In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Wade Stanford, Superintendent of Westwood ISD in rural Texas, a “small but mighty” district of just over 1,300 students where trust, empowerment, and relationships drive every decision.

From navigating a 20–25% student mobility rate and growing homelessness to building a relational police department and a culture of “horizontal accountability,” Wade shows how a family atmosphere with a team spirit turns little wins into lasting change.

Together, Karen and Wade explore what it means to lead with positive intent, why every role is a leadership role, and how simple, consistent practices like no direct instruction the first three days of school and making sure no student goes hungry create deep, human-centered school culture.

💡 Little Wins in This Episode:

1. Leading a “small but mighty” district: How Westwood ISD meets the needs of a highly mobile and often hidden homeless student population with wraparound care.

   
   

2. Redefining school policing: Why Wade launched a district police department focused on relationships, soft uniforms, and early intervention instead of punishment.

   
   

3. Horizontal accountability: How “everybody holds everybody accountable” creates trust—from students speaking up to assistant principals giving honest feedback to the superintendent.

   
   

4. From coach to superintendent: The story of Coach Hagler’s biology class, a high school track meet, and the moment Wade knew he was called to education.

   
   

5. No direct instruction the first three days: How Westwood uses the start of school to build relationships, ensure kids are fed and safe, and set a foundation for learning.

   
   

6. “Everybody’s a leader”: The belief statement that empowers food service, admin assistants, and teachers alike to lead from where they are.

   
   

7. Family atmosphere, team spirit: Why Westwood embraces the heart of family but the standards and accountability of a high-performing team.

Key Moments

00:01 Introducing Superintendent Wade Stanford and Westwood ISD

01:20 A rural district with high mobility—and why relationships matter more than ever

02:45 What a 20–25% mobility rate really means for kids and families

09:09 “Horizontal accountability” and students speaking up when something isn’t right

11:25 Building trust through vulnerability, positive intent, and honest feedback

13:14 Coach Hagler’s biology class and the moment Wade chose education

18:39 Knowing when you’re truly ready for the next stage of your career

20:51 No direct instruction the first three days—only relationships, safety, and care

27:23 “Everybody’s a leader; they lead from where they’re at”

31:17 A family atmosphere with a team spirit—and why teams don’t tolerate dysfunction

40:15 One thing any educator can do to strengthen culture right now

Connect with Wade Stanford

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wade-stanford-9319a3ab
Website: https://www.westwoodisd.net/

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Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert

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🧵 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.

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