"Culture and strategic improvement—those are inseparable." This is a guiding philosophy of Dr. Jamie Burkhart, Director of Women in Leadership at the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA). 

Joining Dr. Janet Pilcher, Dr. Burkhart discusses her leadership journey and demonstrates why "going slow to go fast" is the only sustainable path to strategic improvement. She also details how MASA's Women in Leadership Initiative has grown from a group of five women to a statewide cohort focused on multiplying leadership, building capacity, and intentionally growing the next generation of female leaders across the state. 

Listen to hear how focusing on people and purpose helps leaders tackle current challenges like recruitment, retention, and political pressures.

This episode addresses questions such as:

1. What are the most pressing and significant trends facing educational leaders today, and how can professional organizations effectively support them?
2. What is the critical relationship between organizational culture and strategic improvement?
3. How does a leader build a foundation for lasting positive change?

Recommended Resources:  The Culture-Strategy Equation: Reflections from the AASA Conference, Empowered Leaders and Aligned Values, Go Slow to Go Fast

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

"Education is truly the conduit to freedom."

This powerful belief drives Superintendent Dr. Tremayne Clardy of the Verona Area School District. Joining Dr. Janet Pilcher, he discusses how the district is strategically establishing literacy as the driving force behind all its work. Dr. Clardy explains why, in today's complex world, strong literacy is the path to student freedom and the one way to ensure every child gains the critical thinking skills necessary to thrive. Listen to hear how this singular focus fuels a disciplined, systemic practice that ensures consistency across the organization.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• What is the strategic role of literacy in a district's overall mission?
• How does systems alignment ensure that all students have equitable access to opportunities?

Recommended Resources:  Listen Humbly and Learn Continuously, Transform Communities by Transforming Schools, Remember Your Why: From Struggle to Purpose

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

Recurring problems demand a shift in focus. In this final rapid-fire episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three essential steps to move away from blame and toward process improvement. Learn what it takes to reframe discussions, conduct a system audit, and hardwire new, standardized processes for better performance and desired outcomes.

Recommended Resources:  Empower Your Team by Embracing Accountability, Achieve Operational Efficiency with Process Improvement, Process Improvement Tool: Stoplight Report

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

External noise is a constant, yet you can be a source of stability and trust. Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three actionable steps educational leaders can take to proactively share their story and build strong allies. In five minutes, learn how to anchor conversations to your scorecard, lead with what's right, and ensure message consistency across your system. 

Recommended Resources:  Save Time with Proactive Communication, Communicate at All Levels, Communicate Clearly, With Simplicity

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

October burnout is real, and the first 90 days are critical for new hires. Don't leave retention to chance. In this second rapid-fire episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three intentional executive actions to help leaders secure their best people and create a culture where staff want to stay.

Recommended Resources:  Retain New Hires with 30- and 90-Day Conversations, Studer Education 30/90-day Conversation Guide, Create Connections Through Rounding

Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

In the first of four rapid-fire episodes, Dr. Janet Pilcher delivers three essential steps educational leaders can take right now to protect their mission and secure their future. Listen now and learn how to operationalize your budget with discipline and strategic focus.

Recommended Resources:  Build Trust to Strengthen Culture, Measuring Progress and Fostering Excellence: The Power of Scorecards

Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she welcomes Joseph Murley, Director of Finance for Barren County School District, to discuss how a district-wide survey revealed a surprising breakdown in the district's online fundraising system. Joe explains how he then modeled a new survey to pinpoint the root cause of the problem. Finally, he shares the impact of leader rounding, demonstrating how showing care for your people is the foundation for driving connection.

This episode answers questions such as:

• How can operations leaders use internal surveys and data to pinpoint system inefficiencies?
• What are the benefits of leading with service and explaining the "why" to internal teams instead of just mandating compliance?
• What is the "Lone Wolf" problem, and why is eliminating it essential for building a high-performing team culture?

Recommended Resources:  Getting 1% Better Every Day, Alignment and Accountability in Operations, Excellence in Operations

Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

Visions in Education, a charter school serving nine counties across Northern California, is thriving—even as many districts face declining enrollment. Listen as Chief Operations Officer, Tom Tafoya, discusses their evolution to meet the changing needs of their students and families in their unique online environment. 

Tom shares how his team approaches each day with a '1% better' philosophy to drive massive efficiencies, grow enrollment, and even catch the eye of Amazon. Listen now and learn how he built a high-performing operations team dedicated to student success.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• How does a '1% Better' philosophy translate into high-performing leadership actions?
• How can operations departments move toward innovative systems that accelerate student success?

Recommended Resources:  Alignment and Accountability in Operations, Excellence in Operations, Connecting Operations to Student Success

Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/

Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/

In this final live episode from the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona. With over two decades in education, Heidi shares her leadership journey—from an "accidental superintendent" to a high-performing leader.

Tune in as Dr. Eliopoulos highlights the essential role of leadership coaching. She also discusses how she has successfully hardwired personal connections through practices like rounding and recognition, and why a relentless pursuit of improvement has been central to her district's success.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• How does leadership coaching provide personalized support and drive continuous improvement?
• Why is it important for leaders to actively seek out mentors?
• How can you effectively hardwire practices like rounding and recognition for genuine, lasting connections?

Recommended Resources:  Leadership Development is a Must-Have, Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition, Create Connections Through Rounding

Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/

In another live episode recorded at the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Superintendent Dr. Casey Nye of D.C. Everest Area School District. Listen as Dr. Nye shares his approach to building and sustaining a strong culture of caring and continuous improvement. He shares how his district: 

1. intentionally gathers feedback from families through surveys,
2. uses that data to drive meaningful action,
3. and communicates with empathy and transparency, especially during difficult moments. 

He also discusses the importance of creating a supported, resilient leadership team and the role of gratitude in combating loneliness and creating joy.

This episode addresses questions such as:

• How can a school district effectively use parent surveys to build stronger relationships with families?
• What does it mean to be a leader who is both empathetic and effective during challenging times?
• Why is it crucial to create a culture of support for district leaders?

Recommended Resources:  Lead People with Purpose, Achieve Sustainable Impact with Rounding and Surveys, How Gratitude Builds Great Teams

Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/