In this episode of Little Wins, host Karen Borchert sits down with Evan Hecker, principal and culture-builder, to talk about the power of relationships, visibility, and gratitude in leadership. Evan shares how he’s made trust the foundation of his work, why celebrating small successes fuels momentum, and how giving both students and teachers a voice leads to lasting change.

From morning greetings to empowering student leaders, Evan shows us how the “little wins” of daily practice add up to big impact in education. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep joy alive in the hard work of teaching and leading, this conversation is a masterclass in authenticity and energy.

💡 Little Wins in This Episode

1. Build Culture Before Systems: Evan prioritizes trust and relationships before implementing systems, knowing culture must come first.
2. Leadership Through Visibility: By showing up in classrooms and greeting students, he models what presence looks like in practice.
3. Start Meetings with Wins: Every leadership meeting begins by recognizing success, fueling morale and momentum.
4. Turning Feedback into Action: Teachers’ and students’ voices directly shape decisions—closing the loop with transparency.
5. Leading with Gratitude: Evan makes it a habit to thank staff and students, reinforcing a culture of recognition and belonging.

Key Moments

06:10 Reuniting with Former Students

09:48 Collaborative Teams and Commitments

12:38 Fostering Growth and Support

13:58 "Discussing Success in Meetings"

19:54 Celebrating Positive Behaviors with High Five Cards

23:44 Employee Recognition Letters Home

26:44 Staff Appreciation Slideshow & Treats

28:05 "Popsicle Hotline Superintendent"

32:26 "Confidence in Sellable Lessons"

35:41 GSL Sportsmanship Meeting

38:08 Supporting Students Amid Challenges

43:06 "Creating Joyful, Caring Culture"

Connect with Evan Hecker

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-hecker-17b1b4164

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.

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