In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with David Carson, Superintendent at Gooding School District (ID). A longtime educator and rural leader, David shares a “listen first” approach to culture—learning community history, aligning decisions to local values, and celebrating wins so the positive story travels farther than the noise.

From districtwide PLCs and full-day kindergarten to a four-day instructional calendar with targeted Friday supports, David explains how Gooding focuses resources where they matter most. He also unpacks sustainable trust-building: transparent funding conversations, visible celebrations (yes, even the reader board on Main Street), and equipping staff as community storytellers who carry the message into neighborhoods and local businesses.

Nate and David close with practical guidance for new superintendents: build your mentor network, stay visible, and never stop asking great questions—especially when the stakes are high and the context is uniquely local.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome & David’s pathway into leadership

03:33 Meet Gooding SD: rural context, community identity

05:59 “Listen first”: learning the local story before decisions

09:03 Classroom visibility with principals—walk-throughs that build trust

12:02 Celebrating wins publicly (and why it’s harder than it sounds)

14:44 Using a community reader board to share data & good news

19:42 Post-pandemic recovery: PLCs, full-day K, monthly PD days

24:35 Four-day school week: why it works and Friday supports

28:32 Moving from five to four days—process, surveys, and buy-in

33:38 Sustainable funding in a rural context—reserves, grants, tradeoffs

38:00 Levies & facilities: telling the story so voters understand the “why”

41:38 Advice for first-time superintendents—mentors, networks, and balance

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re leading in a rural community—or anywhere trust is earned in conversations, not memos—this episode is a playbook. Learn how to pair curiosity with clarity, turn small wins into public momentum, and organize time (PLCs, PD days, targeted Fridays) so instruction and culture move together.

Follow Us
Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In this episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Jeremy Fewell, Superintendent of Mississinewa Community Schools (IN). From a district with high transfer enrollment and significant poverty, Jeremy walks through a “students-first always” approach: transparent communication, data-anchored decisions, and community partnerships that meet real needs.

They discuss how Mississinewa engages families early through strong preschool pathways, centers safety and access in operational calls (like weather delays), and uses a community-built strategic plan to align budgets, programming, and culture. Jeremy also shares how listening tours, system-to-systems meetings, and visible leadership (yes, serving lunch) strengthen trust and retention.

Nate and Jeremy dig into the push-pull of open enrollment, supporting local taxpayers while maintaining rich AP/dual-credit and CTE opportunities, and planning for legacy facilities, while keeping every decision tied back to what serves students best.

Timestamps

05:18 "District Challenges and Opportunities"

08:00 Building Relationships, Strategic Planning Success

12:17 Balancing Out-of-District Enrollment

13:45 "Decisions Anchored by Students"

17:01 Leading by Example in Decisions

22:24 "Fostering Growth Through Dialogue"

25:05 Community Collaboration in Rural Mississeno

26:47 School Partnerships Enhance Arts Access

31:09 School Funding Referendum Necessity

34:57 "Focus on Relationships First"

37:30 Breaking Generational Poverty Together

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you lead in a district where every decision must stretch resources without shrinking opportunity, this conversation will resonate. Jeremy offers a grounded playbook for aligning strategy with community values, balancing enrollment realities with taxpayer trust, and proving—daily—that student well-being and safety come first.

Connect with Jeremy Fewell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-fewell-ed-s-9b009893
Website: https://www.lewiscass.net/

Follow Us
Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About the Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.

In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with Dr. Chris Daughtry, Superintendent of Lewis Cass Schools (IN). With deep roots in rural education and service in the Air Force Reserve, Chris shares how he’s leading through listening, rebuilding trust, and shaping a strategic plan that reflects both fiscal responsibility and community pride.

From launching a districtwide strategic plan built on clear pillars to mentoring future leaders and refreshing 1950s facilities, Chris offers a grounded look at how rural districts can thrive by focusing on people, purpose, and place.

Nate and Chris also explore aligning district goals with community values, creating in-house instructional models, and redefining “success” through belonging, safety, and engagement.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Dr. Chris Daughtry

02:24 From classroom teacher to superintendent—mentorship and leadership growth

05:26 Defining success in a rural district: growth, safety, and fiscal stewardship

07:06 Listening tours and aligning goals with community values

10:18 Building a strategic plan rooted in district pillars

12:27 Preparing students for career pathways and modernizing facilities

13:47 Recruiting and retaining teachers in small-town Indiana

19:49 Mentoring future leaders and sustaining the pipeline

23:26 Elevating staff voice through collaboration and shared decision-making

34:42 Advice for rural superintendents—relationships first, always

Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you lead in a rural or close-knit district, Chris’s story will resonate. You’ll hear how small schools can lead with flexibility, how culture and strategy intertwine, and why listening first creates lasting change. It’s a masterclass in grounded leadership—rooted in community, built on relationships, and driven by doing what’s best for kids.

Connect with Dr. Chris Daughtry
Website: https://www.lewiscass.net/

Follow Us
Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq

About the Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.

👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.