→ How did a Virginia school principal help to merge two rival schools into one?

→ How can we build positive school culture during times of change and transition?

→ How can we translate our school mission and values into meaningful daily practices?

Timestamps from This Episode

0:00:00 - Derek Cantrell was named the 2026 Outstanding Principal of Virginia

1:45 - The story of the merger in Better Together

5:08 - Honoring the traditions of both schools

8:33 - Including student voice during the transition

12:48 - Biggest lessons learned from the merger

14:47 - Retaining teachers, logistical challenges

16:57 - Improving attendance and engagement post-merger

22:36 - Reinforcing school values on a daily basis

24:00 - Using AI tools to improve lessons

28:00 - Using AI to improve efficiency as a school administrator

31:59 - One hope for the coming school year

33:14 - How and where to connect with Derek online

About This Guest, Derek Cantrell

Derek is the principal of Alleghany High School and was named 2026 Outstanding High School Principal of Virginia. He is the author of Better Together: Building One School, One Culture, and One Community from Two Rivals, sharing lessons learned from leading a successful school consolidation while building a unified culture focused on relationships, student success, and community. Derek is a frequent presenter on school culture, leadership, and practical applications of AI in education, helping school leaders create systems that put people first while improving outcomes for students and staff.

Connect with Derek Cantrell on LinkedIn and on X @derekcatch19.

Visit the home of Teachers on Fire at https://teachersonfire.net/.

Song Track Credit: Tropic Fuse by French Fuse - retrieved from the YouTube Audio Library.