In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert sits down with Evan Hecker, principal and culture-builder, to talk about the power of relationships, visibility, and gratitude in leadership. Evan shares how he’s made trust the foundation of his work, why celebrating small successes fuels momentum, and how giving both students and teachers a voice leads to lasting change.From morning greetings to empowering student leaders, Evan shows us how the “little wins” of daily practice add up to big impact in education. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep joy alive in the hard work of teaching and leading, this conversation is a masterclass in authenticity and energy.💡 Little Wins in This EpisodeBuild Culture Before Systems: Evan prioritizes trust and relationships before implementing systems, knowing culture must come first.Leadership Through Visibility: By showing up in classrooms and greeting students, he models what presence looks like in practice.Start Meetings with Wins: Every leadership meeting begins by recognizing success, fueling morale and momentum.Turning Feedback into Action: Teachers’ and students’ voices directly shape decisions—closing the loop with transparency.Leading with Gratitude: Evan makes it a habit to thank staff and students, reinforcing a culture of recognition and belonging.Key Moments06:10 Reuniting with Former Students09:48 Collaborative Teams and Commitments12:38 Fostering Growth and Support13:58 "Discussing Success in Meetings"19:54 Celebrating Positive Behaviors with High Five Cards23:44 Employee Recognition Letters Home26:44 Staff Appreciation Slideshow & Treats28:05 "Popsicle Hotline Superintendent"32:26 "Confidence in Sellable Lessons"35:41 GSL Sportsmanship Meeting38:08 Supporting Students Amid Challenges43:06 "Creating Joyful, Caring Culture"Connect with Evan HeckerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-hecker-17b1b4164Follow 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.

Ver todos los episodios