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.

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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.

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