Episode 52: The Principal’s Playbook: Building Trust, Retaining Teachers, and Driving Change (Unfiltered)

Send us a text

Culture is not a poster on the wall, it’s the engine that determines whether any strategy, policy, or program actually works. We walk through a practical, field-tested playbook for principals who want to build trust, retain great teachers, and lead lasting change without burning out or micromanaging.

First, we break down a 60–90–30 transition plan that starts with a building-wide listening tour. You’ll hear how five-minute conversations with every staff member surfaced the real patterns, wandering halls, phone distractions, and inconsistent expectations; and how a representative school improvement team turned those insights into smart, co-created systems. Together we launched an e-hall pass, hall monitor duty, and a personal device policy that removed phones from instructional time and restored focus. Because teacher leaders owned the rollout, buy-in came from the ground up.

We also go inside the practices that kept momentum: PLCs that compare learning by target and swap strategies, daily emails that create clarity, and a simple mantra, Be 1% Better, that encourages responsible risk-taking. The impact was measurable and human: higher daily attendance, a sharp drop in chronic absenteeism, calmer hallways, safer classrooms, and teachers who feel seen, valued, and trusted. You’ll learn how tiered attendance supports engage deans, liaisons, diversion partners, and families to reframe accountability as care. Along the way, we share retention moves you can use tomorrow—protecting workdays from unnecessary meetings, honoring veteran expertise, and investing in appreciation that brings teams together.

If you lead a rural 7–12 or a thousand-student high school, the sequence scales: listen widely, co-create solutions, define purpose, communicate clearly, and let staff lead. Grab the free toolkit and templates, try the 60–90–30 day transition plan, and start one change that compounds. If this playbook helps, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more leadership episodes, and leave a quick review so others can find us. What’s the first system you’ll strengthen this week?

Principals' Playbook Toolbox:

Podcast Recommendations:

Teach Better Mid Roll Network Ad

Support the show

Click Here to Connect with Principal JL: