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“Little Things Make a Big Difference” | Samantha Sebestik on Purposeful School Culture
In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert sits down with Samantha Sebestik, principal of Pleasant Acres Elementary in Rantoul, Illinois—a school where joy, equity, and student empowerment aren’t buzzwords, they’re everyday practices.
Sami shares how her team leads with connection, culture, and curiosity—from student-led school tours to jobs that give every child purpose and pride. You’ll hear how intentional hiring, high-fives in the hallway, and conscious discipline are shifting student behavior and building trust among teachers.
If you’re looking for practical, heart-filled leadership ideas that truly change the game, this episode is your blueprint.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- Photos in the Hallways, Names in the Air: Sami’s team ensures every student is seen literally by displaying their photos and greeting them by name before they even reach the classroom.
- Jobs With Joy and Purpose: From watering office plants to leading assemblies, students apply for real jobs that give them leadership experience and a sense of ownership in their school.
- The Parachute Team: A cross-functional group quietly surrounds new or vulnerable students with extra care and connection from day one.
- Lead With Listening, Follow With Trust: Before officially stepping into her role, Sami met individually with every staff member to understand their hopes, ideas, and strengths.
- Positive Notes as a Leadership Habit: Every week, her leadership team handwrites notes to teachers—starting the feedback loop with appreciation, not critique.
Timestamps:
03:56 "Books as Windows and Mirrors"
07:29 Bilingual Community Celebration Leadership
10:44 Cultural Learning Event for Schools
15:13 Pre-Role Engagement Insights
17:21 Weekly Positive Feedback Meetings
20:10 Assume Positive Intent in Feedback
25:16 Transient Student Support Strategies
28:19 Youth Engagement Eases Staff Burdens
31:46 Parachute Team Welcomes New Students
33:43 Conscious Discipline: Importance of Connection
35:58 Teacher's Growth Leads to Best Year
39:19 Adapting and Sharing Ideas
Connect with Samantha Sebestik
Website: https://www.rcs137.org/domain/74
Follow Us
Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert
Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca
Alpaca 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.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.
View all episodes
By Alpaca
In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert sits down with Samantha Sebestik, principal of Pleasant Acres Elementary in Rantoul, Illinois—a school where joy, equity, and student empowerment aren’t buzzwords, they’re everyday practices.
Sami shares how her team leads with connection, culture, and curiosity—from student-led school tours to jobs that give every child purpose and pride. You’ll hear how intentional hiring, high-fives in the hallway, and conscious discipline are shifting student behavior and building trust among teachers.
If you’re looking for practical, heart-filled leadership ideas that truly change the game, this episode is your blueprint.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- Photos in the Hallways, Names in the Air: Sami’s team ensures every student is seen literally by displaying their photos and greeting them by name before they even reach the classroom.
- Jobs With Joy and Purpose: From watering office plants to leading assemblies, students apply for real jobs that give them leadership experience and a sense of ownership in their school.
- The Parachute Team: A cross-functional group quietly surrounds new or vulnerable students with extra care and connection from day one.
- Lead With Listening, Follow With Trust: Before officially stepping into her role, Sami met individually with every staff member to understand their hopes, ideas, and strengths.
- Positive Notes as a Leadership Habit: Every week, her leadership team handwrites notes to teachers—starting the feedback loop with appreciation, not critique.
Timestamps:
03:56 "Books as Windows and Mirrors"
07:29 Bilingual Community Celebration Leadership
10:44 Cultural Learning Event for Schools
15:13 Pre-Role Engagement Insights
17:21 Weekly Positive Feedback Meetings
20:10 Assume Positive Intent in Feedback
25:16 Transient Student Support Strategies
28:19 Youth Engagement Eases Staff Burdens
31:46 Parachute Team Welcomes New Students
33:43 Conscious Discipline: Importance of Connection
35:58 Teacher's Growth Leads to Best Year
39:19 Adapting and Sharing Ideas
Connect with Samantha Sebestik
Website: https://www.rcs137.org/domain/74
Follow Us
Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert
Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca
Alpaca 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.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.