Little Wins

About Little Wins

Little Wins is a podcast that shines a light on the small moments making a big impact in schools. Hosted by Karen Borchert, each episode features courageous conversations with principals, heads of school, and superintendents who are building trust, sparking belonging, and shaping culture—one hallway celebration, heartfelt gesture, or coffee-fueled conversation at a time. Because in education, it’s the little things that often matter most—and they’re the reason people stay.

Publisher

Alpaca

Category

education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

30 May 2025

Latest episode

18 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Feb 2026

   The Heartbeat of the Building: Stacey Green on Culture at Stockton Grade School

   In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert talks with Stacey Green, Elementary Principal and longtime leader at Stockton Grade School in rural Kansas. Stacey has served her district for 36 years and has been principal for 13, leading a unique PreK–8 school where culture isn’t a strategy it’s the heartbeat of the building. Stacey shares practical, highly repeatable ways to build belonging for staff and students: a simple “tap out” support system for tough days, staff-to-staff celebration routines, a joy-fueled Hoopla Committee, and High Five Fridays that bring community members into the school day in a fun, welcoming way. You’ll also hear about Stockton’s Foster Grandparent Program (intergenerational classroom support), their mixed-age community groups that stay together from kindergarten through 8th grade, and the mindset shifts Stacey uses to keep culture strong—like noticing effort over compliance and turning complaining into curiosity. 💡 Little Wins in This Episode: Culture as the heartbeat: Leading a PreK–8 building with presence and care Tap-out support: Normalizing quick breaks for teachers on hard days Foster Grandparent Program: Intergenerational support that builds belonging The Power of Mattering: Noticing, affirming, and showing people they’re needed Hoopla Committee: Staff-led fun that sustains morale and joy High Five Fridays: Community members welcoming students into the day Mixed-age community groups: Same group and leaders from kindergarten to 8th grade Key Moments 01:44 36 years in one district 03:30 Long-term relationships with families 05:54 Stacey’s leadership mindset 07:26 Navigating retirements and staffing transitions 09:50 Culture as the heartbeat of the building 11:56 Peer learning and staff celebrations 13:49 Foster Grandparent Program 15:30 The Power of Mattering 17:14 Intergenerational impact on students 18:23 Trauma-informed practices 21:04 CharacterStrong and mental health supports 23:25 Visibility and daily teacher support 25:07 Tap-out in action 28:27 Changes in the profession Connect with Stacey Green LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-green-35186283 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-green-35186283)Website: https://www.usd271.com/ (https://www.usd271.com/) Follow Us Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert) Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca (https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca) Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/ (https://www.getalpaca.com/)Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library (https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library) 🧵 About the Podcast: Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.

2. 

   11 Feb 2026

   Leadership Must Be Present: Superintendent James Womack on Service, Culture, and Momentum

   In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with James Womack, Superintendent of Valley View Independent School District in North Texas, a small but mighty district serving about 930 students with deep community ties and high expectations. James brings more than 20 years in education and 14 years in leadership to his work, grounded in servant leadership, presence, and relentless belief in people. Less than 18 months into his tenure, he stepped into leadership during one of the district’s hardest moments, arriving just after a devastating tornado impacted the community and families he was called to serve. From that moment forward, James has led Valley View with visible action and heart. Whether he is standing in car line on cold mornings, hand-delivering retention stipends to staff, chasing students to competitions late into the night, or building systems that support growth and accountability, James believes leadership must be present and actionable. Together, Karen and James explore how culture shifts through small, intentional wins, why servant leadership requires both humility and high standards, and how engaging, encouraging, and empowering people creates momentum that transforms schools. 💡 Little Wins in This Episode: Leadership in Crisis: Showing up immediately after a tornado and serving alongside the community. Servant Leadership Redefined: Why humility and high expectations go hand in hand. Presence That Matters: Being visible in classrooms, car lines, games, and performances. Retention with Dignity: Hand-delivering equitable retention stipends to all staff. Celebrating People Creatively: Bobbleheads, Thor hammers, thank-you notes, and meaningful recognition. Engage. Encourage. Empower.: The three principles driving culture change at Valley View. Key Moments 01:15 Life in a small but growing North Texas district 02:45 From criminal justice to education 05:01 Arriving in Valley View after a tornado 06:55 Leadership during crisis and community healing 09:59 “Being part of them, not them being part of me” 10:08 Servant leadership and common misconceptions 12:16 Friday Night Lights and everyday presence 14:52 Modeling leadership for staff 16:58 Weekly admin meetings and breaking silos 29:55 Academic progress and momentum 32:33 Celebrating students and staff creatively 34:25 The three Es: engage, encourage, empower 36:19 Core values and the “EAGLES” framework Connect with James Womack LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-james-womack-538445 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/c-james-womack-538445b7/?trk=public_post_feed-actor-name) Follow Us Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert) Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca (https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca) Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/ (https://www.getalpaca.com/)Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library (https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library) 🧵 About the Podcast: Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.

3. 

   4 Feb 2026

   Small District, Strong Culture: Christopher Mason on Community at Quitman ISD

   In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Christopher Mason, Superintendent of Schools at Quitman ISD in East Texas, a district serving about 1,200 students with a deep sense of connection, pride, and belonging. With nearly two decades in education and a background that includes coaching, teaching history, and pastoral ministry, Christopher leads with empathy, deep listening, and a long-term view of stewardship. At Quitman ISD, culture is built intentionally through trust, presence, and a shared mission that guides daily decisions. That mission, “Every child. Every chance. Every day.”, is more than a phrase. It serves as a decision-making filter for hiring, budgeting, leadership development, and classroom practice. From staff listening tours to leadership-focused meetings and the BUILD committee, Christopher shows how consistent, human-centered leadership creates a culture where people feel seen, supported, and proud to serve. Together, Karen and Christopher explore how relational trust, intentional leadership development, and a focus on stewardship shape a district culture rooted in service, integrity, and joy. 💡 Little Wins in This Episode: Start and End Together: Why Quitman ISD now always kicks off and closes the year with the whole staff in one room. Real Transparency: How a simple budget comparison and regular updates calmed fears after pay cuts. The 13th Check: Returning the 2% reduction in a single end-of-year payment and what it signaled to staff. Designing for Autonomy: Restructuring buildings, principals’ roles, and a 6–12 activities director to shrink workloads and sharpen focus. Presence Without Micromanaging: Visiting every building weekly, staying in hallways, and letting principals lead instruction. Key Moments 01:14 First impressions of Quitman ISD culture 02:03 “Every child, every chance, every day” 04:57 Christopher’s path into education 08:06 Mentorship and leadership growth 10:28 Identifying leaders “on the bubble” 13:53 Relational trust and visibility 16:00 Leadership meetings focused on growth 18:19 Listening tours and staff voice 21:10 Small changes with big impact 24:08 Stewardship and legacy 27:18 Culture in a small rural district 30:41 Three culture words: service, integrity, fun 34:01 Little win: the BUILD committee 36:11 Advice for educators right now Connect with Christopher Mason LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mason-424723a8 (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mason-424723a8)Website : https://www.quitmanisd.net/ (https://www.quitmanisd.net/) Follow Us Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert) Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca (https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca) Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/ (https://www.getalpaca.com/)Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library (https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library) 🧵 About the Podcast: Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.

Who has been a guest on Little Wins

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Lindsay Pietrzak
• Jeff Dock
• Dr Amber S Henderson
• Dr Luke Beall
• Sheila Taylor

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

1,945

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 66 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

93

Social presence

0

YouTube

68

Engagement

32

Contact Little Wins

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.