What does it take to turn around a failing school without losing yourself in the process?

In this episode of Transformational Educators, host Dr. Matthew Flippen sits down with Dr. Karen Engle, Superintendent of Clear Creek ISD, whose leadership transformed Clearview, a struggling, at-risk alternative campus, into one of the district’s highest-performing schools. Recognized as a finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award, Dr. Engle shares how listening, learning, and responding became the foundation for deep cultural change and academic success.

Whether you’re a new leader stepping into a tough role or a veteran facing burnout, this conversation offers a blueprint for how to lead with trust, shift toxic culture, and build a thriving school community from the inside out.

If you’ve ever wondered how real, lasting school transformation actually happens, this is the episode for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Every student at Clearview came in with a record of failure or risk factors
• Staff culture mirrored student struggle, mistrust, burnout, and hopelessness
• Dr. Engle began her leadership by listening deeply and building trust
• “Quick wins” like schedule changes helped create early momentum
• Removing harmful outside consultants restored staff dignity and morale
• Her leadership model: “Listen. Learn. Respond.”
• Campus went from nearly failing to one student away from exemplary status
• Staff shifted from doubt to ownership of the transformation
• The same leadership approach is now used district-wide
• Servant leadership works when paired with urgency and care

BEST MOMENTS
00:02:28. “They all came into that campus from a background of less than success in school.”
00:03:11. “You have to want to get better. That’s not just true for children. Adults need to want to get better as well.”
00:04:00. “The culture was almost like the kids… a malaise, a feeling of failure.”
00:05:24. “They didn’t give me a lot of credit for that high school background. It was discouraging.”
00:05:49. “I looked for low-hanging fruit, quick wins. One of the first things I did was change the master schedule.”
00:07:02. “The consultant was kind of degrading. It was not okay. So we ended the contract.”
00:09:47. “I said, okay, we can do this. You all are good enough.”
00:10:30. “Listen, learn, and respond. Don’t wait.”
00:12:36. “At the end of two years, we were one student away from exemplary.”

Transformational Educators | School Leadership Stories

Thank you for listening to Transformational Educators, where we share real stories of servant leadership, trust-building, and purpose-driven change in schools.

🔗 Explore Gracelyn University’s online programs and leadership resources:
https://www.gracelyn.edu

📖 Read Dr. Matthew Flippen’s new book, Win With Your Talent Pipeline:
https://zurl.co/EDveZ

📅 New episodes release every Thursday at 6 AM CT.

Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformationalEducators?sub_confirmation=1

If today’s conversation inspired you to lead with courage and care, share it with another educator or school leader. Together we can build schools that truly transform lives.

Produced by APodcastGeek
https://apodcastgeek.com

What if the secret to transforming a school isn’t a new program, but a new posture of leadership?

In this inaugural episode of Transformational Educators, Dr. Darrell Floyd, Superintendent of Blue Ridge ISD and former Regional Superintendent of the Year, shares how he turned around a fractured high school by building trust, empowering teachers, and focusing on what truly matters. With over four decades in education, Dr. Floyd reveals how relational leadership and practical strategy can bring struggling campuses back to life.

Whether you're a principal, aspiring leader, or district administrator, this episode will equip you with tools to lead with courage, care, and clarity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Why relationships are the foundation of lasting campus change
• The "three R’s" of school transformation: Rigor, Relevance, Relationships
• How to start building trust as a new principal
• The importance of sitting with every staff member one-on-one
• Why it’s okay to say “I don’t know” as a leader
• How credibility is built through follow-up and follow-through
• Why empowering teacher-leaders can reshape school culture
• The 4 C’s every student needs to succeed
• Strategies to retain great teachers by improving morale
• How a struggling school went from “a 2 to a 9” in culture and climate

BEST MOMENTS

00:02:39. “This is my 40th year in public education… my 29th year as superintendent of schools.”
00:04:22. “That was Queen City High School, and I was principal there in 1992. That campus needed transformation.”
00:05:25. “Of the three R's, I would say that the relationship piece is the most important one.”
00:07:11. “She comes into my office and shuts the door and says, ‘When you're good, you're really good. But when you're not, you're not.’”
00:08:49. “My advice to young principals is to find a way to sit down with everybody one on one.”
00:10:14. “It's okay to say ‘I don't know’ when you don't know. But follow it with ‘I'll find out and get back to you.’”
00:12:22. “We want them to have good communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity.”
00:14:04. “We were able to transform that campus. The climate and morale went from about a 2 to about a 9.”

Transformational Educators | School Leadership Stories

Thank you for listening to Transformational Educators, where we share real stories of servant leadership, trust-building, and purpose-driven change in schools.

🔗 Explore Gracelyn University’s online programs and leadership resources:
https://www.gracelyn.edu

📖 Read Dr. Matthew Flippen’s new book, Win With Your Talent Pipeline:
https://zurl.co/EDveZ

📅 New episodes release every Thursday at 6 AM CT.

Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformationalEducators?sub_confirmation=1

If today’s conversation inspired you to lead with courage and care, share it with another educator or school leader. Together we can build schools that truly transform lives.

Produced by APodcastGeek
https://apodcastgeek.com

The most impactful educators don’t just teach lessons, they inspire change, build communities, and lead with purpose.

Transformational Educators is a podcast for school leaders, teacher-leaders, superintendents, and change-makers who want to grow as leaders and shape the future of education. Hosted by Dr. Matthew Flippen, President of Gracelyn University, each episode features real stories and lived experiences from the people driving school transformation.

From leadership strategies and instructional coaching to culture change and professional development, this podcast brings you the conversations that matter most. You’ll hear how educators overcome challenges, inspire growth in their schools, and lead with vision and purpose.

Whether you’re a principal, teacher, superintendent, or aspiring leader, Transformational Educators is your guide to professional growth, school improvement, and purposeful leadership.

New episodes every Thursday at 6am CT.

Growing leaders...one story at a time.

Transformational Educators | School Leadership Stories

Thank you for listening to Transformational Educators, where we share real stories of servant leadership, trust-building, and purpose-driven change in schools.

🔗 Explore Gracelyn University’s online programs and leadership resources:
https://www.gracelyn.edu

📖 Read Dr. Matthew Flippen’s new book, Win With Your Talent Pipeline:
https://zurl.co/EDveZ

📅 New episodes release every Thursday at 6 AM CT.

Watch and subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TransformationalEducators?sub_confirmation=1

If today’s conversation inspired you to lead with courage and care, share it with another educator or school leader. Together we can build schools that truly transform lives.

Produced by APodcastGeek
https://apodcastgeek.com