Karen Borchert is the founder and CEO of Alpaca, a company with a mission to make it easier to support teachers. Karen started off in secondary education, but most of her career is as an entrepreneur, helping to grow high trust, highly aligned teams. 

Karen started Alpaca to combine her passion for education with her experience in building employee engagement, leadership and management teams. Alpaca believes that asking teachers more about what they need, providing those things in delightful ways, and creating a way to show gratitude to teachers could change the way teachers feel about work. Alpaca is on a mission to create the first employee culture platform built just for K-12 educators. 

Karen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from Wake Forest University and an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. 

Before founding Alpaca, Karen had experience in operations, product management, and entrepreneurship. She held leadership roles at organizations such as ROKA, Flywheel, and Election Systems & Software, and co-founded Keen Guides, a platform for multimedia tours. Her professional journey also includes contributions in consulting and the nonprofit sector.

Today, Alpaca supports thousands of teachers across the country. Their unique model of semantic pulse surveys, and turn-key teacher recognition programs offers a new way to support educators.

Karen shares the story of what inspired her to found Alpaca with Principal Matters listeners. Her years of work in employee engagement led to her desire to start a school related company. Throughout the process of founding Alpaca, Karen spent a lot of time interviewing teachers about their experience working in schools. She shares that she realized how many teachers purchase school supplies out of pocket, and decided to find a way to get those supplies into teachers’ hands easily. Thus the idea for Alpaca Packs was born. 

One area of focus for Alpaca is providing solutions to school leaders to build credibility with their teachers as being trustworthy and appreciative. Karen suggests that school leaders learn to cut through the noise that often accompanies their job by listening to teachers. Specifically, Karen tells school leaders that they should stop listening to solutions and start listening to teachers. Karen lays out five core values that Alpaca employs to help school leaders build credibility with their teachers:

Listen in to the interview to hear Karen dive into these core values in more detail!

Next, Karen Borchert shares practical ways that leaders can recognize and celebrate teachers, especially as they plan for a new school year. She encourages listeners to begin the school year by creating a cadence and a habit of listening to and supporting teachers. There are several ways that Karen shares leaders can create this cadence, through scheduling time to listen to feedback from teachers and then acting on it. Building school culture doesn’t happen because of one isolated event, but rather a habitual practice of building culture. 

Karen spends a lot of time traveling to events across the country to help leaders rethink the ways they can encourage and retain teachers. Furthermore, she applies those same lessons with her team at Alpaca. Once a month, the employees at Alpaca fill out a survey describing how they are doing at work. Each week, Alpaca holds a team meeting, during which Karen listens to feedback and lets the team know what changes will happen each week. The Alpaca team also constantly has calls with their customers to hear how they are using their products and what changes they can make. 

You can find out more about Alpaca and the work they do on their website: www.getalpaca.com

The post PMP457: Listening To Your Teachers with Karen Borchert appeared first on Principal Matters.

In this episode, I wanted to share some feedback from another Mastermind group I’ve met with in 2024-25. These leaders include:

Julieta R. Flowers – Principal, Discovery Community School, Toledo, OH

Kelly Brodzenski – Principal, Beacon Academy, Canton, OH

Laura Krulik – Assistant Superintendent & Title II/Civil Rights Coordinator, Utica Shale Academy (Southern Local Schools), Salineville, OH

Sherwin Ealy – Principal/Administrator, A+ Arts Academy – Maybury Campus, Columbus, OH

Dr. Kenneth Goodrum – Principal, PBIS Coordinator & Title IX Investigator, Dayton Business Technology High School, Dayton, OH

In this conversation, each leader shares feedback on the following:

A big thank you to these leaders for their service to their schools and for their commitment to collaborate!

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a part of a Mastermind, reach out to Will at [email protected]

The post MONDAY MATTERS BONUS with Ohio Academy Grads Mastermind appeared first on Principal Matters.

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke share an update on the United Conference they will both be attending in Seattle this week. Listen in to find out what time they will be presenting and how you can connect with both of them at the conference. They would love to meet you!

As a 30-year public education professional and advocate, Mike develops and supports authentic student agency across school districts. He has studied, supported, and led student learning from various perspectives, including as a teacher, school leader, district innovator, superintendent, university researcher, and most recently, a not-for-profit consultant to school systems across the country. His expertise spans from research and evaluation to strategic planning and personalized coaching and consulting.

Mike now leads Learning InspirED, a forward-thinking education consulting agency committed to learning and supporting the development of student agency. With a focus on moving away from constraints and moving toward possibilities, he helps school districts create the best conditions for students to lead their own learning. Mike currently works with districts across the United States from Colorado to Virginia and from Florida to Vermont in this game-changing work. Outside of his career, Mike is a husband and father to three kids and a dog that he has reluctantly come to love. 

