Kathleen Eckert is the author of School Transformation Through Teacher Appreciation and a principal dedicated to building cultures where teachers feel valued and supported. Currently leading Central High School in Keller ISD, she balances high expectations with connection and belonging, bringing practical, proven strategies to inspire and equip school leaders.

  Your book centers on teacher appreciationas a lever for transformation. What was the moment—or pattern—you noticed as a principal that made you realize appreciation wasn’t just “nice,” but necessary for real school change?

  You talk a lot about giving teachersvoice. What are some concrete ways you’ve done this at Central High School, and how has teacher voice directly influenced decisions, innovation, or student outcomes?

  Many leaders worry that focusing onconnection and belonging might lower expectations. How do you balance high expectations with genuine care and fun—and why do you believe those things actually strengthen performance rather than weaken it?

  You’ve created a culture where teachers arewilling to try new things and give 110%. What specific leadership moves helped shift teachers from compliance to commitment? And what mistakes did you have to unlearn along the way?

  For principals and school leaders listeningwho feel stuck in survival mode, what’s one practical strategy from your book that they could implement this week to start changing their culture toward appreciation and trust?

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