, 2026. Welcome Courtney.
Courtney Domoney (00:40.44)Hi, I'm glad to be here. Thanks for having me.
Rick Sola (00:42.806)Yeah, of course. And I'm excited to have a conversation here in December. We're recording this December 3rd, 2025, and your building will open August of 2026. so and it's interesting as we're talking and I see the board behind you with so many different notes and thoughts and things to remember that we'll get to, I'm sure. But really an exciting time. And so before we get into that, just a reminder to listeners, please
Give the show a follow, give it a like, and help share the stories from our amazing principals here in this great state of Kansas, and help invest in our collective growth in this wonderful principal profession. And Courtney, I'm super excited to talk to you about this. First of all, you're right down the road for me in Blue Valley, but opening up a brand new middle school, what an adventure. What do you, what'd you do today?
Courtney Domoney (01:41.868)To date, so this year is very different for me and I'm sure we'll talk about that, but I'm actually not in a building, have been a building principal before, but this year I'm at district office and was given this year as kind of a runway year to prepare for the school. And as August got started, I was like, what am I gonna do? But every day has just, know, progress has been made and gotten so much busier. So today I was at a meeting with all district administrators, just kind of a December update.
something that we regularly do. I then actually went out to the school site and gave a tour to a parent who is on my parent advisory committee and wasn't able to join our last parent advisory committee group. Came back, talked with one of our world language directors or coordinators because we have a Chinese immersion program that'll be moving to our new school and we kind of had a pre-discussion about staffing for that program so that we can make sure to be out front of that.
And gosh, just, every day has been so different and it's kind of like ping pong all day long.
Rick Sola (02:48.3)So, okay, so, simple question, what'd you do today? And now I've got like 50 new questions and we're like knee deep already. And I guess let's start at the basics. What is your mascot going to
Courtney Domoney (02:52.782)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (03:04.206)We are the Coyote. And that, what's think unique about this school opening, there has not been a new middle school in Blue Valley since 2011. And since that time, there have been two elementary schools that have opened. And so for this opening, something that's different than the most recent schools is the mascot, the school colors and the name have already been defined and were.
a year ago, January. So it was really important to the committee of people that were building this school from the ground up that we had an identity from the get-go. And so there was a student group two years ago from two different middle schools, one of which I was principal at at the time, that got to provide input on various facets of the building with the architecture team prior to the breaking of ground. And one of the pieces they actually got to
to give feedback at the end of that process was in mascots. so coyotes are native to Kansas. Wolf Springs Middle School, our school, is near Coffee Creek and the coyote was a mascot that, you know, a coyote had been, you know, again in this area. But also there are no other coyotes, so it's unique to our district and we get to be the first coyotes.
Rick Sola (04:24.182)Yeah, love and I love that you call it coyote because I've heard people say coyote and I get corrected in my own household. And so is that going to be a thing? You know, really get into the important details of opening a school.
Courtney Domoney (04:29.555)Yes. Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (04:35.187)Yeah, the important details first. So actually, I've just decided, because I figured I could, that we're the coyotes, but my assistant principal has already been named and he has coined the term go-yotes. So I feel like that kind of speaks to the coyote pronunciation, but we think the kids will think that's cool and I could see it on a t-shirt.
Rick Sola (04:55.586)Yeah. Go Yotes. That is cool, for me it's coyote. but yeah, that's awesome. It's funny because I did see that. Like, there's some pronunciations there. So what colors did they decide to go with?
Courtney Domoney (05:01.879)Right, it's...
Courtney Domoney (05:10.047)So our colors also were designed and unveiled just recently, but there are different shades of blues and teals, not primary colors. They actually kind of remind me of, you're familiar with the Kansas City area, the KC Current colors. There's teal and navy. We have fancy names for them because of the making sure we get the colors correct, but there's no red unlike the KC Current. But the students so far that have had a chance to see them, the colors were selected.
and chosen to be unique, to be exciting to kids. And the staff members we have, they're excited about them as well. But teals, navies, grays. So we're not, it will be a little different. I think that brings up a good like school function thing. A lot of schools have one or two school colors. We have a panel of six. Chartreuse is actually one of them. So kind of that lime green color too.
Rick Sola (06:03.638)Okay.
Courtney Domoney (06:04.593)and we're gonna have a great palette from which to choose to really get our brand out there and some spirit wear. The building itself on the interior will eventually have some massive graphics that really have that brand out near forefront on walls and stairwells, things like that.
Rick Sola (06:25.164)Yeah, you'll have a lot of fun with the spirit wear aspect, a lot of options, I'm sure. So I guess going back even further, and we'll start with your road to the chair and everything that's led you up to where you're at today and you've been principal before, but your road in education, where did it start and we'll get to where it's taken you.
Courtney Domoney (06:29.812)Yeah. Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (06:37.324)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (06:46.751)Yeah, I went to college in Kansas at KU and actually was a French education major. I wanted to be a French teacher. I had a great French teacher in high school. from the Wichita area and studied abroad in college, got engaged in college in France and
really just saw myself only being a French teacher. was my dream job. My first job ever was in the Blue Valley School District and I've never left. So this is my 21st year in Blue Valley and my 21st year in education. Throughout, once I started teaching, my first job were three years in middle school here in Blue Valley. And I really ultimately wanted to be a high school French teacher and got that opportunity after my first three years of teaching and then...
was at one of the high schools here in our district and I was there for five and a half years.
finishing my master's, you know, early on in my teaching career. The first time I, my first master's degree was in curriculum and instruction and I just kind of did that to move over on the pay scale. know, teachers are used to doing that, but I kept thinking, like, I felt this urge to want to do a little bit more and so I got an ESOL endorsement at one point. Started thinking about considering a gifted education certification as well and it was actually
when I was teaching and had had both of my kids who are in high school now, I had an opportunity to become a department chair. And you know, as fast as my career had moved and you know, growing family leadership in school wasn't something that I had really been part of. I had sponsored clubs and done extracurricular activities as a teacher, but I had an opportunity to...
Courtney Domoney (08:31.283)interview for a department chair position, world language department chair at the high school I was working at, and got that position and...
It almost like clicked instantly for me. All of a sudden, I realized how much I liked seeing how decisions were made at the building level. I liked hearing, you know, the principal describe various problems that we were going to be solving or goals that we were going to be working towards and seeing how a group of people could provide input and help make those decisions happen. And so pretty shortly after becoming the department chair at the high school I was working at, my principal one day said to me,
and I still remember it, he said, I think you'd be a good administrator if you ever wanted to be. And I literally had never thought about it. However, as a high school and college student, leadership was a really big part of my life growing up. Just as a teacher, I never really thought about more than teaching because that was what I'd wanted to be when I grew up. And I thought, there's no way that I can go get another master's degree. You know, we had two young kids at the time and I thought that's a financial, you know,
burden to take on to think about going back to school. But I mentioned it to my husband and he was incredibly supportive and I only looked at Baker University because that was where a lot of educators and administrators I knew had attended and just, the bell got rolling really quickly. So my path to from starting Baker to finishing Baker was pretty quick and actually in the middle of my sixth year at the high school, my gosh.
ninth year of teaching, there was an opportunity to become an administrative intern in the district and it was in the middle of the school year, which felt really risky. But I went ahead and went for it, took it and left my classroom after winter break to become an intern at a different high school in the district.
Courtney Domoney (10:27.937)that really, it was really difficult at first because going from your French classroom where you really don't have lot of behaviors, everybody's choosing to be in that elective class, you know, it was such a fun job. Loved my students, had a chance to have them, you know, all four years in high school or for three years in middle school, both of those, you know, time periods to all of a sudden, you know, not really knowing anything about being a principal except I passed the test and I took all
of the classes and having to talk about behavior for the first time, call parents with discipline issues were not things that were part of my teaching life. But I was, you I learned a ton and was actually given the opportunity to be an administrative intern in three different schools, two middle schools and a high school in a year and a half. And then I landed at a middle school in Blue Valley as an assistant.
Because I've only been in our district for my whole career, I've actually worked at eight or nine different schools during that time, mostly as my administrative path continued. But I ended up being principal at Oxford Middle School for the last six years until now.
Rick Sola (11:33.196)Mm-hmm.
Rick Sola (11:39.779)Wow. You mentioned a principal tapped you on the shoulder and just kind of made a comment. as I think of that, because I'm in year 22, so we're very similar, and Baker, so we have some overlap actually, but I think about that and it's kind of like when you're a teacher and it's oftentimes the things you don't think about that have made an impact on a student. I wonder if that principal was very intentional about that or if it was just a comment that
Courtney Domoney (11:45.079)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (11:50.381)Yeah.
Rick Sola (12:07.928)was like, hey, I recognize this in you, because I hear so many times where people share a similar story where they were discovered first, they were told first by somebody else, they never considered it, and it kind of sparked something. And it's amazing to think about, yeah, what kind of impact we can have and now be in year 21, 22 in the profession. Yeah, it kind of makes you reflect on like, I wonder if there's been a comment that I've made. Hopefully they've been positive and left a impact.
Courtney Domoney (12:20.703)Yeah, it was life-changing.
Courtney Domoney (12:29.154)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (12:35.595)And I hope so, right? But yeah, think thinking about it in that regard, know teachers I've worked with that have become administrators or are pursuing that path, but I'm not certain if any of it had anything to do with comments I've made, but I know that it made a difference for me.
Rick Sola (12:50.764)Yeah. So you are, you're now, I love that you called it the runway year. I don't know. I've never heard it called that. I think it's like a perfect analogy of where you're at right now. and most of us in the principal chair have, have not, and are not going through what you've gone through. So you were named, when were you named the principal of Wolf Springs? Okay.
Courtney Domoney (13:14.965)last January. So I applied for the position around mid-November of last year was when it opened up. And then
did not interview though until January was posted. This time of year we've got Thanksgiving and winter break and all of those things. So I interviewed actually on a snow day. I asked, can I still come in? Because interviewing is something that you prepare for and I was ready to go. So I interviewed and then was named in January of last year.
Rick Sola (13:46.859)And so you shared a little bit of where you're at and it's interesting to hear just picking a day randomly today and hearing all that you're doing. like, what was your first order of business? You're named, congratulations, you're the new principal. Here you go. What's your first step at that point?
Courtney Domoney (13:54.306)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (14:06.378)So for, you know, I finished the semester as principal at my former middle school and I realized really quickly because again, not all principals that open up new schools are given this runway year, but our district had learned the last time or two with elementary is that that was incredibly helpful. And I realized right away, thank goodness I had that time because second semester in a middle school or any school level for that matter is crazy. You have enrollment, you have, you know,
you're planning for the upcoming year, you've got hiring, you just have so many end of the year events. so probably the first Wolf Springs thing that I really had an opportunity to be part of was the selection and the identification of the assistant principal for this school. Our district decided to again do something unique with this in identifying an assistant principal for this year who's actually
So our school is being built like many are to alleviate the size of another middle school that's been very large for some time. So in the southern part of our district, that's where the growth has been. And so I was able to be part of the interview process and help select the assistant principal who this year is a second assistant. And in our district, our middle schools only have a head principal and one assistant. And so he's a second assistant at this school, which is large enough to necessitate that extra support. But
He will then come and be my assistant principal. His name is Chris Huggard. He's amazing. Next year at Wolf Springs. And so this year he's working at the school that, you know, the students who will come to us, a lot of the staff who will eventually be Wolf Springs staff will all come over and have that relationship with him. So that was that was the first order of business.
Rick Sola (15:53.081)Yeah, and that's great for him and you that he's working side by side with many of the students that will be with you next year.
Courtney Domoney (16:00.306)Exactly.
Rick Sola (16:02.146)So, you know, aside from you mentioned what today looked like in a very, you know, a very a lot of variety in the day. But what's kind of what's the pressing topic right now? It's December. You're nine months or eight months away from opening. What's kind of got you occupied the most right now?
Courtney Domoney (16:06.74)Yeah.
Sure.
Courtney Domoney (16:22.892)I would say right now staffing is the biggest piece that I'm focused on and our district is as well. Just in November, we finalized our vision team is what we're calling it, but really a small group, a small leadership team of staff who are what are considered now early hires for Wolf Springs for next year. All of them happen to be educators in our district currently, but at other schools. And so we went through
interview process, interviewed many candidates, amazing people that you know were interested in coming, leading, and helping to open a new school. And so we have now had an opportunity to meet twice. You know we're trying to find days where they we could potentially get some coverage as well as some after-school time to really start you know getting to know each other.
One thing that I'll, this doesn't necessarily answer the whole staffing piece, but an interesting thing, again, with this building project is the architecture firm has a strand that is called the Bold Team Bridging Organization Learning and Design. And they have a team that includes a former school superintendent. And the hope is, you know, with new schools,
There are spaces that will look different, feel different, and they are providing professional learning to our team and eventually at some point the whole staff so that we understand and can think about how can we really use this new space to enhance student learning and not just always assume to do the things we've always done instructionally. You know, if we have small breakout rooms, if our furniture may be different or arranged in different places, that that's really done in partnership and intentionally by
the bold team and the architecture firm that designed the building. And so that's really using this new, this vision team, this leadership team to help then eventually welcome the whole new staff in and have people that have had a chance to really take part in those workshops and those conversations.
Courtney Domoney (18:31.028)That's something that we've just been recently engaged in. As it will be January here in just a few weeks, we will start the staffing process for the school. so.
because again, Wolf Springs is opening because another middle school has been so large for so long. There's a process by which staff will have a chance to select or be identified to go to the new school. And we're getting ready to start that, looking at projections of enrollment, which is earlier. I'm thinking in your district as well, it's probably, you're not quite ready to think about enrollment, but.
We've got a lot of details to consider to make sure we're bringing over people that we know what jobs that they'll be fulfilling, looking at certification and all kinds of things like that.
Rick Sola (19:19.33)Yeah, there is a lot there and we hear oftentimes in any kind of either business or school establishment the analogy of family and I've always liked that because you can't pick your family, you work together through thick and thin, all those things. But in this case, you are picking your family a little bit, you get a hire. so talk a little bit about what does that, I guess, balance look like? mean, what's really great is you've got a
Courtney Domoney (19:38.997)Great.
Rick Sola (19:48.671)a vision for a brand new school with new features and you can speak to that and really be thinking about that as you're selecting people, but there's still kind of the balance of, you know, just the way personalities mesh together and that sort of thing. And have you thought much about that or is that are you at that point yet?
Courtney Domoney (20:06.582)Yeah.
Definitely, you know, when I think about the opportunity to open a new building is a once in a career opportunity, but I know that it will only be, the school will only be as good as the people and the culture that we create. And so obviously our students are not yet in the building, the staff isn't either, but.
the our assistant principal, we were really intentional about selecting the people that we selected and also thinking about just the breakdown of your certified staff. And I wanted to make sure that I have somebody from each grade level that we have sixth, seventh and eighth grade. We chose an elective teacher because that's a big part of the middle school life and a big chunk of your staff, honestly, a librarian, because, you know, hopefully that's that's a program in a place that connects all of all
of the experiences that your kids have in various classes, a special education teacher just to help make sure that we're thinking about student and staff needs, all the aspects that go into making sure that our students receive the services that they provide.
There are six of us, so I'm like, who's the sixth? Okay, sixth, seventh, eighth, library, special education, elective, that's it. And so, like you said, building that family, that's something I'm super passionate about is making sure that we are prepared and that we create a vision together to then take care of and welcome our staff once that identification process begins. You know, there's...
