In this episode of the PeopleBench Podcast, host Steve Merly sits down with Jarrod Vance, Principal of Crestview Elementary School in Ashland, Ohio. After 17 years as a middle school teacher, Jarrod made the unexpected leap into leading a PreK–4 building — and discovered a whole new understanding of culture, leadership, and what it means to support great educators.

Jarrod shares how he rebuilt his passion for education, why fun and relationships are non-negotiables in his building, and how trust, communication, and perspective shape every decision he makes. From navigating rural-district realities to helping teachers see themselves as leaders, this episode offers a grounded, candid look at building a school where people truly want to stay and grow.

If you care about culture, retention, teacher well-being, and leadership that actually feels human, Jarrod’s story will resonate deeply.

Key Moments

01:27 Why Jarrod left the classroom after 17 years

03:31 Moving from middle school to PreK–4 — and what shocked him most

05:45 Building a school where adults and kids have fun again

07:44 Why relationships come before content

10:10 Over-communicating on purpose and building trust

12:20 Amazing Race, Clue Week, and joyful staff culture

16:27 Supporting teachers before burnout hits

19:53 How Jarrod develops leaders across his building

24:41 Leading across a wide developmental span: PreK vs Grade 4

28:55 Urban vs rural: different needs, different strengths

36:21 The leadership lesson Jarrod learned the hard way

39:14 Advice for teachers considering a jump into leadership

43:21 What gives Jarrod optimism about the future of education

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode highlights what school leadership looks like when culture, trust, and people come first. Jarrod shares how he:

• Builds a positive, joyful environment where staff want to stay

• Uses relationships and trust to guide every leadership move

• Helps teachers see their own leadership potential

• Supports staff through tough moments with honesty and care

• Balances fun with high expectations for students and adults

• Brings perspective from both urban and rural districts to improve practice

Jarrod’s blend of humility, humor, and clarity offers a refreshing look at what it takes to lead a modern elementary school with heart.

Connect with Jarrod Vance
Website: https://www.crestviewschools.net/

Connect with PeopleBench
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peoplebench
Website: https://peoplebench.com

If this conversation gave you new insight into culture, leadership, or retention, share it with a colleague and subscribe for more people-first leadership conversations from the PeopleBench Podcast.

In this episode of the PeopleBench Podcast, host Steve sits down with Dr. Luke Bell, Principal of Fairview High School in Northwest Pennsylvania and a proud alum who once walked these same hallways as a student. Dr. Bell shares how returning to his hometown shaped his leadership, how he navigated a $45M renovation, and how he built a culture centered on trust, autonomy, and continuous growth.

From expanding access to advanced coursework to creating psychological safety for teachers to take risks and learn from failure, Dr. Bell offers a grounded, practical look at what it means to lead a modern high school through meaningful change.

If you care about strengthening culture, building strong teams, empowering teachers, and ensuring every student has access to opportunity, this episode will resonate deeply.

Key Moments

01:00 Returning to lead the high school he once attended

03:27 What Fairview’s culture preserved — and what needed to evolve

04:45 Expanding pathways beyond the traditional college route

05:40 Addressing socioeconomic gaps and widening access

06:56 Managing a $45M renovation and rapid enrollment growth

08:44 Keeping morale steady through transparency and flexibility

11:13 How teacher input shaped new spaces and classroom design

13:33 What Dr. Bell looks for when hiring teachers

18:22 Why autonomy and space to fail strengthen instruction

20:43 Knowing when to step back and let teachers problem-solve

29:48 Dr. Bell’s “little win” for leaders: empower teachers to lead

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode spotlights what modern school leadership looks like when culture, trust, and people come first. Dr. Bell shares how he:

• Builds autonomy while keeping instructional alignment

• Creates psychological safety so teachers can innovate

• Uses data and relationships to expand course access

• Supports staff through disruption and rapid change

• Designs environments where students and teachers thrive

His experience as a student, teacher, parent, and principal gives him a rare, multilayered perspective on what strong school culture truly requires.

Connect with Dr. Luke Bell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-luke-beall-1727b52b3/
Website: https://www.fairviewschools.org/ 

Connect with PeopleBench
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peoplebench
Company Website: https://peoplebench.com

If this conversation helped you rethink how you support your teams and shape your culture, share it with a colleague and subscribe for more practical, people-first leadership insights from the PeopleBench Podcast.