In this episode of the Lebra Podcast, host Nate Lichte sits down with Trent Provo, Superintendent of the Monroe-Gregg School District, to explore leadership at the intersection of small-town culture and big-district pressures.

Trent shares his non-traditional start as a pre-dentistry major before pivoting into education, then working his way from the classroom to school leadership and ultimately the superintendency. The conversation focuses on how Monroe-Gregg is balancing staffing and budget realities with long-term vision. Trent outlines his approach to financial stewardship, being proactive, evaluating every vacancy, and exploring outsourcing options without abandoning current staff. He also explains why transparency is non-negotiable, from openly discussing costs in board meetings to educating the public on how school funding actually works.

Nate and Trent also explore community alignment and partnership strategy, including expanded work with Hendricks Regional Health (athletic training and nursing services), mental health partnerships supported by the Kendrick Foundation, and Bulldog Blessings, an in-district food pantry supporting families. On the academic side, Trent highlights initiatives like the Monrovia School of Integrated Technology (alternative education), Project Lead The Way, laser engraving and hands-on STEM work, online school expansion, and growing dual credit opportunities.

Timestamps

06:28 "District Vision and Community Focus"

07:04 Strategic Plan: Vision for Graduates

12:51 Transparent Communication on Finances

14:40 "Family Forum for Graduate Input"

19:25 "Strategic Partnerships and Community Goals"

21:19 Alternative Education Saves Students

25:47 Servant Leadership in Action

30:23 "Acceptance and Faith Matter"

31:00 "Letting Go of Overthinking"

34:49 "Communication and Chain of Command"

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re leading in a district that’s trying to grow while facing budget pressure and staffing competition, this episode offers grounded, real-world leadership strategies. Trent shares how to stay transparent without creating panic, build community trust proactively, and keep initiatives aligned to a strategic plan—while still protecting culture, staff, and student outcomes.

Connect with Trent Provo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-provo-70ba8623
Website: https://www.m-gsd.org/ 

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About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In this episode of the Lebra Podcast, host Nate Lichte sits down with Dr. Amber Wheeler, Superintendent of Humboldt USD 258 in Kansas, to explore what it looks like to lead a rural district that is growing, innovating, and deeply connected to its community.

Amber shares her journey from elementary teacher and longtime principal to superintendent, stepping into the role just after COVID and navigating the “aftermath” while building trust through visibility and community presence. She describes Humboldt as a “yes and” community, where ideas turn into action quickly and that mindset carries into the schools.

The conversation dives into the district’s standout initiatives, including a Promise Scholarship funded by the Works Family Foundation that covers students’ first four years of postsecondary education, and a robust CTE expansion that offers dozens of career pathways and real-world experiences like student-built homes. Amber also explains how Humboldt is tackling instructional improvement through aligned curriculum adoption, better data systems, and rural-to-rural collaboration to access stronger analytics and shared professional learning.

Timestamps

03:44 "Southeast Kansas School District Overview"

06:32 Works Family Community Support Initiative

11:32 Leadership Transition in Rural Districts

15:18 "Expanding Education and Workforce Space"

18:09 "Challenges of Remote Living"

22:15 Curriculum Alignment and Teacher Support

24:25 Rethinking Student Growth Strategies

26:52 Collaborative Data-Driven Rural Education

31:26 "Supporting Child Regulation Strategies"

34:59 Advice for Aspiring Superintendents

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re leading (or learning from) a rural district, this episode offers a clear example of what’s possible when community partnerships and school strategy reinforce each other. Amber shares practical ways to grow staffing pipelines, strengthen instruction without drowning in data, and build systems that support both academic excellence and student wellbeing—all grounded in a culture where “all people matter.”

Connect with Dr. Amber Wheeler
Website: https://www.usd258.net/ 

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About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Dr. Celeste L. Merriweather, Superintendent of Bridgeton Public Schools (NJ). Dr. Merriweather shares her leadership journey from Camden to Bridgeton and what it takes to lead a district experiencing significant demographic change with clarity, compassion, and high expectations.

Together, Nate and Dr. Merriweather explore how belonging is built through daily systems: language access, parent engagement (not just involvement), targeted support for newcomer students, and a commitment to rigorous learning for every child. Dr. Merriweather also unpacks her district’s strategic plan “One Bridgeton” and how trust is strengthened through transparency, consistency, and follow-through.

