In this episode of Cool Coffee, Principal Heath Henderson from Skelly Elementary School discusses the importance of educational leadership, professional development, and community partnerships. He shares insights on the KPA conference, including his own presentation, the current school year, and the significance of building relationships within the educational environment. Heath also offers valuable advice for new principals and expresses pride in his school community at Skelly Elementary School.

Register to attend Kansas Principals Association Conference 2025, November 5-6.

Email: Heath Henderson

USA Board of Directors
USD 490

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Chapters (timestamps do not account for intro)

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Educational Leadership
02:28 The Value of Professional Development Programs
05:11 Community Partnerships and Their Impact
07:38 Reflections on the KPA Conference Experience
10:01 Current School Year Insights and Challenges
12:55 The Importance of Relationships in Education
15:20 Advice for New Principals
18:04 Personal Insights and Community Pride

The mission of the Kansas Principals Association, an organization committed to educational excellence and the lifelong success of all students, is to develop and support all principals through optimized learning, collaborative leadership, networking, and service. Read more about the KPA HERE.

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FULL SHOW TRANSCRIPT (timestamps do not account for intro)

Rick Sola (00:01.916)
Hello and welcome to Cool Coffee with Principal Heath Henderson from Skelly Elementary School in El Dorado, Kansas. USD 490, part of the pride. Welcome, Heath.

Heath Henderson (00:13.686)
Well, thanks for having me, Rick. I am excited to be here and talk about some educational things.

Rick Sola (00:21.928)
Well, good deal. I'm looking forward to having a conversation with you. And I've come across you obviously in our board meetings with KPA, but also at USA. I've seen you present and I know you're presenting at KPA here in about a month. So looking forward to hearing about that. Before we get started, I'll do a quick show shout out, check out the show notes, leave feedback or contact me directly with topics or guest ideas. Also, if you're so inclined, give us a like or a follow on your favorite podcast platform.

and help spread the word about the insightful stories from the amazing principals we have right here in the state of Kansas. Like us, follow us here at KPA's Cool Coffee. So Heath, once again, thanks for joining us. It is October 1st. It's 3.54 PM. The day just wrapped. How was your day today?

Heath Henderson (01:11.69)
I had a wonderful day. I actually had a 360 coaching session today with the wonderful people at KPA. And so if you are a leader and you haven't taken advantage of the Elevate programs or the 360 coaching or any of those programs, then you're missing out because I always get little bit recharged any time I have the opportunity to collaborate and learn and grow as a leader in those programs.

Rick Sola (01:41.774)
I have had the opportunity and actually am currently in one of the Elevate programs. For those who may not be at all familiar or maybe have only heard a little bit, what would be like a 30 second summary that you would give to someone about your experience with.

Heath Henderson (01:56.49)
For me, and I say this any chance I get, it is the greatest professional development that you can get as an administrator. I have learned more about how to lead with my leadership style, how to plan, how to impact leadership in my building, how to provide that support for my people to create a positive climate and culture.

And I would say it's more impactful than my whole entire leadership program that I paid a lot of money for. so I don't like saying that very loud, but at the same time, it's been an exceptional journey. Sorry, a little bit longer than 30 seconds, but I get very passionate about it. And I do think people need to jump on board if they haven't.

Rick Sola (02:48.208)
No, it's a very candid and real answer. And I wouldn't disagree with you. I've been through, I'm on my second rotation of Elevate and there's so much value in the connection and sitting shoulder to shoulder with people that you don't work with in a district or day to day, but being able to problem solve and think through and reflect on the so many situations that we might have come across as.

Heath Henderson (03:14.146)
Well, I would echo that because I always used to say that the best teachers are the best thieves. They steal all the ideas and it's the same thing. And you're sitting in a room full of people with the same growth mindset that you hopefully have. And when you're in rooms with people who are curious and people who are risk takers, you're going to find some fantastic ideas.

Rick Sola (03:40.733)
best teachers are the best thieves. I think I need to compile all the sound bites from all of these podcasts, that's like a bumper sticker or something. But it's true, and it's a compliment. And truly, that's really one of the points of this podcast is to share out and give ideas out. And hopefully, we're all learning from each other. So you're kind of, it's a nice segue into the conference. It's, like I said, October 1st.

Just over a month from now is the KPA Conference, November 5th and 6th. You're presenting at the conference and would love to hear a teaser of what it is you're gonna be talking about.