The focus of Mike Nicholson’s work is developing and supporting student agency: a method for developing students who are confident in their autonomy and who engage in critical thinking. Dr. Nicholson recommends a theory called “Self-determination Theory” as the lens through which school leaders should view building student agency. This theory tells us that every student wants to feel confident in the ways that matter to them, and that they want to feel like they belong and are cared for. Essentially, students need to be in a psychologically safe environment to thrive. Many schools use a system of rewards and punishment as a way to control student behavior, but Mike says that rules do not create a psychologically safe environment. Ultimately, only intrinsic motivation will make kids want to stay engaged in school, and building student agency develops that skill. 

Students who possess the ability to self-regulate are able to shape, rather than be shaped. Unfortunately, self-regulation is a skill that schools often neglect to teach. Without self-regulation, there is no student agency. More often than not, kids leave schools not knowing their power because they have been in compliant mode for so long. One way for students to build their agency is practice making meaningful decisions, often. Another way for school leaders to increase student agency is through reviewing student handbooks. Mike shares that school leaders should examine student handbooks through two different lenses: a growth and learning lens, and a control and order lens. Each lens has 26 keywords for school leaders to look for as they review their student handbooks. By examining the student handbook through these two lenses, school leaders will be able to determine the extent to which student agency is encouraged or discouraged in their schools. 

Dr. Nicholson suggests that school leaders examine their schools by considering the following 3 c’s of student agency:

As a final piece of advice, Dr. Nicholson reminds listeners that they appreciate their own autonomy, and students would appreciate the same. If listeners would like to learn more about Mike and his work, visit learninspired.org 

The post PMP456: Empowering Student Agency with Dr. Mike Nicholson appeared first on Principal Matters.

Happy Monday, Principal Matters listeners! This week, Jen Schwanke and I are talking about chapter 12 from my new book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The premise of this chapter is on something I like to call “life liturgies”: practices, routines, and rituals that define a person and their beliefs. Defining one’s life liturgy can be hard, so Jen and I discuss practices that listeners can employ to help the definition process. Intentionally reflecting on factors like health, mindset, movement, and personal relationships can help one regain focus on what truly matters. 

School administrators often spend their time at work managing craziness. Amidst all the craziness, it is extremely valuable for school leaders to spend time each week being quiet and present. Previously, I have shared the story of becoming a shell of who I once was when starting out as an administrator. Figuring out my life liturgy through intentional reflection helped bring me back to life and allowed me to be both the school administrator and the father that I needed to be. Sometimes, staying present means putting away your phone and taking control of your mind. Other times, it means ending a habit that is detrimental to your well-being. Whatever intentionally staying present looks like for you, it will take an enormous amount of self-discipline. If you would like to learn more about life liturgies, or just want to spend some time reflecting with another person, Jen and I would love to hear from you! You can reach us via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Thanks for listening in today and, as always, thank you for doing what matters!

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Before this week’s interview, Will Parker and Jen Schwanke spend some time talking about Jen’s upcoming book: Trusted: Trust Pillars, Trust Killers, and the Secret to Successful Schools.

Listen in to hear more about this book, as well as where you can pre-order it. Thank you for doing what matters!

Mike Fitzpatrick is the Founder and CEO of NCX Group, a leader in cybersecurity solutions. With over 25 years of experience in Information Technology Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, and Privacy Legislation, Mike has built a reputation as a trusted expert in the field.  Throughout his career, Mike has collaborated with Fortune 50 and Fortune 2000 companies, developing innovative strategies to protect sensitive data and maintain business continuity. His expertise in cybersecurity has led him to serve as an advisor to influential policymakers, including Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congresswoman Mary Bono, contributing to critical NORPDA and DATA legislation.   Mike is also a distinguished fellow at the Ponemon Institute, where he continues to shape the conversation on privacy and data protection. Known nationally as an engaging speaker, he regularly shares his insights at prominent forums, helping organizations understand and mitigate cyber risks.  

Passionate about advancing cybersecurity, Mike leads a dedicated team at NCX Group, providing services like risk assessments, compliance reviews, and penetration testing to businesses of all sizes. His relentless commitment to keeping organizations secure has earned him and NCX Group an unparalleled reputation in the industry.

For principals, learning about the very real risks to cybersecurity— and how we might proactively prevent a cyber attack— is an important learning opportunity and a critical issue to the health of our students, staff, and school data. Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO of Ncx Group, joins Jen Schwanke on Principal Matters to discuss the growing cybersecurity threat facing schools. 

