In this episode of Little Wins, Karen Borchert sits down with Jordan Stuhan, a principal who leads with humility, intentionality, and a fierce belief in people over performance. From his very first day on the job, Jordan flipped the traditional playbook—choosing to listen, observe, and connect before making any sweeping changes.
In their conversation, Jordan shares how he's building a thriving culture rooted in trust, shared ownership, and relational leadership. From recess duty to vision-setting, every move he makes is grounded in a simple truth: people come first.
Whether you're a school leader, educator, or community member, this episode is full of actionable wins—small shifts with big impact.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
1. First, Build the People: Before focusing on academics or data, Jordan made it his mission to be seen, be known, and be trusted. His early days were spent in classrooms and hallways—not offices.
2. It’s Not Just the Principal’s Vision: Jordan invited teachers, students, and families into the process of defining the school’s identity. The result? Shared vision and deeper buy-in.
3. From Complaints to Committees: Instead of brushing off concerns, he turned staff frustrations into leadership opportunities, creating task forces that gave people ownership of the solution.
4. Recess Duty Revival: What started as a routine turned into a relationship-builder. Jordan’s presence during recess helped shift school climate, student behavior, and staff morale.
5. Connection over Correction: Rooted in the belief that relationships drive results, Jordan leads with care first—modeling the kind of compassion he hopes to see across his entire school.
Key Moments
03:48 Teaching Reevaluation and Improvement
07:16 Feedback Collection via Forms
11:23 "Embracing Leadership Beyond Bill"
14:35 Visible and Approachable Leadership
18:53 "Eagle Pride Embedded in Culture"
19:54 Student Spirit and Song Competition
24:10 Staffing Challenges and Team Building
28:11 Breaking Down Professional Silos
33:04 "Staff Gatherings: Morning Humor"
35:20 Playful Basketball Rivalry in School
37:02 "Kent City High School Invite"
43:00 "Journey of Authentic Educational Wins"
43:49 Building Strong School Culture
Connect with Jordan Stuhan
Website: https://www.kentcityschools.org/highschool/principals-message/
Follow Us
Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert
Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca
Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/
Alpaca 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, one meaningful win at a time.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures—one little win at a time.