Heath Henderson (04:19.694)
So for us, mean, and I say for us because this this I haven't decided whether it's going to be a presentation because you know, last the last presentation I did I also Did it with my student liaison Emma Culberson. She's amazing We have a such a strong team here Sometimes I think when we present by ourselves that kind of negates the importance of that whole team But we're going to talk about the collaboration to impact from collaboration to impact which is partnerships with a purpose and so we'll

That will touch on community partners coming into our school and how that can impact our building, how we can impact some of those community partners. And also within our building, what do those partnerships look like? Whether it's from certified staff to students, or certified staff to classified staff, or classified staff, vice versa. And we have a lot of fun initiatives, impactful initiatives that we do here in our building that are

unique to us, but also again, I'll go back to what I said earlier, they're all little pieces that we've seen at other places that from around the state, from around the country and thought, well, that could work for us. And when you bring it back and it just, it, it, there's some magical things that happen on the South side of El Dorado. And so that's the things we'll be talking about. And so, we'll be bragging about the amazing staff and community that we're from too, because

None of this happens without some of those amazing people who make the work happen.

Rick Sola (05:55.177)
What's an example of a community partner that you are working with right now?

Heath Henderson (05:59.964)
well, mean, so some of those community partners we're talking about, whether we're talking about our good news clubs or our scouts or our RPD, those are some different things. Our custodial staff, some of those interventions that we are doing with those specific things and those people. I don't want to give too much away. Some of that's going to be at the conference.

And also some of what we're doing with our attendance initiatives that are a little different than other people. We talked a little bit about it, meeting our community and our families where they're at. And we have 24-7 access. Our families have that to us to communicate with us. And so those are things that we have been very intentional on doing. And so we're excited to share some of those ideas.

maybe give some of those ideas and initiatives to other schools that they might be able to use and hopefully take something away that will positively impact their school.

Rick Sola (07:10.364)
Yeah, I love that. Anytime I go to a conference, my hope is I'm able to leave with even just a single item that I can bring back and it might impact the school. And you alluded to that. How many years have you been attending this conference? Not to put you on the spot, because I don't know the answer to this, but.

Heath Henderson (07:29.25)
So for the KPA conference, this will be my fifth year attending the KPA conference. And I think the state of Kansas with KPA and also USA in the spring, I think that we do just phenomenal stuff at these. And the leadership sessions that we get from principals for principals are just, they're just.

so relevant to what we do every day. That person who's talking to us is giving us information from our seats. And so it's not from a book, it's not from another state, it's not from a company. It is literally somebody doing my job or your job. And hey, they'll be honest and say what works, what doesn't work, and then so they can help you avoid some potholes.

help you grow. So five years and I would say that again going back to investing in yourself, money, money, well spent.

Rick Sola (08:36.732)
Yeah, I totally agree. I haven't been to this conference as many years as you, but I have kind of shouted it from the rooftops exactly what you said at the value of this conference. And the spring with USA is so valuable. KPA, it's not as large of a conference, but it's really a strong conference with the presenters, the current principals. And I find it too, it's very candid.

and sometimes even conversational, but anybody who attends is gonna come away with probably multiple things that they're gonna be able to bring back. But then just that networking piece that is really a big part of KPA, but this conference in particular, I'm looking forward to connecting with people like you who, you know, we're on different parts of the state, we don't see each other, but to be able to continue those conversations or start new conversations.

Heath Henderson (09:29.9)
Yeah, I agree. we talk about the size of the conference. Well, what I love about the KPA conference specifically is its principles. Where there's, you know, when we get to the other conference, which is a great conference, there's a little, it's a little bit more, you know, you have some central office, you have some technology, have some companies coming in to present. This is such a principle focused conference that is

Like said, it is so relevant and I'm with you. said something earlier about hoping to take something back and I always say when I go into a session, my goal at every session I go into is one thing, one thing. What is one thing I'm going to learn from this session? Whether that's something to take back to my building or just something to consider. sometimes it's a firm, an affirmation. You you go into something and it's affirming you're doing something right in your own building that you might've thought about changing and you're like, wait a second. I just got to get through this.

this little bump right here. It's going to be good. And so it's just been a great, great experience.

Rick Sola (10:34.472)
It's actually a really good point, the affirming part, because I don't know. Maybe it's part of my own personal reflection, but there's times you start to second guess yourself, or you're wondering, or like, gosh. And then you hear someone else talk about it, like, well, no. Maybe I'm not far off, or maybe this is working or worth a second look. And so I like that it's not just about change. It's about maybe making better what you're currently doing, or affirming a process, or something that's in place. And that's a really, really good point with that.