Courtney Domoney (21:41.226)Change can be hard. It is really exciting. And I think there's going to be lots of people that just can't wait to come. But there are some people that will be educators for us that were pretty comfortable where they were. And just by the nature of making sure that we have enough staff members to fill our building. And I want to make sure that we can take care of and really welcome and support all of our staff as they come over. So it's definitely a balance of, you know,
like you just said, the understanding of and the vision for the building design and what it can do for student learning, but then also making sure that we've created a culture where people are supported, inspired, and we spend more time at work typically than we do at our own homes at times. And so that's something that we're already thinking of.
Rick Sola (22:33.196)Yeah, no, that's like you said, it's a once in a career opportunity and just really, really pretty special, you know, that.
That building will be there a long, long time and you get to be the first principal of that building. And that's really cool. You mentioned enrollment in spring. And like you said, it does kind of creep up because I always want to get like our numbers as soon as we can possibly get our numbers. But it can only happen on a certain timeline. thinking about enrollment, you get your numbers, but you oftentimes with enrollment there, especially first time middle school parents, which you'll have, you know, there's kind of some.
Courtney Domoney (22:45.596)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (22:57.28)Yes. Right.
Rick Sola (23:12.92)aspect of either welcoming them or even prior to the school year. So what or is that going to look like with spring once you kind of get enrollment? Do you have any availability to be able to do a meet and greet that early or is it is that even on the radar?
Courtney Domoney (23:30.644)So one thing that we've already done, I've worked with our district communications team and we have created quarterly videos to be able to show families what the building is looking like. And that I think has been really positively received because you can only drive by and see so much. right now it's a construction site and you can't really drive in because it's a mud pit after all the rain and snow that we've had. So that's been a way using social media to connect and
highlight, you know, right now it looks like this, we have, you know, really creative people that have been able to show renderings and what the building is going to look like and different things like that. So that's been one way to engage with the community.
You know, I think in a lot of schools, especially the beginning of middle school is such a jump from elementary for students and their families. And so with our fifth graders, we have already identified an enrollment night, which is something that's a practice here. But what we can't do is have it at our school. And so we really thought long and hard. There's an one of the elementaries that will be our feeder is right on site with the middle school. But we felt like that might not be as welcoming to families from the other elementary feeder. And so we're actually going to
have it at Blue Valley Southwest High School. You know, we wanted to create a neutral place, but a place that also made sense just for the community. And so we are looking forward to doing that. Want to have our vision team, those teacher leaders be present and so that, you know, they'll see that we're starting to create our staff and building that excitement and support for kids. What we are hoping is...
that over the summer, once we're able to be in the building, we're really wanting to do meet and greets and invite families in. We are looking to create later this year, probably like April, May, to help identify student ambassadors that we know will be middle school students coming to be leaders at the new school and have them help actually lead some of those tours and just get people excited and get...
Courtney Domoney (25:35.74)get in the building when we can so that it's not, we don't, we certainly don't want the very first time that our students or families enter the building to be on August 13th.
Rick Sola (25:45.293)Very cool. You mentioned summer. When do you expect to be able to like actually work out of the building? I know there'll be there'll be odds and ends probably up through August 13th. But when do you expect to get your office and kind of do some work inside?
Courtney Domoney (25:54.464)rate.
Courtney Domoney (26:01.787)So I've learned a lot about construction for someone who's never built a home and there are phases to the release of the building and the front office will be the last part to be built because they want to get the classrooms ready, right? That's where we need to make sure that all the technology and HVAC and plumbing that people are going to be in most of the time is really, really ready. so classrooms will be actually released in April, but the front office will not get released.
until June 12th.
Rick Sola (26:33.376)Wow, okay. makes sense the way to hear you explain it, but like that is not what I would have expected, I guess, when thinking through that.
Courtney Domoney (26:36.808)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (26:41.127)Yeah, it was interesting. I was over at the school today and one of the awesome people from Macowan Gordon, who's the construction firm that's out there every day, he was explaining that to me and he just said, there's just so many more things in the classroom spaces that we have to make sure are prepared. So for example, those will be ready in mid April. The gyms that are very large spaces and a lot happens in there have less of the constraints that classrooms do, fewer, you know, pieces of technology.
Etc. And so the gyms will also be after classrooms. But yeah, June 12th is when the office will be ready. And so the city will not release the building to be worked in to answer your question until June 12th of this summer. Yes, there's a roof. covered. Almost every single window is installed now.
Rick Sola (27:23.961)Is there a roof on it yet? Is it covered? It is. Okay. That's good.
Courtney Domoney (27:32.339)And I mean, the progress is taking place or is happening very quickly. Every time I go out, which is usually one to two times a week, you know, they're starting to paint various parts of some classrooms and just different things like that. So it's really fun to see it come along.
Rick Sola (27:48.973)That's what's always struck me with such a large project. You have the rooms that are painted and finished, and then you've got an office that has like they're still in studs and they're not even doing anything. Yeah. No, that's great. You know, you've probably encountered lots of challenges already. What are some of the challenges that you're you're trying to anticipate? You know, I think there's always that sense of like, you know,
Courtney Domoney (27:55.87)Yeah, yeah, the office is just the steel beams right now.
Rick Sola (28:14.552)of what I don't know is, you the concern of what I don't know, but what are you trying to anticipate and get ahead of and challenges, maybe talking with others who have been through this?
Courtney Domoney (28:22.943)You know, so I think there's a logistical part to any project. And I feel like I've kind of just accepted that, you know, there may be a few things on day one or even month one that aren't quite what we wanted or that we uncover, you know, an error or an issue somewhere physically within the building. And I just know that that's gonna get taken care of. You know, I have visited a school in Lee's Summit recently that...
that opened in the last year or two. And she talked about on the first day of school realizing when it was time for the Pledge of Allegiance, they didn't have flags, stuff like that. So I feel like those are small things. Those are things that will take up some of our time and efforts. But honestly, kind of going back to the creation of our vision team and the hiring process, really wanting to...
Rick Sola (28:59.672)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (29:13.651)take care of the people moving to a new school, whether that be student or it's really students and staff.
in our district, in this portion of our district, that's where the growth has been in the last, you know, 10, 15 years. And so we will have students who have moved elementary schools twice and now have to move a middle school within that time. And families who have been through multiple school transitions based on the growth and new buildings being built. And so that's really what I won't say it keeps me up at night, because I know we're going to, you know, wrap around these families and these kids. But making sure that
they feel welcomed, that they feel excited, and that they feel like this school is theirs. That to me is the most pressing issue. so ways to wrap around that, I have a student advisory committee at both of the elementary feeders. I've met with a middle school student advisory committee and I have a parent advisory group. And so we'll meet five times each group probably this year. I've already met with both all of those groups twice and gotten really good feedback.
One of those things being actually our parents said we want the kids to feel like they're all new next year. A lot of times in a middle school you focus on just your new students, which is maybe a smaller group, but your sixth graders, for example. You you make that a big deal because the beginning of middle school is such a transition. And so we are planning to host a kind of a camp in August for all students to come.
and have building tours and go through activities. And that's something that sometimes just sixth grade students have had an opportunity to participate in. And so I think the problems are just wanting people to be excited about school, because we love school, we're educators. But then making plans and getting people involved so that we can make sure it happens.
Rick Sola (31:16.396)Yeah, I'm glad you brought up the whole like new middle school because you're right. You've got some families that have been maybe they're on their third or fourth child who's gone through other middle school and now their boundary is sending them to the new and it's easy to be excited. It's a brand new building bells and whistles all these things. But for some people it's no you're taking me from I can't go to where my the rest of the family have attended. And so there's a little bit of that.
Courtney Domoney (31:30.281)Yeah. Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (31:41.097)rate.
Rick Sola (31:42.838)And so that is a reality anytime there's a new building, because yeah, you're right. That's something to keep in mind.
Courtney Domoney (31:48.585)Well, and so for some of our middle schoolers, our sixth and seventh graders this year who will be seventh and eighth graders, some of their friends are not going to go to the new middle school. You they'll all end up at the same high school in our feeder pattern. So, you know, that's comforting. so having to be really intentional about creating relationships with all students. And I thought our parents gave great feedback. Treat all of the kids like new students next year. And so that's that's what we're starting kind of in the early stages of planning that.
Rick Sola (32:15.394)Well, that's great. It sounds like you have lot of different voices that are really positive and productive to be able to kind of help steer some things. And I don't know if you want to speak too much about it, but as I'm seeing you here, this is obviously an audio podcast only, but you've got a board behind you with all sorts of, just looks like, I mean, there's a lot of thoughts up there. What's going on behind you there?
Courtney Domoney (32:37.662)There are, yeah.
So this, says welcome to Wolf Springs. So the very first day I moved into this office, I wrote that because that I was kind of like, what do I do? You know, I had to figure out everything with lots and lots of support, but at the end of the day, I needed to make sure that my mind was wrapped around it correctly. But we actually have a new strategic plan this year. So our district has a strategic plan that was brand new this year. And I made sure to write down our three priorities.
for that so that I can make sure as we are making decisions that it aligns to what our district sees for the entire school district. And then I started thinking about questions that I would want to ask students, parents, and our vision team as we started to get to know them. But I've definitely had just transition on my mind. so like questions I wanted to ask students were, you know, what is something you love about your current school that you would want to take to the new school?
Another, but on the flip side, there an idea that you have that you wish that your current school did that we could think about? Parents, I asked, know, if you, for those of you who have been through multiple new schools,
If you had a great transition, awesome, but if there was something that would make it better, what might that be? And being able to share all of that within our vision team and starting to work together, and again, we've only met a few times, but how can we put some of these hopes, wishes, and dreams into action?
Rick Sola (34:14.36)Yeah, I imagine there's probably new thoughts and ideas that just kind of fire at random. I don't know if you carry a notepad with you or it's in your phone or whatever it is, but I can imagine. No, it's really cool. I wish it could be seen because it just looks like a really good thought board. And I love that. I don't know. To me, that there's some humor in the fact that if you walk in, it's an empty office, a blank board and well, welcome to Wolf Springs. And then, you know, well, here we go. You know, it just.
Courtney Domoney (34:21.534)Yeah.
Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (34:41.148)Yeah, here we go.
Rick Sola (34:43.16)Well, it's going to be awesome and all the best to you in the coming months. And I'm sure it probably feels a distance away, but it'll be here also very, very quickly. things, you just like in the schools, you get into the springtime and things move so quickly, and as I'm sure it will for you as well. You know, we are recording this, I mentioned on December 3rd and
We're headed into the holidays and so just a little fun, a little trivia for you before I give you a chance to brag on all the people out in Blue Valley. what is your Mount Rushmore of Christmas movies, holiday movies?
Courtney Domoney (35:27.08)So that's a tough question because I mean so many experiences that I love in life wrap around this time of year because of the things I get to do or you know did growing up or with my family now but every year on Christmas Eve my husband and my two daughters and I we watch It's a Wonderful Life and so we know that you know before we go to bed that that's something that we're going to watch together and we can quote all the lines but that that is my that is my Mount Rushmore of holiday movies.
Rick Sola (35:55.789)Yeah, that is a good one. I think I asked this this time last year and I speak in with Melissa Evans out in Hutchison and we ended up going into a debate on whether Die Hard was a Christmas movie, think, too, because there's that that whole.
Courtney Domoney (36:09.512)My husband would say it is, but for me, I did not grow up with that and I didn't grow up with a brother even and so Die Hard is not one of my Christmas movies, but he likes it.
Rick Sola (36:14.189)haha
Rick Sola (36:20.512)I think there's an argument to be made either way. tend to argue, I go toward Rocky IV. I'm a big Rocky fan. Rocky IV is a Christmas movie if Die Hard is a movie, because they fought on Christmas Day. I'm totally, I mean, I tend to, It's a Wonderful Life is really a good one. I enjoy Christmas Story quite a bit and Christmas Vacation. Those are automatics. They have to be watched. I've already seen, I've seen Christmas Vacation already this year. Elf is really,
Courtney Domoney (36:30.59)How about for you, what's yours?
Courtney Domoney (36:43.922)You have to watch him.
Rick Sola (36:49.804)funny. There's a lot. That's a hard one. yeah, I try to stay kind of in that ballpark there, I guess, for the... I think I'm probably missing some, but... No, so you've been in Blue Valley your entire career. You've been in, you said, at least eight different schools, nine different schools. You've worked with a lot of great people, I'm sure. This is a chance. Brag on Blue Valley and the people of or future people of Wolf Springs.
Courtney Domoney (36:58.1)Yeah.
Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (37:10.111)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (37:19.146)I have just been incredibly fortunate to have had the career that I have had up to this point and you know the career I'm looking forward to and it's always been because of the people that I've been surrounded with so every principal that I had as a teacher who actually both of them are no longer in the district and have moved to other districts
really got me to where I am today. then as an administrator, principals that really helped me, Chris Leglider would be one. And he, I was his assistant for two years. And then we were co-assistant principals before he was my boss for a year as well. But just having the opportunity to work with him and, you know, see how he did things at the beginning of my career was really foundational to, you know, getting me feel like I was prepared to lead professional learning, to tackle
challenges and remain calm. That would be something. My boss, Shelly Nielsen, was a principal at one time and she's an executive director of school administration. She is someone that
always calls you back even you, you know, she happens to be on the phone or be busy or dealing with, you know, a different building and those issues. It always amazed me as a building principal how responsive she was, how caring and genuine she was. And then I've had a chance to work with her more closely this year being at district office and working on a few different projects and getting to work a little bit more alongside her, how, you know, she makes sure that everybody really feels taken, taken care of. And then just all of my middle
school colleague, principal friends in the district.
Courtney Domoney (38:57.874)Well, I'm number 10 now, so I'll be the 10th middle school. But it's great to have colleagues that you feel like, okay, if I'm dealing with an issue, even if I know it's gonna be hard, I just need to hear someone kind of let me vent or talk me through it or give me a couple words to get started. I could call any of them. I think what makes great principals is having great people around you that you can lean on for support when needed. And I've just always been so fortunate to have that in Blue Valley.
and hopefully that I can do that for others as well.
Rick Sola (39:31.8)That's really great. And you mentioned a lot of names there. Chris Leglider, friend of the show. He was on here last year. you know, and I think everything you mentioned, you both within the district and then even outside, like you and I met at Elevate, the Elevate II cohort that we're in together. And, you know, that's part of the value of the KPA and just the networking of all that we can learn from each other. And I really appreciate you taking the time.
Courtney Domoney (39:35.945)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (39:45.823)Yeah.
Rick Sola (40:00.522)at a really busy time, but to share just a little bit of insight about opening a building, because it is unique, but it's always kind of fascinated me. And there's so much, I think we just scratched the surface. I'm sure there's so, so much that you're about to embark on and already embarking on, but it looks like you're well on your way.
Courtney Domoney (40:10.57)I
Courtney Domoney (40:19.422)Something I think I've thought a lot this semester as the pace has just picked up so much is really like everything is figureoutable. I think that's a t-shirt or something somewhere. But I do know that while it's all new, while it's bringing a bunch of different people together, if you can keep your focus on taking care of your people and your students, everything is figureoutable and we're going to do great things.
Rick Sola (40:41.73)Yeah, that's great. It'll fall into place. You've got the family around you and it'll all fall into place. Well Courtney, thank you so much for the time and I really do appreciate it and all the best to you. I look forward to hearing more about it as the year progresses and as you get closer to August and kicking it
Courtney Domoney (40:47.677)Yeah.
Courtney Domoney (41:01.128)Yes, thanks for having me and I hope that we get a chance to connect again soon and that anybody that listens, if they ever want to reach out to me and hear some crazy stories about how it's going, that would be fun too.
Rick Sola (41:13.61)Awesome. your information, contact information will be in the show notes. So check that out. But Courtney, a great rest of the year and enjoy the holidays and we'll talk to you soon.
Courtney Domoney (41:24.971)All right, same to you. Thanks, Rick.
 