They close with practical advice for aspiring and first-year superintendents: shadow leaders, build networks, understand the political realities of the role, and invest in the relationships that make the work sustainable.

Keynotes

00:33 Leadership journey: Camden → Bridgeton and the path to superintendent

03:06 Bridgeton context: community identity, diversity, and agriculture roots

05:52 Cultivating belonging: language access, expectations, and honoring families

07:28 Parent engagement: supports, workshops, and navigating today’s climate

09:08 Port of Entry: supporting newcomer students and building bilingual systems

10:29 “One Bridgeton”: strategic plan, shared identity, and consistent experience

11:07 Mental health supports and SEL as core culture work

12:13 Representation, curriculum, and equity: bias, microaggressions, and leadership

17:03 Freedom through accountability: self-governance and reducing over-policing

19:02 Systemic barriers: partnerships, pathways, and future-ready learning

20:51 Critical thinking in the AI era: teaching discernment, not avoidance

22:44 Career pathways: trades, cybersecurity, engineering, esports, and after-school learning

26:23 Trust & stay: transparency, communication, and leading the same everywhere

35:40 Advice for superintendents: shadowing, associations, political realities, resilience

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re leading through demographic change or building culture in a district where trust must be earned daily this conversation delivers practical leadership clarity. Learn how to make belonging operational, how to rebuild credibility through transparency, and how to align strategy with the lived experience of students, staff, and families.

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About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In this episode of the Lebra Podcast, host Nate Lichte talks with David Moyer, Superintendent of Northport–East Northport UFSD (NY). Drawing on more than 16 years in the superintendent seat, David shares how his district is building a future-focused learning system while honoring the traditions of a deeply engaged Long Island community.

David and Nate explore how Northport is using professional learning communities, a clear Profile of a Graduate, and intentional language to drive culture change—helping teachers collaborate more deeply, personalize learning, and make education relevant to students’ futures. David explains why the shift from content coverage to skill development is critical, how AI can accelerate interdisciplinary learning, and why districts must make innovation a whole-system effort rather than an isolated initiative.

They close with David’s clear-eyed advice for first-time superintendents: build board alignment early, invest in principal leadership capacity, and expect that “innovation” looks very different once real change begins.

Timestamps

00:32 David’s pathway from English teacher and coach to superintendent

02:03 An introduction to Northport–East Northport UFSD

03:44 Balancing tradition and innovation in a high-performing community

13:12 Guaranteeing tier one experiences for all students

14:38 Personalized learning through PLCs and clear learning goals

17:32 Understanding and addressing teacher resistance

20:32 How common assessments and shared expectations improve learning

34:01 Using constraints as opportunities to innovate

36:03 Communication strategies that build trust during change

39:12 Advice for first-year and aspiring superintendents

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you care about innovation, instructional coherence, or building a culture where teachers truly collaborate, this episode offers practical strategies from a superintendent who has led change across multiple states. David brings clarity to complex work showing how districts can reorient around skills, relevance, and life readiness while staying grounded in community identity.

Connect with David Moyer
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-moyer-88716a17
Website: https://www.northport.k12.ny.us/

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Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
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Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In this episode of the Lebra Podcast, host Nate Lichte talks with Randy Jensen, Superintendent of American Falls School District (ID). After more than four decades in one rural community, Randy shares how a simple idea “Read, Talk, Play Every Day” became a community-wide movement for early literacy, showing up on T-shirts, in local businesses, and even at the senior center.

Randy and Nate dig into how American Falls built an Opportunity Community Model that brings food, healthcare, housing support, GED classes, workforce services, and more together under one roof so families can actually move out of poverty. Randy also explains why he embraced AI early, how tools like ChatGPT save him hours each week, and why he pushed staff to try AI before worrying about student use. 

They close with grounded advice for first-time and aspiring superintendents on relationships, visibility, and staying out in schools instead of stuck in the office.

