In this episode of Little Wins, Karen Borchert sits down with Dr. Jeremy Davidson, Superintendent of Elsberry R-II School District in rural Missouri. Leading a district of just over 800 students, Jeremy brings a steady and deeply relational approach to leadership, where visibility, respect, and care are non-negotiables.Jeremy shares how his district’s move to a four-day school week has supported both student wellbeing and teacher retention—giving families breathing room and protecting time for educators. He reflects on how three-year mentoring programs and peer-to-peer observations help new teachers grow with confidence and connection, while initiatives like steering committees give teachers a voice in big decisions about finance and strategy.From his own story of once struggling in school to now leading with empathy and purpose, Jeremy’s journey is a reminder that culture isn’t built through programs alone, but through consistency, trust, and everyday actions—like high fives in the hallway and phone calls home.💡 Little Wins in This Episode:Four Days, Big Impact: Elsberry’s four-day school week protects time for teachers, improves mental health, and gives families space to breathe.Three-Year Mentoring: New teachers are paired with mentors far beyond year one, ensuring long-term support and belonging.Peer-to-Peer Learning: Teachers observe each other’s classrooms during planning periods, sparking growth, reflection, and trust.Phone Calls Over Emails: A district-wide 24-hour callback practice keeps parent communication personal and relational.Steering Committee Voice: Teachers and staff now weigh in on district priorities like finance and improvement plans, aligning everyone to row in the same direction.Key Moments05:53 Exploring the Four-Day School Week09:15 "Student-Centric School Leadership Values"11:22 Unified Team Communication14:06 New Staff Orientation Day16:39 Positive Reinforcement in Teaching23:04 Leadership Committee Establishment24:15 "Baseball's Journey to Self-Discovery"28:20 Building Visibility and Recognition30:43 "Purposeful Education Through Collaboration"34:06 Building Positive School ConnectionsConnect with Dr. Jeremy DavidsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jeremy-davidson-081123a1 Website:https://www.elsberryschools.com/ Follow UsKaren’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchertAlpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpacaAlpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library 🧵 About the Podcast:Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures, one meaningful win at a time.Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures—one little win at a time.

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