In explaining the risk factors, Fitzpatrick emphasizes that cybersecurity is not just an IT issue, but a critical business process impacting every part of a school. He details the various ways cyberattacks occur, from simple vulnerabilities like weak passwords to sophisticated phishing attacks, often amplified by generative AI. He stresses the significant financial and operational impact of these attacks, citing average downtime of over three weeks and costs reaching millions of dollars.

Fitzpatrick explains the vulnerability of schools due to their vast data holdings, placing them among the top at-risk sectors along with government and healthcare. He explains that cybercriminals, often operating from organized, sometimes state-sponsored groups, are highly skilled and resourceful, making it difficult for law enforcement to track them down. He urges schools to proactively assess their vulnerabilities, invest in cybersecurity awareness training for all staff, and implement robust security measures like password managers and multi-factor authentication.

The conversation explores the challenges schools face, including limited resources, aging technology, and a cybersecurity talent shortage. Fitzpatrick offers solutions such as training existing staff and partnering with managed security service providers to gain access to expertise and affordable services. He also discusses the role of state and federal regulations, noting that they often lag behind the evolving threats. He encourages schools to prioritize technology refresh plans and consider bond measures to fund necessary upgrades. 

Fitzpatrick uses the analogy of candy to illustrate the importance of a layered defense. He describes many organizations as having a “Skittle” structure – a hard outer shell but a soft, vulnerable core. He advocates for building a “jawbreaker” – a tough, layered defense that makes it challenging and unprofitable for attackers to penetrate. He stresses that proactive measures, rather than reactive responses after an attack, are crucial. He also touches upon the connection between cybersecurity and insurance costs, explaining how strong security practices can lead to significant savings. He concludes by offering his expertise and services to schools seeking to improve their cybersecurity systems.

You can stay connected with Mike Fitzpatrick via:

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Welcome back to another Monday Matters! I can’t believe it is already summer. This week, our Monday Matters Podcast is going to be a little different than usual. As listeners may already know, the focus of recent Monday Matters episodes have been on the chapters of my new book Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. The chapter we are covering this week is one on masterminds. However, instead of talking about the chapter, I wanted to give listeners the chance to hear what it is like to be a part of one of the masterminds I offer. The following seven leaders took part in a mastermind I offered in the previous school year: 

Listen in to hear their answers to the following questions:

If you would like to learn more about the masterminds and other trainings I offer, visit my website to learn more! As always, thank you for doing what matters!

The post MONDAY MATTERS Bonus Episode – Mastermind Lesson with Legacy Leaders appeared first on Principal Matters.

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.

The question is: From your experience as a podcaster, what are the most compelling or surprising insights you’ve gained from other educational leaders regarding human capital management? (This question is asked by Brenna Cropper, a first grade teacher in Worthington, Ohio)

Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!

PJ Caposey is a dynamic speaker and a transformational leader and educator. PJ began his career as an award-winning teacher in the inner-city of Chicago and has subsequently led significant change in every administrative post he has held. PJ became a principal at the age of 28 and within three years was able to lead a small-town/rural school historically achieving near the bottom of its county to multiple national recognitions. After four years, PJ moved to his current district, Meridian CUSD 223, as superintendent and has led a similar turnaround leading to multiple national recognitions for multiple different efforts. He was the 2023 Illinois Superintendent of the Year, a finalist for 2023 National Superintendent of the Year, and a best-selling author. His latest book, coauthored with Bryan Wills, is Cracking the Coaching Code: Using Personality Archetypes to Maximize Performance (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).

In this episode of the Principal Matters podcast, Jen Schwanke interviews PJ Caposey, a superintendent overseeing two school districts and a prolific author and speaker. Caposey, a three-time cancer survivor, shares his unique perspective on time management and leadership, driven by a core belief in maximizing life’s finite resources. He emphasizes the importance of aligning personal ego demands, societal norms, and the inner drive for greatness to achieve focus and productivity.

Caposey advocates for a critical approach to time management, encouraging listeners to challenge accepted norms and prioritize tasks that yield the greatest impact. He questions the effectiveness of open-door policies, suggesting open calendar policies as a more efficient alternative. Part of his success relies on setting boundaries between work and personal life, sharing his personal strategy of achieving a “zero inbox” to fully engage with family. Caposey believes in giving his all to each aspect of his life, whether it’s work or family time, and encourages listeners to find what works best for them.

Jen and Caposey dive into a conversation, dear to Jen’s heart, about systems and people. Caposey draws from his experience with the Baldrige framework in solidifying his belief that simplifying and streamlining systems can empower teachers and leaders by reducing bureaucracy and increasing efficiency. He encourages principals to connect the dots between various initiatives and focus on a few core values to drive school improvement efforts, noting the power of language and consistent messaging in aligning actions with values, citing examples from his own district.