Timestamps

02:15 Forty-plus years in one small rural town and why longevity matters

03:18 The origin story of Read, Talk, Play Every Day

07:35 Why prevention beats closing the achievement gap later

09:19 How other Idaho communities adopted Read, Talk, Play Every Day

16:04 Grants, the Village satellite office, and coordinated services for youth

19:15 Quadrupling the food bank when SNAP dollars dropped

20:35 Redefining the superintendent role: cradle to career, not just K–12

23:06 A powerful GED graduation story and what it modeled for kids

24:36 Building relationships across cultures and engaging every parent

32:24 Practical advice for districts just starting with AI

34:39 Final guidance for first-year and aspiring superintendents

Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you care about early literacy, family poverty, or the future of AI in schools, this episode gives you concrete, do-able ideas from a superintendent who has actually lived them out in one community for more than 40 years.

Connect with Randy Jensen

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-jensen-41354817
Website: https://www.sd381.k12.id.us/

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Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with David Carson, Superintendent at Gooding School District (ID). A longtime educator and rural leader, David shares a “listen first” approach to culture—learning community history, aligning decisions to local values, and celebrating wins so the positive story travels farther than the noise.

From districtwide PLCs and full-day kindergarten to a four-day instructional calendar with targeted Friday supports, David explains how Gooding focuses resources where they matter most. He also unpacks sustainable trust-building: transparent funding conversations, visible celebrations (yes, even the reader board on Main Street), and equipping staff as community storytellers who carry the message into neighborhoods and local businesses.

Nate and David close with practical guidance for new superintendents: build your mentor network, stay visible, and never stop asking great questions—especially when the stakes are high and the context is uniquely local.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome & David’s pathway into leadership

03:33 Meet Gooding SD: rural context, community identity

05:59 “Listen first”: learning the local story before decisions

09:03 Classroom visibility with principals—walk-throughs that build trust

12:02 Celebrating wins publicly (and why it’s harder than it sounds)

14:44 Using a community reader board to share data & good news

19:42 Post-pandemic recovery: PLCs, full-day K, monthly PD days

24:35 Four-day school week: why it works and Friday supports

28:32 Moving from five to four days—process, surveys, and buy-in

33:38 Sustainable funding in a rural context—reserves, grants, tradeoffs

38:00 Levies & facilities: telling the story so voters understand the “why”

41:38 Advice for first-time superintendents—mentors, networks, and balance

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re leading in a rural community—or anywhere trust is earned in conversations, not memos—this episode is a playbook. Learn how to pair curiosity with clarity, turn small wins into public momentum, and organize time (PLCs, PD days, targeted Fridays) so instruction and culture move together.

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Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In this episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Jeremy Fewell, Superintendent of Mississinewa Community Schools (IN). From a district with high transfer enrollment and significant poverty, Jeremy walks through a “students-first always” approach: transparent communication, data-anchored decisions, and community partnerships that meet real needs.

They discuss how Mississinewa engages families early through strong preschool pathways, centers safety and access in operational calls (like weather delays), and uses a community-built strategic plan to align budgets, programming, and culture. Jeremy also shares how listening tours, system-to-systems meetings, and visible leadership (yes, serving lunch) strengthen trust and retention.

Nate and Jeremy dig into the push-pull of open enrollment, supporting local taxpayers while maintaining rich AP/dual-credit and CTE opportunities, and planning for legacy facilities, while keeping every decision tied back to what serves students best.

Timestamps

05:18 "District Challenges and Opportunities"

08:00 Building Relationships, Strategic Planning Success

12:17 Balancing Out-of-District Enrollment

13:45 "Decisions Anchored by Students"

17:01 Leading by Example in Decisions

22:24 "Fostering Growth Through Dialogue"

25:05 Community Collaboration in Rural Mississeno

26:47 School Partnerships Enhance Arts Access

31:09 School Funding Referendum Necessity

34:57 "Focus on Relationships First"

37:30 Breaking Generational Poverty Together

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you lead in a district where every decision must stretch resources without shrinking opportunity, this conversation will resonate. Jeremy offers a grounded playbook for aligning strategy with community values, balancing enrollment realities with taxpayer trust, and proving—daily—that student well-being and safety come first.

Connect with Jeremy Fewell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-fewell-ed-s-9b009893
Website: https://www.lewiscass.net/ 

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Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About the Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Dr. Chris Daughtry, Superintendent of Lewis Cass Schools (IN). With deep roots in rural education and service in the Air Force Reserve, Chris shares how he’s leading through listening, rebuilding trust, and shaping a strategic plan that reflects both fiscal responsibility and community pride.

From launching a districtwide strategic plan built on clear pillars to mentoring future leaders and refreshing 1950s facilities, Chris offers a grounded look at how rural districts can thrive by focusing on people, purpose, and place.

