# Episode 284: Great Schools Start with Great Leadership Teams

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaning-into-leadership-4658926/episode-284-great-schools-start-with-great-leadership-teams
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaning-into-leadership-4658926/episode-284-great-schools-start-with-great-leadership-teams.md
Podcast: [Leaning into Leadership](https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaning-into-leadership-4658926)
Published: 2026-06-21T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://leaning-into-leadership.captivate.fm/episode/episode-284-great-schools-start-with-great-leadership-teams
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/1de9bd55-07ad-4d8e-9442-be8777bf48e2.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/leaning-into-leadership-4658926/episodes/episode-284-great-schools-start-with-great-leadership-teams
Duration seconds: 2837

## Resource

What does it take to build a leadership team that truly works? In this episode of Leaning Into Leadership , Dr. Darrin Peppard sits down with Marlene Rombach, Rocio Rhoads, and Christina Shires—the leadership team at Locust Grove Middle School in Locust Grove, Virginia—to reflect on their first year leading together. With a first-year principal, a first-year assistant principal, and an assistant principal stepping into a significantly expanded role, this team faced enormous challenges from day one. Yet through intentional communication, trust, coaching, and a commitment to shared leadership, they built a culture that allowed both staff and students to thrive. This conversation is an honest look at leadership in action—the successes, the struggles, and the systems that make sustainable excellence possible. In this episode, you'll hear: Why trust is the foundation of every successful leadership team How vulnerability and accountability strengthen leadership The importance of role clarity and intentional communication Practical systems that reduced discipline referrals by nearly 30% Why supporting teachers leads directly to better student outcomes How coaching accelerated growth and prevented burnout The value of reflection, feedback, and continuous improvement Why leadership teams need a "safe space" to process challenges together Key Takeaways Leadership is a team sport. Strong leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about building relationships, communicating clearly, holding high expectations while providing high support, and creating systems that allow everyone to do their best work. Throughout the conversation, Marlene, Rocio, and Christina demonstrate that the intentional creation of trust doesn't just make leadership more enjoyable—it makes schools more…

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## Transcript

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