 

CC#106: Navigating School Leadership (part 2) - Principal Panel w/ Simmons, Woolever, Cave, and Rogers

(part 2 of 2) In this episode of "Cool Coffee," host Rick Sola moderates a panel of four principals from Kansas, discussing their journeys into administration and the challenges they face. The panelists, including principals Midge Simmons, Dr. Jenny Woolever, Robert Cave, and Travis Rogers, share personal stories about their motivations for becoming administrators, the importance of authenticity and trust in leadership, and strategies for managing school culture and crises. They also offer advice to aspiring administrators, emphasizing the value of networking, being authentic, and taking risks. Questions to the panel came from Baker University Fall 2025 cohort of future administrators.
This is part 2 of a 2 part episode. Part 1 (CC#105) dropped on November 20, 2025.
Connect with the panel...Principal Midge Simmons - Grandview Elementary--El Dorado Schools USD490Connect with Mrs. Simmons on X
Principal Dr. Jenny Woolever - Washington Elementary - Olathe Schools USD233Connect with Dr. Woolever on X
Assistant Principal Robert Cave - Piper High School - Piper Schools USD203Connect with Mr. Cave on X
Principal Travis Rogers - Wichita South High School - Wichita USD259Connect with Mr. Rogers on X
 
 
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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Click for ALL Cool Coffee episodes!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
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Contact the host: X @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
 