Nate and Chris also explore aligning district goals with community values, creating in-house instructional models, and redefining “success” through belonging, safety, and engagement.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Dr. Chris Daughtry

02:24 From classroom teacher to superintendent—mentorship and leadership growth

05:26 Defining success in a rural district: growth, safety, and fiscal stewardship

07:06 Listening tours and aligning goals with community values

10:18 Building a strategic plan rooted in district pillars

12:27 Preparing students for career pathways and modernizing facilities

13:47 Recruiting and retaining teachers in small-town Indiana

19:49 Mentoring future leaders and sustaining the pipeline

23:26 Elevating staff voice through collaboration and shared decision-making

34:42 Advice for rural superintendents—relationships first, always

Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you lead in a rural or close-knit district, Chris’s story will resonate. You’ll hear how small schools can lead with flexibility, how culture and strategy intertwine, and why listening first creates lasting change. It’s a masterclass in grounded leadership—rooted in community, built on relationships, and driven by doing what’s best for kids.

Connect with Dr. Chris Daughtry
Website: https://www.lewiscass.net/ 

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Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About the Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Kellen Adams, Superintendent of Schools at Leavenworth USD 453. A 17-year educator and entrepreneur, Kellen brings a business-minded lens to district leadership, balancing budget realities, community dynamics, and culture building in one of Kansas’s most unique ecosystems.

From managing declining enrollment and high mobility to strengthening partnerships with faith and business communities, Kellen shares how a simple cadence, data, story, and relationship keep trust high and decision-making clear. He unpacks why “people first” promises matter, how radical transparency diffuses tension, and where entrepreneurial thinking (ROI, opportunity cost, recruitment as growth) helps districts navigate uncertainty.

Nate and Kellen also explore practical steps for aspiring superintendents: leaning into weak spots, seeking operational reps, and building authentic community relationships that go far beyond transactions.

Timestamps

03:06 From business/finance to coaching and education

08:47 Declining enrollment and budget pressure

10:10 High mobility, student and staff turnover

12:25 Communicating budget realities: data, story, relationship

15:25 People-first promises, no layoffs, raises, transparency

18:55 Entrepreneurial lens: ROI, opportunity cost, recruitment

23:50 Advice to aspiring superintendents, lean into gaps

35:37 Future outlook, prepare for renaissance or managed decline

Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you’re leading through constrained budgets, enrollment shifts, or rapid staff turnover, Kellen offers a practical blueprint: communicate early and often, anchor decisions in people, and apply a clear ROI lens to recruitment and community engagement. It’s a masterclass in balancing optimism with operational rigor—without losing sight of kids, colleagues, and purpose.

Connect with Kellen Adams
Website: https://www.usd453.org/ 

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About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Rusty Taylor, Superintendent of Lakeland Joint School District (ID). New to the role yet seasoned across nearly every seat in a school system, Rusty shares how he’s centering relationships, aligning teams, and rebuilding momentum with a simple north star: kids first.

From launching a districtwide TRUST statement (Trust, Respect, Unify, Succeed, Transparency) to empowering principals and elevating classified staff, Rusty explains how clear expectations and consistent presence can transform culture and performance.

Nate and Rusty also explore turning strategy into action, connecting ambitious goals to everyday behaviors, and using data with heart while modeling the work that inspires teams to follow.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and why service work shapes servant leadership

00:39 Path to Lakeland and “read and react” leadership in the first months

04:04 From hospitality to education and what skills transferred

08:01 Early classroom lessons, coaching, and learning from losses

11:18 Reading district culture and context after leadership transitions

14:28 Building the TRUST framework and defining each element

18:55 Principals as culture carriers and speaking a common language

21:38 Strategy into practice, district support, empowerment, and classified staff

27:33 Competitive goals, data use, and continuous improvement

41:16 Leadership legacy, advice for aspiring superintendents

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re a district leader focused on culture, clarity, and execution, Rusty’s approach offers practical guidance. You’ll hear how a simple shared framework anchors behavior, why presence and relationships matter, and how to connect big goals to meaningful daily action. It’s a grounded, optimistic blueprint for building a district where students thrive because the adults align.

Connect with Rusty Taylor
Website: https://www.sd272.org/ 

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Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About Lebra Podcast

The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.