Empowered Educator: Leadership in Motion | Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, Teachers as Leaders, Teacher Transition

Creating a Culture of Care: Practical Advice for School Leaders with Dr. Chris Culver #147

• Dr. Mel Vandevort • Episode 147

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This episode dives deep into the real challenges and responsibilities of school leadership. From chaotic tornado drills to the emotional weight of imposter syndrome, we hit on what it really means to lead with clarity, communication, and care.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

  • Culture trickles down: When the culture’s bad for teachers, it's just as bad—if not worse—for students.
  • Communication is leadership: A tornado drill gone wrong shows how a lack of prep creates chaos and undermines safety.
  • Lead from the front: Don't ask staff to do things you wouldn't do. Be visible. Be present. Your presence reduces behavior issues and builds trust.
  • Delegate with purpose: New leaders, don’t try to carry it all. Let others help—build capacity, not burnout.
  • Comparison kills growth: Stay in your lane. Your leadership journey is yours—unique, valuable, and divinely designed.

đź’ˇ Power Surge for Aspiring Leaders:

"Don’t compare yourself to other leaders—find your own juju. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be." —Dr. Chris Culver


Dr. Christopher Culver is a highly sought-after, dynamic, and engaging speaker. He is a proud product of Oklahoma public education. Raised in a divorced family, he split his time between Tulsa during the week, a 300-acre farm in Wyandotte, OK, and several times throughout the year in Fayetteville, NC.
For more than a decade, Dr. Culver has served educational communities as a classroom teacher, secondary principal, and, most recently, as a cabinet-level administrator. He is the former President of the Oklahoma Association for Bilingual Education and the current Vice President of the Oklahoma Citizens for Education non-profit. Today, he serves as a speaker and consultant with expertise in kindness, culture, and understanding Gen Z/Gen A, and as an part-time professor at Oklahoma City University, where he teaches future teachers and leaders.
Earning an EdD through research on culture and the collective impact on motivation, Dr. Culver is dedicated to spreading kindness, improving mindsets, cultivating culture, and educating about Gen Z/A. He believes that if you cannot find the light, be the light!

Email: christopher@orangesparrow.org

Website: www.orangesparrow.org


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