Dr. Reda Othman sat with Joseph LeRoy, Principal of South Windsor High School, to explore what it takes to step into an established school culture and turn it toward a shared vision — without demanding that people change who they are first. Joe shares how he framed his first year around a single word, "moments," and how two early moves — presence and promotion — signaled to students, staff, and community who his leadership team would be. He walks through how three words — communicate, consistent, and care — became the daily anchor for how he shows up, and why "dream, achieve, inspire" only works when it stops being a poster on the wall and starts living in day-to-day interactions. Along the way, Joe tells the story of a 1-and-15 soccer season early in his coaching career, and what it taught him about building belief brick by brick when the scoreboard offers nothing to celebrate. He also shares a formative lesson from a summer landscaping job — a story about weed whackers, 45-degree angles, and a boss who taught him never to ask anyone to do a job he wouldn't do himself. For principals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, and anyone stepping into a leadership role where the culture is already in place, this is a grounded, practical look at what consistency, care, and clarity actually look like in practice. Key Takeaways Discover how framing a first year around "moments" helped Joe build immediate connection with students, staff, and community at a school where he was the new principal. Learn why Joe's first strategic move — presence and promotion — brought a branding mindset into a school setting that typically avoids it, and why celebrating people on the walls shifts how they see themselves. Understand how a 1-and-15 soccer season early in Joe's career taught him to build belief "brick by brick" when wins weren't available to anchor the culture. Apply Joe's three-word leadership identity — communicate, consistent, care — as a daily authenticity check, not a slogan. Rethink how to unify a team of associate principals you didn't hire, using personality insight, shared leadership, and clear processes to turn individuals into a unit. Adopt Joe's guiding principle — "don't count the days, make the days count" — and his servant-leader rule of never asking a teammate to do a job he wouldn't do himself. Hear why a Portrait of a Graduate — engagement, empowerment, resilience, social consciousness — only matters when it shows up in daily practice, not in the strategic plan.