Episode TRANSCRIPT (AI generated, continues from the end of CC#105-part 1)
Rick Sola (29:25.312)what organizational methods or systems do you have for staying on top of all of the to-dos that you have and that you never complete at the end of any given day?
Jenny Woolever (29:36.985)I've had to learn that my to-do list is always a to-do list. I used to be able to get to-do list done. Yeah, you don't in this role. It is always there. You add to it, you bump things up depending on what's the need and sometimes you can't even get to the to-do list so you have to be able to accept that going in. That was probably something I really had to learn my first few years. I have had an opportunity within my 13 years I have been in different districts and also different buildings.
And so each building I found success in, first I understand what everybody's role is. So when I visit with the secretary before the school year starts, or I visit with assistant principals, maybe that's the counselors, I have them really define their role. So that way when we have the start of the year, we have our names and we know who they can go to for what. That really helps eliminate some of that, them going to you to ask, well, who does this? It's already in that plan. So I always kind of recommend.
empowering others, but also we have some clear plans in place ahead of time. And many a times we're working together anyways, but it's just nice to have that process already thought out. The other thing I recommend is a lot of committees with my, you know, sitting, we'll kind of talk about climate and culture, but having a social committee or during PLCs at the end of that, I always go back to, okay, let's review what everybody is doing. So it doesn't just fall on one person. you're going to send this email? Great. I'm going to contact the parent? Great.
TR Travis Rogers (30:44.419)you
Jenny Woolever (31:02.388)That just really helps come together. And the last bit of advice I had on there that I marked was, in passing as principals, we're always going through the hallways. Someone will be talking to me about something. My go-to is, thank you for telling me. Be sure to email me that so I don't forget. Because there's a million things going on in our mind, and I was already going to do something else, and I couldn't recall. So then at the end of the day, I kind of jot those down on that to-do list so I don't forget. And that's important to go back and don't forget.
I'll even know if my response is late, I'll still get to it. It just is a way I keep track of everything.
Rick Sola (31:36.96)That's great. Any other tips and tricks from the other three of you here?
TR Travis Rogers (31:42.48)So we have Outlook email and so that schedule send and so when something's on your mind and you can schedule send it because you know it needs to come at a different time has been really helpful. And then the value of a great admin assistant. I have a great support staff here and so they have access to my calendar and we put protected times on there. And so if somebody's trying to find me but I'm in classrooms for that hour unless something's burning.
I am not called, you know, and so really truly sitting down with your trusted folks and building trust with them so then they get a feel for you is in the sense of what's important to you and what's not what could be pushed back via email You know, it's truly just having good people around you and having them know what's important to you
Robert Cave (32:35.406)Yeah, I can second the calendar part. That's, that's, you know.
Rick Sola (32:35.617)Yeah.
Robert Cave (32:38.67)I think what Jenny said to someone comes up to me, I say, send me an email right now. So I get to the top of my inbox so can see that that is definitely a tool I use for sure. But I also think having my calendar available and I, you know, have a counselor or someone needs, but even a student, can, you know, I'm the activities director at my school and I have a club president that wants to have a conversation and wants to plan something. I say, find a date this week, you know, when you have time and final on my calendar and make a calendar and I will accept it. And I, that's, I check my calendar.
You know, every 30 minutes I'm like, okay, what's coming up next? What's the next thing on my agenda? What's the next thing coming up? Because you will find yourself pulled. I mean, I will walk from one end of my building to the other, and I will have seven different people need me, you know, from that end to that end. And I'm heading towards the next meeting on my calendar. So I always am checking to make sure, but I think the email is great, but also that calendar can be really helpful as well.
Rick Sola (33:32.369)a good assistant cannot be overstated. And I've been in administration for 15 years and I currently have someone that is just incredible. what she does to help me be better at my job, I can't say enough about that and kind of the nail in the head from Travis there. Travis, I'm going to go to you here. What would you go back and tell?
your brand new principal self. Now, if you could. Kind of a what do know now that you wish you knew then.
TR Travis Rogers (34:09.433)That's a great question. I would definitely say to give yourself grace.
My wife tells me often that I am too hard on myself and so seek mentorship, education, it's a small world. Like you said, Rick, we were all in the same room at some point last week and I had no idea. And so depending on your district and your size, you never know the people that have come before you and you don't know the people that will come after you. And so seek out, you don't have to know everything. And so really truly lean into the people around
you and just celebrate the small wins and take time every day to be around kids. So even as a principal I have 1,700 students here at South High. There's lots of times where I'm just like you know what I need to go into a couple classrooms because I just need a break I need to see kids in action and that truly kind of kind of shifts my mindset from time to time.
Rick Sola (35:07.852)That's great. Any other advice you'd give yourself?
Midge Simmons (35:12.631)When I read the question, the first thing I thought of was networking. know, KPA in USA has been awesome. I mean, since COVID, I feel like it's just been incredible to be a part of. But I was a part of KPA years ago when I first started. I didn't get into it as much. And I just think the networking possibilities that you have through a program like that or, you know, here...
Jenny, you're at elementary, Yeah. So we don't get some of the...
You guys that are at secondary, your league meetings, you get to know some other principals, we don't get that at the elementary level. And that's always been a complaint I've had of being at the elementary level. And so if you don't put yourself out there to gain that networking and meet other people that are in the same profession as you, you don't get some of those people where I can pick up the phone and call. I barely know a lot of you on this panel right now, but I automatically feel right now I could probably call Jenny up tomorrow and ask her a question about what's going on.
nurse goal and get some advice. know, it's important. That networking is so important. So important.
Rick Sola (36:28.276)Yeah. I love that you brought that up because that's kind of been my experience. Sorry, Jenny. I hope I didn't cut you off.
Jenny Woolever (36:28.596)Yeah.
Jenny Woolever (36:33.862)No, I totally agree too. And I've been in both secondary and elementary and I really try to form that team in the elementary too. I may not have AP so it's my secretary, it could be my translator, it could be my nurse. We are the office team. Like we're in it together. I don't know what your role is or my role but we're all in it together. So really be thoughtful of that too. Sometimes you do have certain different resources and different individuals. Create that team for you too.
Rick Sola (37:02.656)Yeah, I agree. think early on, I did not appreciate networking the way it just didn't. Maybe I was so busy with other things as an early administrator, but especially being part of the KPA. And just like we're sitting here, we're all in different parts of the state and having this conversation and being able to connect that way. It's really a big deal, I think. This next question, we'll start with Robert, but I love this question.
It was stolen from a stolen, sounds terrible. was, it was brought in from the new heights podcasts, which is what was your welcome to the NFL moment? So Robert, what was your welcome to administration moment that you had as a first year administrator?
Robert Cave (37:50.702)So I came into a situation where, you know, my first day of school, was my first year as an administrator. It was my school's first year with a new principal that came from the elementary world that was now coming to the high school. And it was a totally new district for me as well. So I was felt like I was just barely, you know, getting my feet wet when on the very first day we had an incident on a bus that
I to take care of and that was throwing me completely into the fire, not only talking to a parent, but having a parent meeting on day one, you know, trying to navigate Skyward on day one and learn all about, you know, the systems of that, writing a suspension letter on day one and navigating all the legal ramifications of that. now, you know, that was just, luckily I had, like you guys said, a great support team around me to kind of help me do those things.
But it was literally my first day with students as a principal. We had an incident that I had to call a parent, suspend a kid, you know, do all that stuff on day one. And that was really, you know, just throwing me right into the fire with all of those things happening. So, you know, it taught me a lot. It started the year off on an interesting note, but that was kind of my welcome to administration moment, whereas, you know, checking cameras, you know, doing all the things that you do, do the investigation, due process.
all of those things and I was like, man, this is just my first day, you know, what is happening here. So, so that was pretty wild.
Rick Sola (39:23.596)That sounds like a Baker scenario that I remember when I went through the classes up there. How do you respond with?
Robert Cave (39:28.056)Yeah. Right. Yeah, exactly. know. Yeah, it was pretty textbook, unfortunately, from what they give you.
Rick Sola (39:36.916)Yeah. So welcome to the administrator moment, Jenny.
Jenny Woolever (39:42.962)It might happen before the school year actually even begun. We were needing a teacher and so I was interviewing and I was the only one in the building in the summer.
As I was letting the teacher in, I realized I left my key card on the desk. So her and I were both locked into the entry for quite some time, and it was probably a good 90, 100 degree day. I ended up hiring her she was the best one, but it really let me see when things like this happen, how do you get to really know someone? And so it was kind of embarrassing, but I had to contact buildings and they let me in. But I thought, yeah, you really hired me as your admin, but I made up for it in the long run. But you just kind of have to laugh those off. And again,
Everyone's gonna make mistakes, but that one I really told me, who are you again? I'm your new principal and I'm locked in the entry. But yeah, just gotta laugh it off, but it's still something I truly remember.
Rick Sola (40:24.812)You
Rick Sola (40:30.952)Awesome. Midge.
Midge Simmons (40:34.497)for me, kind of a little bit along the lines of Robert is I can remember back on my first year having a very toxic parent who had gotten in the building. And I came from Garden City Schools as a teacher. And back then we did a lot with crisis and intruders and all of that. And the school I was at was not really up on that. So I immediately put the building in lockdown.
And this had to have been within the first couple months that I was in the role. And needless to say, I was able to get the toxic parent to at least step outside the door. And as soon as that door latched, I knew right then, okay, we're all safe, we're fine. And then all of a sudden a police officer comes and they knew a little bit of what's going on, but they didn't handle it very well because they tackled the parent right outside the door.
Rick Sola (41:29.9)you
Midge Simmons (41:31.415)It was quite a thing. I ended up going to court over the issue. The police officer ended up being fired. It was quite a fiasco. I don't remember what the issue was and why the parent was so toxic coming in and angry. I don't remember what that issue was with her child, but I do remember that all happening and me sitting back going, this really what I wanted to do?
But then the year was much better after that, so I don't know.
Rick Sola (42:04.394)Yeah, that is that that kind of goes back to our question earlier about when things end up in the news and escalate quickly, that sort of thing. But Travis.
TR Travis Rogers (42:11.427)Yeah.
TR Travis Rogers (42:15.023)So I had a really good.
admin internship at South High as a teacher. But when I read that I reflected on at 30 years old, I'd left South High to go be an assistant principal at West High. So just up the street. And so they gave me freshman Academy. And so very first day, freshman orientation in front of 400 students, you know, all the staff, I'm doing a 30 minute presentation on the procedures, policies, expectations, never lived a day of my life at West High School. And so just talking
front of people and not just so much teaching but just...
you know now you're the person and now people are looking at you and just being able to present in the correct proper way and say the right things and so that was a truly a very nervous time. never really talked in front of 400 people at the time but again the more you do it the easier it gets and so that was my aha okay welcome to admin I'm 30 years old and I'm sitting here at West High and I'm in charge of all these kids now so.
Rick Sola (43:18.196)Yeah, it's funny. so I'll give it my, my moment, which is so less than all of your examples, cause it was so minor, but it was over the summer and my office, an office staff person came in and just kind of leaned in. I was brand new a couple of days on the job and just, Hey Rick, I just want to let you know, we've got ants really bad up in the front office. And then she stepped out and I'm, and she left and I was thinking to myself, why in the world are you telling me this?
like deal with it. And then it hit me, wait a second. I'm the facility guy. I'm the, I'm the administrator that's over facilities. That is my job now. I got to, I need to deal with it. And so it was kind of like, yeah, like that's why you're telling me. So, all right, so we're, we'll wrap up here in a bit, but Jenny, you did a really great presentation at KPA, the conference last week on the intentional things you do to promote school culture.
Midge Simmons (44:01.738)you
Rick Sola (44:15.9)And we're really at that time of year where it's a grind, but there's a lot of really positive things to tap into for school culture. so talk about a couple of things you're doing or going to do here over the next month with Thanksgiving and the holidays coming that really taps into that.
Jenny Woolever (44:34.504)Yeah, like Rick said, our jobs are hard, so anything I can do to make staff laugh or get to know them better, it is something I really enjoy and I constantly learn. With being in different buildings too, I've taken some different traditions and added it to mine or I respect what the building has done or some that have run their courses, we could say. And so it's kind of always nice to get a feedback and feel for what others are doing.
We actually just submitted our turkey disguises. So just like those fun hand turkeys, teachers are at home designing one with their families. And so the students all during lunch next week get a vote on which turkey is actually going to make it to the feast. And then they get a gift card to actually use.
TR Travis Rogers (45:00.719)you
Jenny Woolever (45:15.136)for their own Thanksgiving supper with their families, which is kind of a fun little artistic standpoint. We're gonna do a champions giving. I'm from Washington and we are the champions. And so each person brings a side and as the principal, we use our funds to get some turkey from Hy-Vee and kind of have our own little friends giving as you would say. December is another one when you come back, you have those three weeks. We've done different where you hide different snowmen throughout the building.
But I really try to make each activity a little different. Some may be where we're playing games, some could be that we're showing artistic side, some may just be socializing or gathering around a table. I just think it's important to embrace that and it gets you out there with others.
I may not participate in everything, but I do participate in a lot. This past Halloween, I was a little boo-boo and I had to explain a lot what that was. But all the kids knew. And you just got to pick and choose, but you got to get out there too. And it's a way that they get to know me besides just Dr. Woolover, the principal.
Rick Sola (46:15.818)Yeah, climate and culture is so critical in being in tune with the undercurrents of a building. Travis mentioned that trust, trust his staff that you have having people that can come to you and kind of share, Hey, you need to be aware of this and just things to keep the morale high or, you know,
This is a good fun time of year. can be in schools. It can also bring a lot of stress for families, for our teachers and so forth. so, yeah, Jenny, have, and you've been on this podcast before sharing about that. And so for anyone listening and wants to know more, go back to this time last year and Jenny shared a really good, but that presentation last week was great. All right, so we're down to the last couple here. Thinking about...
Those who might be listening who are not yet an administrator, they're in classes that at this point they are considering it or maybe they're wholeheartedly ready to make that jump. What advice would you give to the aspiring building administrator who are not yet in that chair? What should they be thinking about right now? What do they need to consider? And this one's a little bit off script. So I'll just take a volunteer to kick us off. Travis, go ahead.
TR Travis Rogers (47:29.911)I'll go seek out leadership opportunities and we talk often about your comfort zone and how growth usually happens outside your comfort zone. So whatever your comfort zone is, whether you're teaching or in a different role within a school, you gotta step outside of that and seek out, talk to people, get to know people, be a sponge and you're gonna continue to learn. And I think that's where the impact will happen for you.
Robert Cave (48:00.855)I would say for me, what I've, what I would learned a lot and what my advice is to be your authentic self, even within this role and listening to Jenny, you know, it reminds me of just kind of myself too, is, you know, that was my fear is it, can I be myself? Can I joke around with staff the way I joked around with my students? Can I do those things? Can I, you know, you know, do those things and, it, and I have been able to, and that's been, you know, don't
Don't try to change for the job. to, you know, be your authentic self within the job and play to your strengths. You're not going to be good at every single thing. There's going to be other administrators, maybe even in your building, your other assistant principals that are, that have different strengths than you. Find what you're good at and lean into those strengths and be your authentic self and don't be afraid to build those relationships and, you know, be that, be the leader you want to be, but within who you are.
and I think I've seen a lot of administrators that, that think they have to change who they were as an educator is, or as a teacher when they get into the role. And I have found that the opposite is true. You should lean into the things that you were good at in the classroom, the things that you, you know, that gave you joy and fulfilled you in the classroom can still be some of the same things that you can do as an administrator. So lean into that and be your authentic self. That authenticity is so important.
not only with your staff, but with students. They will be able to see behind any false veneer that you put up. So be yourself, be who you are, and that's the way you will build trust with your staff and your students.
Rick Sola (49:40.876)That's great. Jenny.
Jenny Woolever (49:42.281)Yeah, Robert, I agree. And like you said, you learn from all the administrators you've had before you too. And so people know I spend a lot of time on my pre-service and my professional development because I don't want to be bored. And I said, I've been at all those stages too. And so that is like my classroom. And so I really try to do that. And anytime I can't sub in a class, I love it. And so sometimes even those best administrators aren't the ones that are ready to leave the classroom.
And so just know that you'll always have that. But what's luxury, you can go co-teach with anybody you want. I also agree with what Travis said. I kind of went to the math specialist role before I went to an administrator, and I was glad I did because I learned how to do professional development within large groups. I also learned how to work with teachers and running PLCs. It's different working with adults than it is children. But I also would say is relating it to you as a person. Sometimes when I do have to make those tough phone calls.
I say I understand your view as a parent, I'm a parent too, knowing that you do have a lot of roles and you can relate in all of those. So I think all of those are great and I would agree.
Rick Sola (50:44.46)right, Mitch.
Midge Simmons (50:46.519)Robert I really liked what you had to say about being authentic is that that is Yeah, that's just yeah, you hit it spot-on for me. you know it it's not just about building relationships with your staff, but it's also building that trust and And to me that I've learned over the years that that is just so incredibly important to build that trust and you can only do that by being authentic and I I would like to add that
I think it's important that it's okay to be vulnerable with some of your staff. And if you have that trust built, you can do that and it's okay. They need to see that we're human in these roles too. And then the only other thing when I think about this is don't be afraid to take risks. My husband always talks about, you know, it's okay to fail forward.
If you fail at something or if you are empowering a staff member and they fail, let them fail because that's how they're going to learn. But I think that holds true for us too, that it's okay to take risks, whether it's with your staff or whether it's just with the school in general and what you're leading. I just think that's so important because we're not gonna move forward if we don't take those risks.
Rick Sola (52:07.488)That's great. Thank you all for sharing. Last question, 10 seconds or less. Excuse me. My voice is gone. I apologize. 10 seconds or less. Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away and we all have some time off coming up. Much deserved. What is it you're looking forward to most to unwind for you personally over the Thanksgiving holiday?
Jenny Woolever (52:34.144)We do a game night at the Wooliver household and it gets pretty intense. We're all really competitive. I really a lot of times have to be on the same team as Mr. Wooliver because like I said, but we enjoy it you got to laugh at it and my kids love it, but it's just a tradition that carries on in my family. So on Thanksgiving night, it's a game night as well.
Robert Cave (52:58.19)Yeah, I would say for me, I have a sophomore music ed major at K state. And so he's coming home and so it's spending time. You know, it feels when you, when you have a family and one part of it's gone for a while, you forget what it feels like when you're all together and complete. So for me, it's, know, it's, it's easy to say, I love cooking Thanksgiving food. love eating Thanksgiving food. I love watching football. I love all that, but I love doing all of that when my family is all here and complete and together. So.
That's what it's really all about. And you'll find yourself, I think all of you know, especially those that work high school, how often, how many evenings you work and how often you are out of your family, where you're away from your family. So spending that time with them just feels even more valuable during these times, a time to refresh and get ready for those three to four weeks before winter break hits and we have second semester. So that's I look forward to the most.
Rick Sola (53:53.8)Excellent. Midge.
Midge Simmons (53:57.09)For me, this is going to be the first time ever in my career.
in education where I have full week. We've always had only the three days, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So to get a whole full week, feels like spring break is around the corner, but it's not going to feel that way outside, obviously. For me, I've got some family members that are actually not going to be there. I could do one of two things. I could be really bummed on that and ruin the week for myself and be negative about that, or I could also appreciate the time that both
my husband and I will have some quiet time together too. and being both of us being school administrators, you don't get a whole lot of that. We do a lot of talking. We have a 40 minute drive. We live in Derby and we both work here in El Dorado. So we do a lot of downtime in there, but.
you know it's gonna be nice to just say hey no we can not be principals for a week and maybe we can have some other conversations that are a little different and have that quiet time too but there will be time for family and definitely time for turkey and all of that too so I'm looking forward to it I'm sure you all are as well
Rick Sola (55:06.613)Great.
Rick Sola (55:10.23)Travis?
TR Travis Rogers (55:10.927)Yeah, I would just echo what everybody said I mean spending time with family probably not checking my email for a few days And then we have a pretty intense Bingo night with the in-laws and so I'm excited to see that again
Rick Sola (55:27.82)That's awesome. Well, I want to wish you all an awesome Thanksgiving, a good week before you get through without too much going on and that you are able to enjoy that time off and time together. the word authenticity has been brought up, and I just appreciate all of your candor and authenticity with answering these questions. I really appreciate you spending this Friday after school at a busy time to give back to the profession this way.
TR Travis Rogers (55:55.256)you
Rick Sola (55:57.086)and to this cohort who has given us these questions to discuss. So once again, thank you all. Have a great Thanksgiving and we'll see you around, I'm sure.
Robert Cave (56:08.278)Awesome. Thanks so much, Rick.
Midge Simmons (56:08.332)Thank you, Greg.
TR Travis Rogers (56:08.976)Take care.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

CC#105: Navigating School Leadership (part 1) - Principal Panel w/ Simmons, Woolever, Cave, and Rogers

