{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Lebra Podcast","title":"Building Culture, Trust, and Community Partnerships with Dr. Katy Eastes","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1646,"description":"In this episode of the Lebra Podcast, host Nate Lichte sits down with Dr. Katy Eastes, Superintendent of Batesville Community School Corporation, to discuss the power of culture-driven leadership, thoughtful transitions, and building trust as a first-time superintendent.\n\nAfter spending her entire career in a neighboring district, Dr. Eastes reflects on her journey from elementary classroom teacher to superintendent. Along the way, she shares how mentors consistently encouraged her to take on new leadership opportunities and why intentionally learning every aspect of district leadership, from special education to school finance, prepared her for the superintendent's role.\n\nThe conversation explores what it looks like to step into a district with a strong legacy while honoring its history. Dr. Eastes explains how her first months were dedicated to listening, learning, and building relationships with board members, administrators, staff, and community leaders before making significant changes. She also shares how surveys, focus groups, and AI-assisted analysis helped shape the hiring process for multiple new principals while keeping staff voices at the center of every decision.\n\nNate and Dr. Eastes also discuss her doctoral research on school culture and the ten leadership habits shared by superintendents who deeply understand the culture of their districts. From being authentically present in schools to delegating with trust and intention, she explains why culture cannot be changed overnight but can be strengthened through consistent leadership behaviors.\nTimestamps\n\n03:20 Preparing for district leadership\n\n04:39 Introducing Batesville Community Schools\n\n06:06 Learning from a longtime mentor\n\n08:56 The first 90 days as superintendent\n\n10:25 Using surveys to hire principals\n\n12:12 Why school culture matters\n\n13:07 Research on leadership and culture\n\n15:11 Delegating with trust\n\n17:29 Building trust as a new leader\n\n21:46 Honoring district history\n\n23:16 Partnering...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/gwebu6vYiKxAI1HaurGwGAcdsNTaooai07Q924_P4Lg/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yNDc4/MmQ3OGM5ZGYxYWIy/YWRjNzljYWZjOTFi/MmFmZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}