In this episode, host Karen Borchert sits down with Bill Gallagher, Principal of Northshore High School in Slidell, Louisiana, where a diverse community, a family feel, and a whole lot of creativity shape daily life.
A former coach who stepped into the principal role mid-pandemic, Bill has spent the last six years building a culture rooted in belonging, recognition, humor, and steady leadership through change. From TikTok morning messages to “Fantastic Friday” phone calls, from empowering teachers to letting seniors bring a lawnmower on “Anything But a Backpack Day,” Bill shows what happens when school feels human, joyful, and connected.
Together, Karen and Bill dive into culture-building that’s both intentional and fun and why talking to students may be the simplest, most powerful leadership move of all.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- About All Kids: Bill’s three-word culture mantra—and why inclusiveness is the heartbeat of Northshore.
- Traditions That Stick: How post-COVID improvisation on the football field sparked new student-led rituals.
- Empowering Staff: From eliminating mass emails to letting teachers run the school’s “Future Focus” night.
- The Daily TikTok: Why a 60-second video builds connection, consistency, and joy across a 1500-student campus.
- Fantastic Friday Calls: Celebrations that make parents cry happy tears—and are now spreading across the district.
- Growing Together: How shifting the entire district to block scheduling became a collective exercise in trust and growth mindset.
Key Moments
00:01 Introducing Principal Bill Gallagher and Northshore High School
04:22 A family of educators & the unexpected path to leadership
06:58 Becoming principal overnight… in the middle of COVID
10:17 New traditions & letting students lead the fun
15:02 Empowering a 165-person staff through ownership and trust
16:35 Northshore Notes & the zero mass-emails policy
20:02 Future Focus Night and letting teachers shine
24:29 The power of being “just people” with your team
25:04 Why Bill makes a TikTok video
every school day
32:11 Fantastic Friday phone calls and spreading recognition
36:41 How student & staff culture fuel each other
37:15 Moving to block scheduling—and navigating it together
🧵 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.