Caposey acknowledges that not all principals have the support of a systems-focused superintendent and offers strategies for simplifying systems at the building level. He suggests conducting an initiative purge to identify and group related efforts, reducing feelings of disjointedness. He also encourages principals to identify their strengths and build a team that complements those strengths, rather than striving to be a generalist. For all school leaders, an ongoing focus on  continuous improvement and self-awareness will be an important component in success.

You can connect with PJ Caposey via the following:

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Welcome back to another Monday Matters. As school leaders across the country are wrapping up their school years, Jen and I are wishing everyone a happy summer! This week’s episode is a discussion of a chapter on coaching from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. Coaching is a reflective activity that is extremely valuable to people across different walks of life, and it is particularly valuable to those working in education. Jen shares a story she read about coaching fifteen years ago that really opened her eyes to the benefit of coaching. She also shares her experience of some complementary coaching she received from me a few weeks ago. Furthermore, there are many different types of coaching available to leaders. Coaching is something that has benefitted both Jen and myself greatly. If you would like to learn more about coaching or want to set up some coaching with Jen or myself at [email protected] or [email protected]. Thanks for listening to our conversation and thank you for doing what matters!

The post MONDAY MATTERS with Jen Schwanke and Will Parker – The Value of Coaching appeared first on Principal Matters.

Before this week’s interview, Will Parker answers a question from a student in Jen Schwanke’s graduate class at OSU.

The question is: Through your consulting work, what common human capital challenges do you see schools facing and how can principals proactively address them? (Question from Madeline Platfoot, 6th grade math teacher from Columbus, Ohio)

Listen in to hear his response and thank you for doing what matters!

Dr. Angela Diggs is an educational consultant with a background in special education, school administration, and school psychology. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kentucky State University, a Masters Degree in School Psychology from Governors State University; and a Doctorate in Education in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University. Dr. Diggs is known for her strong work ethic as well as her personable and down-to-earth leadership style. In addition to her work as an educational consultant, Dr. Diggs is a real estate agent, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and a mom to three children.

In this week’s episode of Principal Matters, Dr. Jen Schwanke speaks with Dr. Angela Diggs, a leader who has a background in special education, school administration, and school psychology— and even real estate. She is currently a director of special services at an elementary school district. 

The interview opens with Jen highlighting multiple hashtags that Dr. Diggs used on her LinkedIn profile. Each hashtag represents Dr. Diggs’s values and passions, including education as a gateway to success, the excellence and resilience fostered by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and the importance of women in leadership, She also touches on leadership coaching and the significance of a growth mindset, as well as the need for mental health awareness and overcoming imposter syndrome.

As a Black woman in educational leadership, Dr. Diggs has faced unique challenges, including being seen and heard, dealing with microaggressions, and ensuring psychological safety . She learned to be more vocal and direct while remaining respectful . Dr. Diggs also stresses the importance of principals understanding special education law to advocate for students’ rights and navigate discipline issues effectively.

To maintain well-being, Dr. Diggs advises paying attention to the body’s signals and recognizing the importance of social and emotional intelligence in leadership. She shares her personal journey of recognizing and addressing stress, which led her to prioritize self-care and gamify the process of beating stress. She emphasizes the importance of balancing work with personal life, including family, exercise, and healthy eating. She encourages leaders to value diversity, prioritize relationships and trust, and see themselves as lifelong learners.

Thank you for listening to the entire conversation and for doing what matters!

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-angela-diggs-332672201/

Website: https://www.leadingwell.online/

The post PMP453: Leading with Wellness in Mind with Dr. Angela Diggs appeared first on Principal Matters.

Hi, Principal Matters listeners! Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Monday Matters. This week, Jen Schanke and I are talking about chapter 10 from my book, Whose Permission Are You Waiting For? An Educator’s Guide to Doing What You Love. Before we jump into that discussion, Jen announces all of the places she will be at the ASCD/ITSE annual conference. Listen in to hear all of the details. If any listeners are planning to attend the ASCD/ITSE conference, Jen would love to connect with you!

Next, Jen and I discuss how summer is a great time for school leaders to take some time to reflect. We talk about scheduling reflection and engaging in both proactive reflection and reactive reflection. Additionally, we remind leaders of the benefit of reflecting with another person. Summer is often a good time for school leaders to do this as well, because there is more room on their schedules to connect with colleagues. At the end of the show, Jen and I share some reflection questions for listeners who may want to try reflecting, but are unsure where to start. The questions are:

Our challenge to listeners this week is to try to connect with a colleague and work through these questions together. If you would like to reflect with Jen or I, reach out to us via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

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