In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Jordan Perez, Superintendent of Russell USD 407 in Russell, Kansas, to talk about what it really means to lead with presence, purpose, and care.
Jordan leads a small rural district serving about 750 students, where leadership stretches far beyond classrooms. From guiding a major bond election and facilities redesign to driving bus routes and coaching junior high volleyball, Jordan believes trust is built by showing up and doing the work alongside others.
A former elementary teacher and coach, Jordan brings a “kids first, invested” mindset to every decision. Whether it’s celebrating staff birthdays, sending daily morning emails to keep everyone connected, recognizing students at board meetings, or building career pathways through CTE programs like welding and CNA, his focus stays rooted in relationships, opportunity, and community pride.
Together, Karen and Jordan explore how modeling commitment, celebrating people, and staying close to students can transform school culture and strengthen retention, trust, and joy in a district.
Little Wins in This Episode
- Leading the Bond Process: How open steering committees and community voice shaped a needs-based bond proposal.
- Right-Sizing the District: Closing buildings, improving efficiency, and making hard decisions rooted in data and care.
- Still a Coach: Why Jordan coaches junior high volleyball and how it deepens trust with students and families.
- Everyday Visibility: Driving bus routes, filling in where needed, and being present in schools daily.
- Celebration Culture: Daily emails, birthday notes, staff recognition, and student shout-outs that build morale.
- Career Pathways: Launching welding and CNA programs tied directly to local workforce needs.
Key Moments
00:58 Inside Russell USD 407
02:37 What a superintendent really does during a bond election
06:14 Studying systems and district efficiency
08:12 Closing buildings and right-sizing the district
09:34 From classroom teacher to superintendent
11:22 Creating access through youth sports opportunities
13:17 Coaching as leadership
23:00 Celebrating staff and recognition at board meetings
26:00 Daily communication and morning emails
29:03 Creating a family feel across schools
31:16 Launching CTE programs
33:10 Welding, CNA, and workforce alignment
36:23 Lightning Round: culture words, little win, advice
🧵 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.
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What is Little Wins?
Little Wins is a podcast that shines a light on the small moments making a big impact in schools. Hosted by Karen Borchert, each episode features courageous conversations with principals, heads of school, and superintendents who are building trust, sparking belonging, and shaping culture—one hallway celebration, heartfelt gesture, or coffee-fueled conversation at a time.
Because in education, it’s the little things that often matter most—and they’re the reason people stay.