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S.4 | Ep. 24: Love, Literacy, and Community with Principal Katherine Hunt
In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud speaks with Principal Katherine Hunt of McAlester Public Schools, a veteran educator with more than 40 years of service. Kathy shares her journey from classroom teacher to principal, the influence of her father’s legacy, and what it meant to transform a former junior high into a warm and joyful elementary campus.
She discusses her belief that every child deserves to feel loved, supported, and equipped with four essentials: learning to read, learning math, learning to write, and learning to be a good friend. Kathy also reflects on equity, community investment, the importance of arts and play, and the deep responsibility schools carry for children who face trauma, poverty, and instability.
Key Moments
00:00 Welcome and introduction to Principal Kathy Hunt
01:10 Following her father’s legacy in McAlester
03:50 Creating a joyful, kid centered environment
08:08 Realities of teacher spending and fundraising
09:41 Loving the kids and meeting them where they are
10:12 Four essentials: read, write, math, and friendship
18:39 Bond passage and shared resources
19:20 “Children are our future” and community responsibility
26:27 The role of arts, STEM, and enrichment
28:25 Why exposure and experience matter for all kids
37:44 Balancing tech with hands on learning
43:38 Supporting educators and honoring the profession
Why You Will Love This Episode
This conversation offers a heartfelt look at what it means to lead with love, purpose, and community pride. Kathy brings honesty, wisdom, and decades of lived experience as she shares why schools must be safe, joyful places where every child feels seen and valued.
Connect with Katherine Hunt
District Website: https://mpsbuffs.org
Follow Us
Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/
About Unlock 360°
Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, one breakthrough at a time.
Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to Unlock 360° for more.
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By Wendy York DavoudIn this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud speaks with Principal Katherine Hunt of McAlester Public Schools, a veteran educator with more than 40 years of service. Kathy shares her journey from classroom teacher to principal, the influence of her father’s legacy, and what it meant to transform a former junior high into a warm and joyful elementary campus.
She discusses her belief that every child deserves to feel loved, supported, and equipped with four essentials: learning to read, learning math, learning to write, and learning to be a good friend. Kathy also reflects on equity, community investment, the importance of arts and play, and the deep responsibility schools carry for children who face trauma, poverty, and instability.
Key Moments
00:00 Welcome and introduction to Principal Kathy Hunt
01:10 Following her father’s legacy in McAlester
03:50 Creating a joyful, kid centered environment
08:08 Realities of teacher spending and fundraising
09:41 Loving the kids and meeting them where they are
10:12 Four essentials: read, write, math, and friendship
18:39 Bond passage and shared resources
19:20 “Children are our future” and community responsibility
26:27 The role of arts, STEM, and enrichment
28:25 Why exposure and experience matter for all kids
37:44 Balancing tech with hands on learning
43:38 Supporting educators and honoring the profession
Why You Will Love This Episode
This conversation offers a heartfelt look at what it means to lead with love, purpose, and community pride. Kathy brings honesty, wisdom, and decades of lived experience as she shares why schools must be safe, joyful places where every child feels seen and valued.
Connect with Katherine Hunt
District Website: https://mpsbuffs.org
Follow Us
Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/
About Unlock 360°
Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, one breakthrough at a time.
Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to Unlock 360° for more.