(part 1 of 2) In this episode of "Cool Coffee," host Rick Sola moderates a panel of four principals from Kansas, discussing their journeys into administration and the challenges they face. The panelists, including principals Midge Simmons, Dr. Jenny Woolever, Robert Cave, and Travis Rogers, share personal stories about their motivations for becoming administrators, the importance of authenticity and trust in leadership, and strategies for managing school culture and crises. They also offer advice to aspiring administrators, emphasizing the value of networking, being authentic, and taking risks. Questions to the panel came from Baker University Fall 2025 cohort of future administrators.
This is part 1 of a 2 part episode. Part 2 will drop on December 4, 2025.
Connect with the panel...Principal Midge Simmons - Grandview Elementary--El Dorado Schools USD490Connect with Mrs. Simmons on X
Principal Dr. Jenny Woolever - Washington Elementary - Olathe Schools USD233Connect with Dr. Woolever on X
Assistant Principal Robert Cave - Piper High School - Piper Schools USD203Connect with Mr. Cave on X
Principal Travis Rogers - Wichita South High School - Wichita USD259Connect with Mr. Rogers on X
 
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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Click for ALL Cool Coffee episodes!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: X @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
 
FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT (Generated by AI)
Rick Sola (00:03.167)Hello and welcome to Cool Coffee, a principals panel edition. We have four amazing principals here from across this wonderful state of Kansas. I'll have them introduce themselves in a bit, but today's panel will be served up some questions created by the Baker University's Fall 2025 cohort, which are all students working toward their building level licensure program. They are future administrators. Special shout out to Shelby Mouha.
from this cohort who helped facilitate the creation of these questions and with the aim of going beyond the surface level and into the nuts and bolts of administration. We know there are many ways to skin a cat, which is just really one of the most awful sayings. I apologize for putting that in there. So for those listening who are in their chair, compare your response with how our panel responds. There are often many right answers, perhaps even many more wrong answers, but still there are many correct answers. So with that,
Let's meet our panel today and they're gonna share their name, position, school and their number of years in the chair. Let's start with Midge.
Midge Simmons (01:10.551)I'm Midge Simmons. I'm an elementary principal at Granville Elementary in El Dorado. I've been in the chair too long. All good though. I do feel like I'll be ending my career here in El Dorado, but we'll see how life takes us. But I've been in education for 29 years and 19 as an elementary principal. This is my third school, third school to be an elementary principal.
Rick Sola (01:39.433)Awesome. Welcome, Edge. Jenny.
Midge Simmons (01:41.003)Thank you.
Jenny Woolever (01:44.224)you
Rick Sola (01:46.546)I think you're on mute, Jenny.
Rick Sola (01:52.811)There you go. You're all good.
Jenny Woolever (01:53.342)Not a good way to start. Okay, I'm Dr. Jenny Willow. I am the principal at Washington Elementary in the Lathus School District. I've served as a principal for 13 years. Four of those have been in middle school and the remainder have been in elementary.
Rick Sola (02:07.711)Awesome. Robert.
Robert Cave (02:10.286)Hey, I'm Robert Cave. I have been a, an assistant principal at Piper High School in Kansas City, Kansas. I spent 23 years teaching in Olathe schools and was part of the Baker admin cohort in 2018 and finally got a job at Piper High School and this is my fourth year there. So I've been in education about 27 years, only four as an administrator, the rest is a teacher.
Rick Sola (02:39.977)Awesome. And Travis.
TR Travis Rogers (02:43.151)Hello everybody, I'm Travis Rogers, currently principal at Wichita South High School. This is my 19th year in education, 12th year as an administrator, and I'm just starting my fifth year as principal here at South High School in USD 259.
Robert Cave (02:44.32)you
Rick Sola (03:00.669)Awesome. Well, once again, I want to welcome all of you. And it was great because we're recording this the week after the KPA conference. And I was able to see many of you there. It was a great conference and it was actually neat. At one point, I think we were all in the same session. But thanks again for coming on to this podcast and being able to share specifically to our Baker friends out there in this cohort, but also to all who are listening. And so we're going to, we're going to kick it off here.
And so these questions again were generated from the Fall 2025 Baker University Future Administrator Program. And so I'm going to start here with a question that kind of applies to all of us. And Midge, we'll start with you, but we'll hear from everybody. going way back, why did you decide to become an administrator? And how has that why changed throughout the year or throughout the years?
Midge Simmons (03:59.828)Well, I was ready to answer number one, Rick. You jumped us to number eight. You're good. You're good. You know, I probably will give an answer that not many would say. Honestly, I was bored. I was bored teaching. I think it was at the time I was teaching middle school.
Rick Sola (04:03.115)I won't go out of order after this. I just thought that was a good kickoff. Sorry about that. little curve ball.
Midge Simmons (04:23.603)and I had maybe one to two preps and I just needed something more and I always had aspirations of trying to make more of a difference than what you can in a classroom and trying to reach out to others with more of a difference and so I know that sounds kind of, I don't know what the word for that is, that most people would give that in an interview type question but it's the truth. I wanted to have a greater capacity of being able to
make a change or trying to make a difference. don't know. I think for me, I've learned that it's not always about the difference in pay in the education world or the administrative world, but it has a lot more to do with the support that you receive.
I've had some varying experiences being an administrator in three different districts at three different levels going from 3A to 2A and now I'm at 4A level. I just think that the support that you get from a superintendent and a board is huge. That to me makes the biggest difference. And I think I've seen that over the years. And I've left districts because I didn't feel.
that support, whether it superintendent or the board. And it's time to move on and try and make a difference somewhere else. so, yeah. You guys have anything?
Rick Sola (05:58.7)Great. Yeah. Travis will kick it to you. Why'd you become an administrator?
TR Travis Rogers (06:04.333)Yeah, so I had a really good experience. taught PE actually here at South High School and so about year four or five really started to reflect and think about what my next chapter was going to look like. And I was always interested in like the functions of a school and so I had about 150 kids throughout my PE classes. Again, was able to coach some things again had a really good experience, but I wanted to make a greater impact.
And I thought growing personally and professionally was very important. And so what's funny now in my 12th year, you're still coaching.
you still mentor, but now you're on a bigger scale. And so now you're involved, you know, with families, parents, you know, the staff. And so it's kind of like pieces of the puzzle. I say that often. And so you're trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle and depending on your school, depending on your situation, you know, depending on the day, you could have a couple pieces that you got to put together or you could have a lot. And so, it's really been impactful, but really truly serving your why is serving your people.
So it's all about that personal and professional growth and in this role it can happen every hour.
Rick Sola (07:22.859)Great Robert.
Robert Cave (07:24.584)you know, for me, I was in the classroom. I didn't know if I was ever going to be an administrator. That wasn't ever my end goal. you know, I thought I was going to be probably a lifelong teacher and I kept finding myself and kind of thrust into different leadership roles, whether it would be curriculum, whether that be, you know, writing different things or department chairs, BLT chairs, those sorts of things. And, kind of like what Mitch says, I found myself kind of yearning for a little bit of a different.
side of education for a different way to impact not only students, but to impact teachers and try to help support them and kind of be the, you know, the one to help lift them up and help students achieve. And found myself, you know, taking, getting another masters in the Baker cohort and just, and getting that school leadership and really finding a passion for that. And so ended up just kind of throwing myself into that. So, you know, my biggest fear was that
I would miss out on kind of the relational aspect that you have as a teacher. That was kind of why I still did it. I loved being with students. I loved seeing them grow. I loved all of those things. But you find that there's, you still get to have that as an administrator. It's just at a different level. Now you have it with the teachers. Now you can impact things in different ways and your scope and sphere of influence will grow in that way. So I found that to be still pretty powerful.
And it's kept me, you know, still wanting to be in education and be an advocate for educators instead of just the ones that we're educating.
Rick Sola (08:58.581)Awesome. Jenny?
Jenny Woolever (09:03.092)Well, I think others saw it in me first before I really wanted to come to fruition that I probably will be a principal. I went through my schooling and I actually started towards my doctorate. I didn't have any kind of educational leadership previously for that. I went into EdTech, did some other things. But the reason I was pursuing my doctorate, I was interested in teaching those that wanted to become teachers and become in education.
During that is when others saw it in me and said you really need to go back and get your certification in educational leadership and so I think with their encouragement is what drove me into this and just kind like what Mitch said too is that I actually went to a math specialist first because I was so worried about leaving that role like many of you guys said but the greater impact you do have as you kind of go through as a specialist and then as an administrator I really felt like I
could really impact not just my classroom, but a whole building.
Rick Sola (09:59.68)That's great. I love hearing all of your, your whys and you know, think it highlights that there's no one road to this chair. And that's usually how we start this show is your road to the chair that I hear so often how kind of like what Jenny said, didn't necessarily think about it for myself. Somebody else may have discovered it. All four of you described a much different path and why, and you know, for those who are listening who
May be in a teaching role right now. I think that's important to realize like sometimes I think we feel like we have to emulate somebody who were with or near There's a lot of different ways to get there and in at different trajectories different timing as well we'll go into the the first question major I'll go to you as far as You know the the first one in order I guess we'll be back in order here Is perhaps one of the most important things if not the most important thing we do and that's hiring
And we hire candidates that we are hoping will be a good fit. But what does it mean that you are looking for in teaching candidates for your building? And then what do you tend to avoid?
Midge Simmons (11:09.783)Well, for me, a lot of times my husband's also a principal. And so he has laughed at me over the years because when I am down to the wire, you've got it narrowed down to two candidates and you're trying to make some decisions and they all have great qualities and they all have some negatives. When you're trying to figure out which one to go with, he always says to me, what's your gut say? And he makes fun of me because he says,
when your gut is right, it's right, and when it's not, it's not, and you, nine times out of 10, are always right with your gut, and he's right. mean, all the hiring I've done over the years, it does come down to what do I feel in my gut? But the biggest thing, biggest things for me is going to be when I'm looking across the table at somebody that we're interviewing, it has everything to do with relationships. And...
I don't mean just relationships with kids, relationships with other staff as well. Do they fit the mission and the vision of our building and where we're headed in the future? Do they fit the mold of the teammate that they're going to work with, right? I mean, I have teachers that team, I mean, we all team teach on our grade levels at the elementary level. And if I feel like it's not the right fit, it's not the right fit. It doesn't mean that the teacher won't be good.
couldn't be a great candidate for us. It's just if the fifth isn't there, it's not. I feel like sometimes we think a GPA is everything, but a GPA to me tells me whether a student, whether a teacher is going to have a good work ethic. That's what a GPA tells me is whether they have a work ethic. If the person can't relate to others.
They could be a straight A student, have all these honors, but if they can't relate to others and be able to build relationships with kids and with staff, I'm not going to find them to be a coachable person to hire. And that's the other thing that I really look for is, you you find out what somebody's faults are through an interview, and I always ask myself, if they have that kind of fault, can I support that as a principal?
Midge Simmons (13:26.305)Can I coach them through that and coach them up on that? And there are times when you interview teachers and you look at somebody and think, hmm, I don't know. I don't know if I can coach that. I don't know what supports I can bring in to help them. And maybe they're not the right fit for that. I laughed when I read this question because I was reflecting back to what did this look like 19 years ago when I started as a principal?
And I literally had, I remember sitting at my desk one time to hire an elementary teacher and I literally had two feet worth of files to go through to hire one position. And now we're lucky if we get one application at times, right? Especially you guys that are at the high school and middle school level. I know it sometimes gets worse than some of those, but it just.
TR Travis Rogers (14:10.831)you
Midge Simmons (14:21.855)It's amazing in the 19 years how much that's changed in our profession and it's sad. I want more for this profession that's given me a life. nowadays we're lucky. We want to find people that definitely have some sort of a license. We run into some cases where we try, I mean here at El Dorado we try and avoid anybody that doesn't have any license.
if we can, because we do get applicants that have no license. They're still working on it or whatever program that they have. And I think I feel like as a principal, I have to be more open minded for that coachable piece in hiring teachers.
Rick Sola (15:09.579)So I really like that you brought up your gut and kind of looking at the panel here. And I agree with that. There's so many times where you've got to, you've got to go with your gut. Has your gut ever let you down in a hiring situation?
Midge Simmons (15:22.999)It's funny because the last school that I left, I hired somebody before I left and my gut felt funny, but I didn't have any other applicants to fill the position and we had to go with it. And then I didn't plan on leaving. I hired them, I think late April and I ended up leaving in early June to come here and it was not a good situation. They ended up...
non-renewing and barely made it through the school year. So no, my gut failed me on that one, but I didn't reap the negative side.
TR Travis Rogers (15:55.695)you
Rick Sola (16:01.013)Well, you know, it can cut both ways. I'm sure we've all been burned by hiring. If you don't trust your gut and that fails, that's really hard to swallow, at least for me. Like if I go against my instinct because, know, so I think I'm glad you brought that up. think it's a really important piece. Robert, I'm going to kick it to you. How do you keep your cool when staff or students come to you with an issue that is a 10 on the emergency scale for them?
Robert Cave (16:28.577)Ha
Rick Sola (16:30.773)but it's absolutely not a 10 for you.
Robert Cave (16:33.944)Well, I think, you know, the biggest thing is to listen. You know, I think that that can be so hard because we can be pulled in so many different directions and you can have five different things happening and someone comes to talk to you or someone comes to report something to you or, and you have to really be intentional about giving them the space they need and giving them the space to, to air their grievance or tell you what's happening. You know, I, I.
tell students and teachers all the time, know, thank you for coming to me. I really validate your feelings or you know, what's going on. And I just want them to, you know, I hope that I have built enough trust in them that they trust me to say, thank you. Let me take this burden on, you know, let me take this on now. Let me do it so that you don't have to worry about it. And I'll let you know, you know, when we have a resolution or what happens. So I think that the biggest thing is listening.
giving them the right, you know, in the mindset of letting them know that I will find a solution, I will figure this out. And then, you know, and that comes with having that relationship. You know, it takes a while to build that, I think, but you hope that you are, you know, reliable enough that you have not, you know, burned them in the past or whatever, that, you know, you have enough follow through, that they trust you to handle it and take care of those things. Right? The biggest thing is to not, we don't need to tell them, you know, hey,
calm down, this is not the right, you're not thinking about this correctly. It doesn't help to say that. I think the best thing to say is, okay, thank you so much. I hear what you're saying. Will you let me, do you trust me? Let me take care of it. Will you let me be the person that handles it? And if they say yes, then I think you just add that to your to-do list and the things you do and then make sure you follow up with that person. But I think it's important to listen and it's important to validate why it's important to them.
The choir teacher has to pass out. You know, they were so worried because their delivery for their cookie dough fundraisers is coming at two o'clock today and we had to have a plan to have our going to distribute the cookie dough. You know, and it's like to them, it's it's it's has to be done right now during their plan period. I said, let me handle it. I'll make the plan for you. I'll take care of it. I'll let you know what the plan is. I'll communicate that to the staff and we'll go from there. You know, and that just OK, they can take a breath now. So I that's important to listen, validate and then.
Robert Cave (18:57.238)have follow through when you solve their issue.
Rick Sola (19:00.585)You know, one piece that wasn't included in the question is the parent angle as well. You sometimes we get those calls from parents and it's a it's an urgent matter or you get the message like so and so need you to call back immediately and you hear it. And thankfully, maybe it's not as big of a deal, but for them, it's still gigantic. How how often have you find it that it occurs often that you just have to listen and by the time
especially a parent, by the time they get to the end of their, whether it's venting or sharing, it feels better and it's almost resolved itself just by being that listening ear. I see a lot of nodding heads, but Robert, have you found that?
Robert Cave (19:42.936)Yeah, that's exactly right, Rick. I've really found that to be the case. A lot of times they just want someone to talk to, someone just to listen, to say, here's the issue I'm having. And a lot of times it's just, it's not even having a solution. Sometimes it's just, thank you so much for sharing. You know, we will work on getting better or thank you for sharing. Let me take care of this or, you know, here's what we're going to do about this. Here's our protocols. Here are the things that we're going to do.
So think a lot of times I think you're exactly right. They just want someone to listen to, like I said before, I repeat it a lot, but validate their feelings and understand where they're coming from. And sometimes you have to let them know, will get, know, here's the kind of the process we're going to go through to do this. might not be on your time, but here's the steps that we have to take. But I think you're right. Almost, I would say, you know, 85, 90 % of the time, once you have that discussion, by the end of the discussion, they feel better.
They are not as in a rush to get things accomplished as they were to start. So I think that is very important, especially when comes to those parents and those stakeholders.
Rick Sola (20:48.423)One thing I've learned is when I get the email from a parent that demands a meeting ASAP that day, but let me know a time available, all those things. I never respond to the email. pick up the phone and 90 % of the time the phone call takes care of it and there's, there's no need for a meeting. And I find that to be helpful. But I have kind of discovered that there's
TR Travis Rogers (20:56.431)and
Midge Simmons (21:06.519)Thank
Rick Sola (21:15.145)You just never know when people hear information. Sometimes it's an immediate respond, email or whatever. So yeah, that listening piece is critical.
Robert Cave (21:23.564)Yeah. And that's something I would say to the cohort to listening is, is prepared just to be a conversationalist prepared. I always prefer making a phone call now. I would much rather call a parent than email a parent. I just like having those phone calls. And I think that, you know, I think it tones down whatever vitriol they may have, or that is coming through in the email when you reach out to them. So I would say, and I think parents really appreciate that too, you know, the time you're taking.
So I would say anytime you have a parent that's demanding a meeting with those sorts of things, I think Rick, you're, you hit the nail on the head, call them and just say, Hey, I just want to respond to what you're saying. And half the time they might still want to meeting. And a lot of the times you're going to say, thank you so much. And, know, I'll get back to you, you know, through email or whatever, if I can, when we solve the solution, the problem. But I think you're exactly right. Just prepare yourself to be making parent phone calls and be getting comfortable with making parent phone calls. You know, I tell, I tell my teachers, my counselors all the time.
Rick Sola (22:18.145)Yeah.
Robert Cave (22:22.016)If you need me to call someone, let me know. I will reach out. And that's just a big part of our job, I think.
Rick Sola (22:26.796)Yeah, it's so much more efficient, I think too. It takes me a while. I, you know, I'm going to craft an email that I want to be really thoughtful about. And by the time I'm, you know, half an hour into it, perhaps. So, uh, Travis, I'm going to go to you here, uh, a little change of subject, but, also not a very pleasant part of administration perhaps, but how do you handle, uh, both practically and mentally and emotionally.
Robert Cave (22:28.866)Yes, 100%.
Robert Cave (22:36.844)Yep. Absolutely.
Rick Sola (22:54.44)issues that pop up that escalate so quickly and they end up in the news. Whether it's handled correctly or not, in your control or not, how do you handle that as a building principle?
TR Travis Rogers (23:06.908)The first tip I got is just take a deep breath.
And so anytime an emergency happens or a situation takes place, people are going to look at you, how you react, how you respond, your demeanor, you know, just the steps that you take. And so it's very important that you got to take a deep breath and stay calm. And truly the reality is, is we, whether you have a good crisis plan team, you got the communication set up, you're never fully going to
to be prepared for every emergency. And so you got to have the practice in place. That's why we have drills. That's why we have the communication chains. And then you got to be mindful of, you got to be transparent, but then you have to filter what you can say and what you should not say at that time. so emotionally, I mean, you got to take care of yourself. You got to reflect. I think it's very important to reflect whenever something happens.
what went well, what did not. We have found great value here at South that when a situation happens and it could involve like the police, teachers are still teaching and the kids are still in the classroom. And so we have found great value in, you know, social media is a rapid fire. And so sometimes it's not the truth or the right information. And so my staff really does appreciate if we have something big that pops off.
Hey guys, we're gonna have an optional staff debrief after school if you want to attend that is great And usually that kind of calms things down To where they hear it from me that these are the truth. This is what happens This is what we're investigating and so on and then as a principle You just have to be mindful of social media after the fact or if it hit the news Could be the truth it could not be very mindful of the comments if you're sitting at home at night and you're scrolling through all the comments
TR Travis Rogers (25:09.905)and you know what the truth is and it's not, to me that doesn't tie into your mental health and so you got to be really careful of that.
Rick Sola (25:20.012)How would you say for any of you, you've evolved over the time of being a principal, know, Travis referenced inaccurate information and perhaps it's critical of you or it's critical of the building or critical of a teacher and you know it's not accurate, but there's also only so much that we are allowed to share. Has that, is that something that you talk about having thick skin? Would you just?
put it up as over time you get thicker skin or is there something you intentionally do to really kind of help with that or things that you have found a strategy to say what you can say that kind of like Travis said earlier, you know, putting minds at ease.
Midge Simmons (26:04.2)I'll start it. For me, like when Robert talked about...
social media or you you talked about, know, picking up the phone and calling the parent. We had that discussion. I was thinking in my mind, I do that same thing when I find out things are on social media, too. If something's being said out there that's incorrect information and I know who's saying it, I'll pick up the phone and call that parent and and just say, hey, I saw your post. I just wanted to clarify with you, you know, and have that conversation about it. And it usually that post will end up being deleted. And I think that's just to
make parents aware that you're mindful of this and you know that it's out there and you want to address it. Nine times out of ten, I'm finding out that people are receptive to that. But in a case of what Travis is talking about, if it's a crisis situation, that's a little bit different. For me, I also...
just to kind of piggy bank a little bit on Travis, to me when I read that question of yours, Rick, the first thing I thought of was you always go back to your policies and you gotta know your policies. So when you're in that heat of the moment and what can you say or not say, to me it just always goes back to that or what you say later on, right? Because if it's a...
If it's a newsworthy situation, it's probably something that's going to be ongoing. You're not going to deal with it for just that day. But just knowing what you can and can't do and backing yourself with your board policies or anything. I don't know. That's enough for me. Maybe somebody else can comment more about what Rick asked.
Rick Sola (27:43.66)Heh.
Jenny Woolever (27:47.517)Yeah, well, Midge, I agree with you too, is that the same concept like Robert was talking about, about listening, doing the same thing under a crisis as well, that allowing them to express how they're feeling, but also, now, these are our policies, this is what we have to follow, this is what I'm doing. Sometimes telling them the active plan that we have, and I may not be able to share what's happening with the other student, I may not be able to share this, but I know it, I'm on it.
and just reassuring them that way. I've done a lot of that too because just checking in with them and letting them know you received the message, you are aware of this issue, and you're handling it.
Rick Sola (28:25.3)Yeah. Well, always, and there's no situation like that that is a cookie cutter from a previous situation. So I always keep any communications I put out. have a whole, whole file of them, but they're, they're never just copy and paste into a new situation. You can reference them, but there's everything so nuanced along the way.
Midge Simmons (28:47.903)But yes, Rick, you have a thicker skin after so many years. 19 of them. Yeah, my skin's little thick.
Rick Sola (28:57.046)And I think some of that comes with confidence too. You you think back to your first couple of years and a lot, a lot of questioning of, don't know, did I make the wrong decision here? If things are blowing up with experience, you start to have a lot more confidence. And I think that helps with the thick skin. So Jenny, I'm going to, I'm going to go to you here. There are so many to do's on a principal's list, on an administrator's list.
Midge Simmons (28:59.349)Yes. yeah.
TR Travis Rogers (29:00.865)sure.
Catch Part 2 of this episode on the next Cool Coffee episode drop.

