In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert sits down with Matt Smith, Principal of Kiski Area Senior High School in Pennsylvania, a hometown leader proving that joy and connection can transform school culture.

A proud Kiski graduate himself, Matt returned to lead his alma mater 30 years later with a clear philosophy: be visible, be authentic, and celebrate every win, big or small. From music between classes to his “CAVS LEAD” ticket system for leadership and empathy, to showing up on the school’s live morning show, Matt has created a culture where everyone feels seen and valued.

He shares how a “senior prank” became a driveway breakfast, why he eats lunch at a student desk in the hallway, and how a small idea like purposeful positivity can ripple through an entire building.

💡 Little Wins in This Episode:

• Purposefully Positive: A simple mindset that reframes every conversation toward what’s working.

  
  

• CAVS LEAD Tickets: Students and staff recognized for leadership, empathy, accountability, and determination.

  
  

• Visible Leadership: Morning announcements and hallway lunches as daily connection points.

  
  

• Joy in the Hallways: Replacing bells with music to make every transition fun.

  
  

• Hire for Heart: Why connecting with kids matters more than the perfect interview answer.

  
  

• Aspiring Educators Program: Building the next generation of teachers through early classroom experience.

Key Moments

00:01 Welcome to Little Wins

01:19 What you feel when you walk Kiski’s halls

03:35 Coming home: leading his alma mater

05:24 Year 1 as principal—being himself and setting tone

07:08 “Purposefully positive” leadership and hiring the right team

08:50 The CAVS LEAD ticket system

13:53 Music instead of bells: joy in transitions

19:26 Morning announcements and hallway visibility

25:29 The musical cameo: celebrating student work

31:48 Aspiring Educators program

37:59 Senior sunrise, sunset, and student-led traditions

42:30 The senior prank breakfast

44:26 The power of being yourself

Connect with Matthew Smith

Website: https://highschool.kiskiarea.com/ 

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🧵 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—one meaningful win at a time.

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