In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Jeff Dock, the first-year assistant principal at Thornapple Kellogg High School in Middleville, Michigan. After nearly two decades as a teacher, coach, and mentor, Jeff has made the leap into school leadership bringing with him a “team first” mentality and a belief that real school culture is built one relationship, and one conversation, at a time.
In this candid conversation, Jeff shares the surprises and challenges he’s faced moving from a classroom of 120 students to leading a school community of nearly a thousand. He talks about the loss of day-to-day control, the creative solutions he’s found to stay visible like his mobile office cart and the little wins that have had a big impact, from handwritten notes home to engaging staff and students with cornhole tournaments and lunchtime games. You'll also hear his reflections on serving staff, following through, and the ongoing journey to build a safe, encouraging, and positive environment for every student.
Whether you’re a new administrator, a seasoned educator, or just curious about what it takes to build a vibrant school culture, you’ll find inspiration and practical takeaways in Jeff’s first-year lessons and leadership philosophy.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- "Take the Office to the Hallway": Jeff uses a mobile cart to stay visible while managing the behind-the-scenes work of school leadership.
- Notes Home: Teachers write handwritten postcards to students (and mail them!) to acknowledge effort, growth, and community. Every student gets one.
- Cornhole Culture: A full-blown lunchtime tournament, complete with brackets and staff-student teams, brought joy, connection, and school spirit.
- Student Connections: Jeff schedules short, informal check-ins with students who haven’t been to the office, not for discipline, but just to talk.
- Mission-Driven Whiteboard: In his office, Jeff keeps a visual reminder of his three goals: Serve the staff. Follow through. Be consistent.
Key Moments
06:25 Struggling to Be Present
09:15 "Improving On-the-Go School Leadership"
10:25 Adapting Leadership for Growth
13:20 Gaining Insights from Student Calls
18:56 Impactful Student-Teacher Recognition
20:56 Balancing Roles: Parent and Administrator
23:28 Unplanned Shelter in Place Response
29:10 "Team Dynamics: Staff-Student Balance"
31:33 "Consistency in Leadership Goals"
35:25 "Spontaneous Staff Meeting Recap"
37:46 Fostering Open Communication in Schools
40:47 Encouragement and Student Well-being
43:06 "Daily Positive Student Interactions"
47:06 Innovative Administrative Wins
🧵 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.