CC#104: Student Recognition - A Principal's Perspective by Frank Bell - Gardner-Edgerton HS

Topic: Student Recognition
Mr. Frank Bell
Gardner-Edgerton High School Principal
X: @bellfgehs
 
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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Click for ALL Cool Coffee episodes!
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Contact the host: X @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com

CC#103: School-wide "House" System w/ Principal Brian Barackman - Indian Trail Middle School

Summary
In this 103rd episode of Cool Coffee w/ Kansas Principals, Principal Brian Barackman shares the unique house system at Indian Trail Middle School in USD 233. Discussed is how this system fosters community and enhances the student experience through its building and camaraderie amongst grade-levels. Mr. Barackman connects what his school is doing with the house system and its PBIS system. Listen in to hear more from another Kansas principal doing great work for kids and staff!
Connect with Mr. Barackman:
Email
X: @BarackmanBrian
Show Reference: Ron Clark Academy
 
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
YOUR input on Cool Coffee is NEEDED! Click HERE to share thoughts and interest for you or a colleague on being on the show!
Click for ALL Cool Coffee episodes!
Connect with Cool Coffee on...
Follow us on X: @KSPrincipals; @KPACoolCoffee
Facebook: KSPrincipals
Contact the host: X @MrRickSola, rfsola@olatheschools.org, or KPACoolCoffee@gmail.com
 
FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT (Timestamps after the 6:00 mark are inaccurate due to mid-show interruption and need for editing)
Rick Sola (00:01.89)Hello and welcome to Cool Coffee. Today I am with principal Mr. Brian Barickman from Indian Trail Middle School in USD 233, Olathec Public Schools. Welcome, Brian.
Brian Barackman (00:14.309)How we doing? Thanks so much for having me.
Rick Sola (00:17.154)Doing all right. It's been, we're recording this at the end of a Monday and I think it's been a pretty good Monday. So I'll start with a quick transparency on this episode. Mr. Berrickman and I go way back and we actually shared a meeting together today, this afternoon. We had a meeting over at the district office, but we share a district. At one point we shared a school and we do go way back. So.
I've used this term before, but this is kind of like a Prince of Pals episode. We've got a Prince of Pals here on the show here with Mr. Berrickman. But again, welcome. Thanks for coming on.
Brian Barackman (00:54.105)Ha ha ha.
Brian Barackman (00:59.142)Hey, I can't believe that I'm finally here. I've been listening to every episode and it's an honor to be here. So thanks for having me.
Rick Sola (01:07.252)And the software I use for this can detect lying on the show. And so I don't know that you've really listened to every episode, but no, it's awesome that you're here. But before we get started here, a quick show shout out, a reminder that if you click into the show and check the show notes, there's information about the show, ways to contact our guests, and a way to leave feedback or even a contact me with topics or questions or guest ideas. Would love to get all of those.
Brian Barackman (01:11.69)You
Rick Sola (01:36.706)Some of our shows have been created by the feedback from those who have listened. Also, give us a like or a follow on your favorite podcast platform. Help spread the word about the insightful stories from the amazing principals all across this great state of Kansas. Like us, follow us here at KPA's Cool Coffee. And so I feel like that's a really great lead-in to really someone I...
have come to learn is the most beloved principle in the world. And that's Brian Berrickman.
Brian Barackman (02:12.449)my goodness. I can see the lie detector now. I see it going off now. Well, that's high praise coming from you. I appreciate it. However not true, I appreciate it.
Rick Sola (02:16.069)Hahaha
Rick Sola (02:26.146)Well, so I think you'll cover this here. We will start with your road to the chair, but our road has crossed paths in a very good way. But it's fun to hear every principal I've had on this show. They talk about what it is that led to them being where they're at presently. And we're all so varied on how we got here. it's, I always find it interesting, but let's start with that, Brian.
Where did you start in education and what led to you being at Indian Trail?
Brian Barackman (03:00.269)Absolutely, well, I think that story starts with my own middle school career going to school here at Indian Trail. And I didn't know that the stars would align down the road one day, but thankfully they did. So as a middle school kid, never thought that I would be a principal. I wanted to be a biologist and then...
I went to K-State and learned that, you know, I taught swimming lessons, was one of my early life jobs, and I learned to really love teaching, and I decided to combine those two loves of science and teaching and become a science teacher. So I taught seventh grade science, mostly biology, at Santa Fe Trail Middle School in Olathe for about six years. And that whole time I knew not only did I have a passion for education, but I had dreams.
dreams of being an administrator. I saw great administrators throughout my career that I just saw the impact that they had not only on me but on so many families and so many students. And it was always interesting to me that you want to have an impact on the community and then seeing people in those positions have an even broader and wider impact and think, man, what kind of difference could I make in a position like that or what kind of help could I provide, what kind of service
leader could I be to even more people, you know, and give back to the community that gave me so much growing up. So I kind of had that dream. And then after six years of teaching, the yours truly, Mr. Rick Sola gave me an opportunity to get into my first assistant principal position at Prairie Trail Middle School. And I was assistant principal there for three years. And then there's an opening
at Indian Trail, which as I mentioned was my alma mater. So I loved my time so much at both Santa Fe Trail and Prairie Trail. But when there's a, you you have an opportunity to potentially go back to your home school, you know, it's, I knew it was going to be fun and exciting to be back, but I didn't realize just how special and how connected, how special it be and how connected I would feel to a building, you know.
Brian Barackman (05:20.555)I jumped at the opportunity to come back. I served as assistant principal here for one year and now this is my fourth year as head principal. And I can tell you, every day it's still new memories pop up for me. Like I will be in a classroom and I'll have an epiphany of, my gosh, this was the same room in seventh grade when this happened to me and there are so many. I remember reading holes in this room. It used to be a language arts room or.
I'll turn a corner and have a memory of an interesting passing period that I had one time. So it's just, it's really, really fun and special to be back here and to serve this community in this capacity.
Rick Sola (06:06.028)
So you said that you were at your you were a student at Indian Trail back in the day. And so going back there, does it feel
Brian Barackman (08:12.825)Yeah, yeah.
Rick Sola (08:31.426)totally different, like a whole different school, or when you walk those halls, is it kind of like, man, this is my old stomping grounds. Like, do you still feel that? Because I know there's been some changes there, some construction and all sorts of things.
Brian Barackman (08:42.563)Yeah, it's so funny. It's so much of both. There's so many memories that flood back immediately, especially walking back into this principal's office I've been in a couple times. But then, also, there's memories that you forget about that you...
you know, you don't think about and then all of a sudden it just hits you one day. know, you'll be like, since some of the classrooms look so different and are different subject areas and things like that, you don't immediately recognize them. But then in one moment you might have this memory flood back like, my gosh, this was Ms. So and So's room. And I remember doing this and they're meeting this friend or, you know, and one other special thing in my office, I have the class photo from my last year here and there.
There are people in that photo who are, you who I was standing up in their weddings. There's people in that photo who I've been friends with since we went to school here and they are currently working here with me, which is really special. you know, there's some, you know, you know how life is. There's some sad stories on that too. And it's just a good reminder for me every morning of, you know, the reason that we're here to make a difference in those people's lives. And, you know, we were those kids and that's why this
work is so important.
Rick Sola (10:01.486)Yeah, that's really cool. And I feel like maybe we've talked about this before, but I remember when I first started teaching and I came back to the district where I graduated high school and went all the way through, I was teaching alongside my former teachers. And I found that really bizarre at first because, I mean, who am I? Some, you know, snot nosed kid coming out of college teaching alongside these veterans.
Brian Barackman (10:18.615)Uh-huh.
Rick Sola (10:29.934)Well, and then fast forward to administration and there were still there were still some teachers that. Yeah, well, yeah, that kind of goes without saying. But but no, like so you're in these leadership roles. Were you in a position where you are with some teachers that either maybe were your teachers or you had some of those connections that as you were you were little Brian Barickman to them and now all of a sudden you're the.
Brian Barackman (10:34.317)And we're still thinking that about you.
Rick Sola (10:57.26)Yeah, I don't want to say the boss, but you're the decision maker. You're making decisions and you're in a position of leadership. did you experience that at all in your road administration?
Brian Barackman (11:07.799)Absolutely, yeah. every, you know, when you ask that question, my mind goes to, you know, like, could that be an, you know, an awkward dynamic or anything like that? And I have found it to be nothing but enriching those relationships. I think, you know, not only have I been blessed with such amazing teachers throughout my path, who are just a wonderful people and are just so excited to see you back, coming back to Olathe, you know, coming back to the profession, but
I think luckily I was a quiet kid and a good student, so there was no grudges carried against me over the times. But it really is, I think, at least from my perspective, I don't know what they would say, but from my perspective, it has just been really special, you know, to be like, man, I respected you so much as a teacher. You know, I learned so much from you. And now we're hand in hand making a difference together. And how cool is that? Who listening to this wouldn't want?
one of their students to come back one day and help them make a difference for the community we care so much about. mean, that has been my experience. And I do have one funny story from this though. My mom is wonderful and she is a collector and I was able to find one of my old grade cards from a teacher here at Indian Trail. And I had all A's and one B and it had written in there, two missing assignments.
and then my grade and so I brought that down to the teacher's classroom and I put the grade card on her desk and I said my mom would like to have a conversation with you about this grade. So things like that have been you know it has been
Rick Sola (12:48.841)Hahaha
That's awesome.
Brian Barackman (12:56.197)just a positive way to build that relationship coming in in this role and just to know that we've known each other for a long time and we're now able to do it together, which is pretty neat.
Rick Sola (13:09.88)So you taught, how many years did you teach before making that transition?
Brian Barackman (13:13.997)I taught science for six years and then it was a sister principal for four.
Rick Sola (13:19.436)you know, and maybe present company excluded here. I know that transition to administration, you know, was at Prairie Trail where I was. And truly, those were two extremely fun years. We had a really great time. But was there ever a moment...
Brian Barackman (13:23.845)You
Rick Sola (13:37.066)early on in administration where you felt like, man, this is not what I thought. Maybe really kind of put to challenge that decision of making that career change, if you will, into administration.
Brian Barackman (13:52.388)Well, I think one of the best pieces of advice I ever got from, it was an assistant principal at the time who was talking to me about when do you make the jump from teaching to administration? Is it too soon for me? It was probably like my fourth or fifth year I was dabbling with the idea. And his advice was go while you still love teaching.
because I think people can feel when an administrator has a love for the classroom and a passion for teaching and when they don't. So that's why I went when I felt like it was pretty early, six years of teaching, I understand that's pretty early. But that advice made me think, you know what, I'm gonna bring that passion that I still have for the classroom to this role. So to answer your question more specifically,
I don't think there's been a time where I said, man, I don't know if I should have done this, if I regret this, but there are absolutely times where I miss teaching. I loved my teaching career. I loved getting to know those students at a different level than we often get to. You get to know your group of students so deeply and so well.
Rick Sola (14:57.357)Yeah.
Brian Barackman (15:11.397)You know, those relationships and watching them learn throughout a unit, throughout a school year, all the things that everybody loves about teaching, I definitely often miss. But that doesn't mean that I regret making this decision. You know, I am incredibly happy as an assistant principal and a principal. I think I look back to those early administrators that were inspiring to me and think like, man, they don't just make a difference for these kids in this classroom, they make a difference.
for every student in this building, every teacher in this building, every member of this community, you know, and I don't know if I'm doing that, but I'm sure trying. So, yeah.
Rick Sola (15:51.628)Yeah, I really like that answer. There are definitely times where it's easy to miss teaching. There's a lot about teaching that is wonderful.
I have said on here before, I love what I do. I feel like I am so lucky. I've had the best job, you know, and fortunate to do it, but there are certainly times where teaching's fun. There's a whole different level of relationship that you can have with students. It still exists as principals, and that's been a topic on here before as well. But that teacher-student relationship is pretty neat, so I really, really like
that. You are doing some really cool things at Indian Trail. I saw a picture of you surface over the weekend covered in paint or dust or you were like every color of dust. What was that all about? What was going on over the weekend?
Brian Barackman (16:43.395)You
Brian Barackman (16:54.273)Yeah, we had a little bit of fun this weekend. So I'm sure you've all seen something like this before, but it was a color run fundraiser. So it's one of those where the students will run laps, kind of like a 5K, but along the way you throw different color paint on them as they go around. it was the final celebration of the school fundraiser that we've been doing.
all surrounding our house system.
Rick Sola (17:27.435)Yeah, I'm going to say it looked like people had a really good time throwing stuff at you, like especially the color. Like they really, they got their money's worth out of it is what it looked like.
Brian Barackman (17:33.541)You
Brian Barackman (17:38.102)Yeah, I would say I was coming out pretty clean and then toward the end a couple students noticed that I was dodging a lot of the paint. So they grabbed a couple bottles and surrounded me and I didn't, I'm still cleaning out paint dust out of my car. It's all over my back right now from the weekend still.
Rick Sola (17:50.092)Ha ha.
Rick Sola (17:56.238)Well, you brought up the house system and that's what I wanted to get into is you got a really cool thing going at Indian Trail that truly is unique in Olathe. I think you're the only school as far as I know that at least middle school for sure, but if not all schools, but you've employed a house system that was developed out of visiting the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta.
And you went, maybe it was your first year as principal, you went down there, I don't know if training's the right word, experience, but talk about that experience down at the academy down in Atlanta and then what it is that's going on at Indian Trail with your house system.
Brian Barackman (18:39.555)Yeah, so I'll tell you a little bit about it and then I would love to brag on my staff for how we began doing this house system at Indian Trail. if anyone's familiar with the Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, our system is essentially built around there. So in summary, those of you familiar with Harry Potter, think broad strokes Harry Potter. When students come
to the school for the first time, they are sorted into one of four houses and every student gets to be in a house and they remain in that house all three years of their time here. And same with staff members. So the four houses, they're different from the Harry Potter houses. Like I said, it's kind of just broad strokes, but each house has its own colors, its own crest, its own songs, its own cheers, chants, symbolists.
traditions, and it's just a really special unique experience from each four houses. Then the goal is that you, since you stay in that same house all three years of your time here, you not only get to meet the students that are in your classes, but you deepen your middle school experience by getting to know students in other grade levels that you wouldn't otherwise have crossed paths with because they're in your house, and other teachers that you can build relationships that you don't necessarily
really have for class, but you get to interact with at all of our house activities. So the general idea is, you know, number one, to add a fun system to kind of organize everything we do. But most importantly, it's to make students feel connected to the school. And that just adds so many other layers and opportunities for them to feel connected to the school. And then it's the keynote of our PBIS system. So when students do
you know, our values of ownership, unity, respect, and safety. That spells hours and we say this house is ours. That's our system. A nod to the house system. Students get, not only will you get points that you can use in our school store as an individual, but any points that you receive also go to your house. So similar to Harry Potter at the end of the school year, there's a house cup that the winning house gets and like a ceremony where we celebrate that.
Brian Barackman (21:09.095)And we've done things like each each week the house that's in the league you get to fly your flag out on the flagpole We have a house leaderboard in the main hallway so people can track your progress and get some friendly competition going But we do have a motto. It's four houses one family one cougar family So we got to make sure that you know, we can have some friendly rivalries, but that it is a positive behavior Intervention system, right? So that we got to keep it
So we support each other. All houses are great. it's just a really, really special thing that it does come from the Ron Clark Academy. So all credit for these ideas and structures go to them. But I do think we're one of not very many schools in the area that use this system. And it just really adds a special layer of both fun and connection and community and excitement to everything we do.
Rick Sola (22:07.063)What's an example of like a cross grade level activity or something being done at the school? Yeah.
Brian Barackman (22:13.199)Sure, sure.
Yeah, so I'll give you two. One is a more fun one. So my house is the House of Amistad, which is Spanish for friendship, and our main color is red. And since we are in Chief's Kingdom, we do one of our after school events. One of our traditions is on a night where we have a Chief's game, like a Monday night football or Thursday night football, we'll do a tailgate. So we'll tell everyone in the school
wear red, we'll grill hot dogs, we'll play yard games, and the students from Amistad are all invited to attend for free and eat for free and have a little, you know, a little after school bonding activity with teachers and students of Amistad at all grade levels. So a really fun way to have a little community cookout with our House of Amistad.
