Episode 423

full
Published on:

31st Aug 2025

Building School Culture with your Heart, Head and Hands

Summary:

Join C.T. and guest Heidi Fagerness, principal of Chehalis Middle School in Washington State, as they discuss building positive school culture through heart, head, and hands leadership. Heidi shares her daily rituals of gratitude, commitment, and forgiveness that keep her centered and inspired to lead with love and care. Drawing from over 30 years of experience, she emphasizes the power of intentional themes to unify staff and students, fostering hope, perspective, and connection. This episode highlights practical strategies for creating psychological safety, strengthening relationships, and leading with empathy to build a supportive, resilient school community where everyone can thrive.

Key Takeaways:

  • Heart, Head, and Hands Leadership: Effective school culture is built through emotional connection (heart), clear thinking and planning (head), and practical action (hands), all infused with love and care.
  • Daily Rituals for Mindset: Practicing gratitude, commitment, and forgiveness daily helps Heidi maintain balance, center herself, and lead with positive energy even on challenging days.
  • Intentional Themes: Setting a meaningful theme each year creates focus, unity, and motivation among staff and students, influencing behavior, mindset, and school climate.
  • Building Trust through Listening: Active listening and creating psychological safety support authentic relationships and empower staff and students to grow and thrive.
  • Restorative Practices: Emphasizing reflection, accountability, and learning from mistakes fosters a supportive discipline approach that prioritizes growth over punishment.
  • Personal Growth and Reflection: Continuous self-awareness and openness to feedback are vital for effective leadership and navigating difficult moments with grace.
  • Community Engagement: Strong partnerships with families, staff, and local organizations contribute to a vibrant, supportive school environment.


Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Building Culture

00:44 Meet Our Inspiring Guest: Heidi Frans

01:27 Heidi's Journey and Leadership Philosophy

06:45 The Role of Gratitude in Leadership

07:18 Daily Rituals for Success

11:19 The Power of Themes in School Culture

17:09 Instilling Hope in Education

17:37 Recognizing and Celebrating Educators

18:16 Empowering Students Through Movement and Voice

18:58 Developing Themes and Collaborative Planning

20:40 Supporting Individual Students

22:24 Creating a Positive Environment for Discipline

26:31 Teaching Behavior and Accountability

27:35 Seeking Inspiration Beyond Borders

30:58 Reflecting on Global Educational Experiences

33:40 Leading with Love and Gratitude


Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Heidi Fagerness: linkedin.com/heidi-fagerness



Whether you're currently wearing the principal badge, aspiring to the big chair, or teaching while secretly taking notes on what you'd do differently, Principal Office Hours delivers actionable strategies you can implement faster than a student being sent to detention.


Subscribe now and join the faculty lounge conversation that's too real for the school board meeting. New episodes drop every week.


Warning: May cause spontaneous leadership growth and occasional inappropriate laughter during staff meetings.

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About the Podcast

Principal Office Hours
Real principals. Real talk. No hall passes required.
Finally—a podcast that proves school principals have personalities (and killer insights, too). Every week, join us for candid conversations with K-12 principals who are navigating the beautiful chaos of educational leadership without losing their minds or sense of humor.

Each 40-minute episode features real principals sharing what actually works in school leadership—from handling helicopter parents and budget nightmares to building school culture that doesn't make everyone roll their eyes. Consider this your professional development that doesn't feel like professional development.

Our guests aren't afraid to share their epic fails alongside their victories. They'll tell you about the initiative that spectacularly bombed during assembly, right before revealing how they turned their school's reading scores around. It's educational leadership with the BS filter turned off.

Whether you're currently wearing the principal badge, aspiring to the big chair, or teaching while secretly taking notes on what you'd do differently, Principal Office Hours delivers actionable strategies you can implement faster than a student being sent to detention.

Subscribe now and join the faculty lounge conversation that's too real for the school board meeting. New episodes drop every week. Warning: May cause spontaneous leadership growth and occasional inappropriate laughter during staff meetings.

About your host

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CheeTung Leong