Rick Sola (23:04.363)Okay.
Rick Sola (23:08.725)So that's, and that's just the Amistad students and staff.
Brian Barackman (23:12.825)Correct, yes, each house has activities that they do after school, all very different, different traditions. So other houses will have their opportunities to do something, bonding activity like that, but that one would be just for Amistad.
Rick Sola (23:29.101)So does each team or house, does each house have a kind of a leadership board? Like who's organizing that? Is that for you as administrator or how does that work?
Brian Barackman (23:42.178)Yeah, well, this is one thing I would love to brag about our staff.
We are our teachers and everyone gets into the house to assist them. Teachers, custodians, paraprofessionals, nurse, counseling office, everyone is just makes this so much fun and so special. So we are blessed to have a community that really has fun with it and believes in the power of the house system. So we have tons of people who are on board for planning these activities. And I think the reason it works so well
in our building and the biggest shout out to our staff is this structure came from our staff. It started with a one seventh grade team that won a grant to go visit the Ron Clark Academy and fell in love with everything. If you ever have an opportunity to do any professional development down there, go because it is a really special place. It'll get you excited about education and leave you with tons of ideas.
that you can concrete ideas you can bring to your school. So that group of seventh grade teachers went down there on that grant, brought the house system back to just that seventh grade team. The following year it grew to the seventh grade participated in the house system and then everyone saw how amazing it was. So then the year after that they expanded to the whole building. And now I believe we're on our...
a sixth year, I believe, doing the house system as a whole building. So that was one of the things that makes it so special and gives us so much buy-in is it was teacher discovered, teacher organized. It all comes from within and it's something special for us.
Rick Sola (25:30.066)So what's another example, a non-amistad example of activity going on?
Brian Barackman (25:34.298)Hahaha
Well, those ones don't matter as much, right? No, I'm kidding. Four houses, one family. Four houses, one family. So another maybe more academic example are half days. So our district has four or five half days throughout the school year. So instead of just doing like 15, 20 minutes of each class period on those days, our entire days are structured around our house system. one thing we did, like my first couple of years especially,
Rick Sola (25:37.557)Yeah, yeah.
Brian Barackman (26:05.831)because we wanted to have some academic social emotional time with small family style groups with sixth, seventh, and eighth grade mixed students. So we would spend the first 20 minutes or so of those half days in those groups with those students of all three grade levels but within your house to do some house bonding activities and also maybe some social emotional lessons, maybe some school spirit activities.
maybe some academic activities, and then to kick off the half day. So we tried to, you know, really find every opportunity for them to build those extra connections that they wouldn't otherwise have. And then the rest of our half days we did, you know, like house assemblies, our house cheers, the houses split up and do, you know, different activities that they, you know, each of them have different traditions, like I said, that they do for those. So that's another example of how we might use that house system.
that way.
Rick Sola (27:06.655)It seems like a really natural kind of framework for our PBIS. So we're in a district that's 100 % PBIS adopted. Every building's got a system. And this just seems to dovetail right into it. Very, almost seamlessly, it sounds like.
Brian Barackman (27:22.498)Absolutely.
Yeah, we were pretty much, you know,
executing the PBIS plan, you know, before we adopted this. You know, we were giving all the stuff that was in place before we became a PBIS school. We were, you we had the kids in houses, we were giving house points, they were getting points toward their house cup. We were trying to point out the positive behaviors to give the points for. You never take points away, like Dumbledore, you know, takes 20 points away from Slytherin.
that would probably be your house there Mr. Sola for their bad behavior. It's all about positivity. Yeah, you knew what you signed up for. Yeah, but it's all about positivity, rewarding students for their good choices, not only kindness but also working hard in the classroom, academic side of things as well.
Rick Sola (28:01.165)You know.
I invite you onto the show and this is uncalled for. No, I know.
Rick Sola (28:25.165)Do you ever come across, I'm just trying to think, you know, maybe a principal head here of like possible challenges. Like you mentioned something really cool, a tailgate for your Amistad family or your Amistad house. Do you ever get feedback from students like, I wish our house did this or, or, you know, does that ever creep up to where there's like, you know, house envy, if you will, of wanting to be on the other.
Brian Barackman (28:49.199)Sure.
Rick Sola (28:53.92)team or whatever.
Brian Barackman (28:56.239)Sure, I think, yeah, that does naturally come up sometimes. And I think that our culture of four houses, one family, you know, we kind of have established ahead of time, like, hey, we're going to treat each other with positivity. So that kind of culture helps stay some of that. However, that happens sometimes. And I notice it the most when the first house that has an activity of the school year, then somebody has to go first, right? So the other three houses sometimes at that time will say,
I wish I could go to that I want to be a part of that and you know until we say hey You know what I know it's gonna be really fun. I'm so sorry however I know that the house of rever is doing this awesome activity here in a couple weeks And I'm so jealous that you get to do that But you're gonna love that with you and your house of reverse So and then once they have their own activities people start to understand okay? You know all four houses have these really cool special things and while they might be different everybody
everybody has their fun and everybody has their opportunity. And then we do, we have done many things. Usually first semester we do our own house activities and then a lot of times second semester we'll do some joint activities. like we did a Amistad and Isabendi, did a joint glow party one year and then Altarismo and Rever did a kickball tournament. So we'll do some stuff together as well to keep it interesting.
for the students, you know, but there is a little bit of that, but once they get the taste of their own house activities, they realize, man, this is, every house has its special unique things, and I'm okay with that.
Rick Sola (30:37.921)Well, one thing that's really neat as an outsider to Indian Trail, but very close in proximity, driving by the building and seeing the flag of whatever house that's up there. I just think that is really cool to see the flag flying. then on your your sign out front, you've got the logos for each of the houses on your sign. And I just think that's a really positive reminder and kind of advertisement, if you will, to your family, your community of
Just an additional great thing going on in the building, I'm sure the kids are going home talking about their house and what it is that is going on in the building with their house.
Brian Barackman (31:17.803)Absolutely, yeah. would say a shout out to Ms. Sham and Ms. March for making those custom-made marquee signs with our house symbols on it. It was pretty cool. I was pretty excited when those worked out. They engineered those up special just for us. But yeah, and I do think too it adds to, you want your students to come home and have a really memorable first day at school. know, and every school I've ever been at did an amazing job of making that day
not only fun but special and meaningful for their students. But like I said, this just adds a whole other layer to, know, not only is it the balloons and the fog machines and the drums and the excitement to figure out what house am I in, but man to know that this is going to be where I belong for the next three years, not only in the Cougar family, but also in my house family just adds a whole other layer of, you know, special feeling for those kids.
Rick Sola (32:15.181)Well, that's awesome. will in our show notes, I'll put a link to the Academy for those who are interested. Like I said, it's unique here in Olathe. You're the only school that has it and are doing it. And you're doing a really nice job with it six years into it. That's a long time in our field. know, things things can come and go multiple times over in six years. And so that speaks volumes.
Brian Barackman (32:31.183)yeah.
Brian Barackman (32:36.163)Mm-hmm. Well, that's...
It speaks volumes of not only how fun it is, but of our teachers. They really make it special. They've bought into this, they have fun with it, it means a lot to them. The costumes that our teachers have built over the years to wear on our half days in assemblies have gotten pretty elaborate. When I reflect on that, I reflect on the type of staff that we have that care so much and are willing to be.
you know, you know, bought into our school, our community, our culture. Not to mention it's changed how we've organized a lot of things like, you know, for example, for PEP assemblies, we don't sit by grade level like normal. You always sit with your house. So you have your, you know, that mixed group. And there's a lot of little examples like that of just we, you know, we do things by house, not necessarily by grade level or by homeroom or anything like that.
Rick Sola (33:25.325)Hmm.
Rick Sola (33:37.87)Yeah, that's really interesting, kind of breaking down the barriers of grade level. Because that could be, you for sixth graders, intimidating when they start school and they see the big eighth graders walking around, but to have them all on the same team, that's really neat. Well, thanks for sharing about that. And before we get off of this here, we are on our way, you and I and our eight other counterparts, on our way to the KPA conference here very soon in Wichita.
and this is your first time going to KPA, is that correct?
Brian Barackman (34:11.841)Absolutely, and I'm very excited. I'm very excited. I got to look ahead at the list of the sessions. what's so exciting for me is, you know, I've been to, you know...
I don't want to say a lot of conferences, but several different types of conferences here and there. As an administrator, I'm always looking for, which ones of these apply to me or which ones of these. There's a lot of specialized conferences and lot of specialized sessions. What I'm really excited about KPA is it's a conference that's tailored to us. I'm looking through that thinking, oh man, I wish I could go to almost all of these sessions.
How am I gonna pick between, I'm not searching for the couple that may apply. I'm like trying to narrow it down as best I can to the ones I wanna go to and I'm excited for the opportunity.
Rick Sola (34:54.306)Right.
Rick Sola (35:05.249)Yeah, it'll be a good time and going with our group, know that divide and conquer aspect is probably a likelihood. Some of the other value to it is just sitting in those sessions with principals from other districts all over Kansas and.
Having those shoulder partners when we don't share a district, but we share the issues and we share the topics and things that come up. It's gonna be a great time. Really looking forward to it and I'm excited for the next few days here when we get down to Wichita. you know, Brian, I can't help but notice over your shoulder here on the camera, it looks like a Dundee award. And so...
Brian Barackman (35:44.486)I got I actually have a few of those My favorite one I would say I got when I was your assistant principal It was from a student and the plaque on the Dundee says assistant to the principal Which I thought was pretty clever. So I that's my favorite one I got over there That makes so much sense
Rick Sola (36:02.83)I never told you that I made him give that to you. that's yeah. No, I don't see that. I don't see that that apple you got back there. But no, I was going to ask you. I know. know. OK, this is this is totally, totally cold here. Let's see. What leadership traits can you relate to most from Michael Scott?
Brian Barackman (36:15.205)You're the Dwight in this situation. I hope you know that.
Brian Barackman (36:30.565)Man, some days it feels like the one where you always feel like you put your foot in your mouth. No, you know, man, I fortunately, I would hope don't have too many qualities like his because he probably should have been fired a thousand times over. But you know, at the end of the day, I'll say he always cared.
Rick Sola (36:49.676)You
Brian Barackman (36:53.773)You know, and he loved what he did. And maybe that's the one, that's the one. Because this job, as you all listening know, you know, any job in education can be really hard and really stressful and really, you know, you see so many sad things that these poor kids are going through. But at the end of the day, working with kids is fun, you know.
Rick Sola (36:57.505)Yeah.
Brian Barackman (37:13.433)That's what's so rewarding and the servant leadership portion of this is, know, of course we all have have bad days and hard stretches, but the the pros far outweigh the cons. The good far outweighs the bad. The happy fun days and happy fun activities we get to do with the kids far outweigh the tough ones. And so I guess me and Michael Scott at the end of the day love the people that we're with and the the the career that we get
participated.
Rick Sola (37:45.164)That's a good answer. And I was kind of hoping I would stump you a little bit, but no, that's an excellent answer and awesome to hear. Well, we're going to find out how good my editing is at the end of this, because if you've listened all the way through this and didn't notice a hiccup in the show, that's great. That means my editing was good. But if it felt a little clunky in the middle...
Brian Barackman (37:47.397)You
Rick Sola (38:08.877)the principal job just sometimes kind of creeps in and even while we're recording. So there was a little interruption that had to be paused for the show. And so I just wanted to point that out.
Brian Barackman (38:18.789)To be clear, it was on Rick's end, not on my end. I've been nothing but professional over here.
Rick Sola (38:22.029)Well, I didn't say it was unprofessional. I said it was just a principle matter that needed some attention. that's how it goes. Well, Brian, you've done a lot of really positive sharing and bragging on your people as I like to end our show. Any final words on the Indian Trail community that you want to...
just share for the people here listening to Cool Coffee.
Brian Barackman (38:53.539)Yeah, no, I just want to say, you know, number one.
Rick, thank you for the opportunity. And number two, I know I've said it a couple times, but we have a staff that I just can't say enough about. This is a title building and that can have extra challenges and can be a tough position, but we also have very low turnover. And I don't think that has anything to do with what I'm doing. I think it has everything to do with the kind of people that they are. They're the type of people that are willing to go above
and beyond for students and they're the type of people that are willing to stay after school to help. I've seen so many people give their own time and money just to help families with such, you know, and unique needs in different ways. And, you know, it's just, you know, it's inspiring to see and it's a blessing to be around those types of people that, you know, if they do that for other students and they're doing it for each other and they're going to do it for you too in your time of need, you know, so we got a wonderful group here.
I said it's everything to not anything to do with what I'm doing everything to do with the type of people that they are and I'm lucky to call myself part of the cougar family
Rick Sola (40:06.247)Yep. Well, as I show this podcast, being one that's intended to really just celebrate what a principal is, the principalship, the job and role of principal, I appreciate hearing you say it's not what you're doing, it's the people you're with. And I know that you have great, great people over there. But I would also say don't sell yourself short. You're doing amazing things over there. And people like to work for good principals. And I know you're a really good principal.
Brian Barackman (40:35.727)Well, thank you.
Rick Sola (40:36.329)You know, I'm going to go, that's the nicest thing you're, I might even have to edit this out. I don't know how comfortable I feel about saying that, but no, truly, Brian and I, we got to know each other over the two years at Prairie Trail, but you're doing really, really great things. And people like to be in buildings where they know their, you know, their principal loves their job. Like you said, that Michael Scott quality there. So.
Brian Barackman (40:42.819)What?
Brian Barackman (41:04.323)Well, thank you. appreciate that. I had some great role models along the way. We'll leave it at that right there.
Rick Sola (41:09.407)Yeah. No, please go on. No. Hey, I really appreciate your time. I know it's really busy. We're actually going to site council tonight, the district site council. So I'll see you here in a little while. But looking forward to a couple days down in Wichita and learning with you and all the other principals in Kansas.
Brian Barackman (41:30.519)Absolutely, anybody that's listening to this that goes down to the conference and you want to talk house system or the office, I'm your guy.
Rick Sola (41:40.821)Sounds good. Hey, Brian, have a good night. We'll see you soon.
Brian Barackman (41:44.122)Yeah, thanks so much Rick, I appreciate it. Have a good one.
 

CC#102: Instructional Leadership Doesn't have to be Scary! - A Principal's Perspective by Barney Pontious - Garfield Elem.

Instructional Leadership Doesn't have to be Scary! 
Barney Pontious
Principal
Garfield Elementary
USD 503
X= @mr_pontious
Garfield Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarfieldSchoolParsonsKS
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The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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CC#101: Creating PD Isn't Scary - A Principal's Perspective by Megan Black - Olathe West HS

Topic: How to Make PD Relevant to Staff
Assistant Principal Megan Black
Olathe West High School
USD 233 - Olathe
X: @MaBlackOW
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
 
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CC#100: Bridge Builders to Strengthen the School and Home Connection - A Principal's Perspective by Katie Revell - Simpson Elementary

Topic: Bridge Builders to strengthen the school and home connection 
Principal Katie Revell
Principal 
Simpson Elementary
Russell USD 407
The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.
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