Well, so like I said, as we record this, it's just over a month away as this comes out, it'll be even less. But my sentiments are exactly what you said, just the fact that it is a principle focused conference and really just of such value. So looking forward to your presentation and the many, others that we will see out there. Kind of transitioning from that, just talking about the year. Yeah, I said it's October 1st and

I don't know, there's still that sense of like, we're still in the new kind of the new school year. But where I'm at, we're wrapping up the quarter here in a week and we're having conferences and just over a week. And we're really not in the start of the school year anymore. But how's your year gone up to this point, almost a quarter in?

Heath Henderson (11:51.498)
Well, I would say that this has been the best year that I've had as an administrator in education. We have had enrollments up a little bit. Our kids have been, they understand and know the Skelly way. And even our kids who are new to us have fit in and been welcomed. And so we have a few new staff and they have.

just come on and added so much new energy and so many new ideas to our building and been met with great collaboration from our veterans who have been here. so, so our year, feel very blessed to say has been very, very good, but you know, in education, we have to knock on wood when we say stuff like that. So we've got to be careful. But I anticipate us having a strong year the whole way through just, have great people and, and yeah, we're only as strong as the people that work in a building. And luckily,

I'm probably the weakest link in this building.

Rick Sola (12:51.996)
What's the Skelly way? Give me two or three Skelly way items.

Heath Henderson (12:57.814)
Well, so the Skelly way, it's just our social contract that we, in our building, how we're going to treat people. We're going to have good customer service to students, staff, parents, everybody. We're just going to be respectful and, you know, we're going to be proud of who we are and we're not going to be afraid to be proud of who we are. I think that's that whole thing when we're talking about culture and climate. Saying where you're at, who you are, where you're from, we're the Southside Superstars.

We like to imagine greatness down here on the south side of 951 Scaly Street. And that is important to us and making everybody feel welcome. And so when we talk about that social contract, when we talk about doing things the right way, that's what we're referring to.

Rick Sola (13:43.112)
What's been a challenge you've had to work through either this year or last year?

Heath Henderson (13:47.982)
Well, I think anytime when we talk about challenges in buildings for us, one of our building goals is that chronic absenteeism. So for us, one of those big challenges is continuing to fight that chronic absenteeism, continuing to identify those barriers that are creating some of those things. We are an 85 % free and reduced lunch school.

And so we have some socioeconomic barriers, we have some logistical barriers, but we call them barriers, I'll also just call them opportunities. And one of the things we'll talk about in that presentation is we had four years ago a chronic absentee rate of almost 38%. Well, our chronic absentee rates.

like 16 now. So we've dropped that substantially. And of course, we're going to drop that more. We're going to keep working. We're going keep focusing on doing what we can to help those kids get to school so they can learn and create that safe environment where they want to come to school and try to, like I said, use those opportunities to help. And so that's been the big challenge for us. And I think that's one of those things that we will continue to focus on.

for the foreseeable future because we don't want our kids to think that we're gonna let that happen and we're gonna give up on them. We're gonna make sure that we're help them understand the importance of being here.

Rick Sola (15:26.94)
Yeah, no, that's a really, I mean, you cut it in more than half, you sharing that stat. And I want to ask follow-up questions, but I know you're going to talk about it at the conference. I'm going have to come sit in on your session there.

Heath Henderson (15:38.732)
Well, and there's some good stuff. Some of it will kind of blend with some of the stuff we've presented in the past, but we've added some new things to it. And really the thing is, how do we engage them? And how do we engage our parents? How do we engage people to want to be somewhere? And you can't control people. You can only influence people. So how do you influence them? And so we had to dig into data, and data would tell us which days kids were there the most.

And we got into daily data throughout the year and we knew that when there was an event going on at a school, kids were at school. Like it shared out. If there was an assembly at school, all the kids were at school. If there was a field trip, kids were at school. If there was, you know, different things. So, okay, how do we create that magic a little bit more frequently? And that's helped us.

Rick Sola (16:28.84)
That's awesome. And do you have your time slot for the conference? Are you Wednesday or Thursday?

Heath Henderson (16:34.091)
I do not have my time slot yet, I have not looked yet, but we'll get there.

Rick Sola (16:38.248)
Okay. I know it's a work in progress too. We're still early and I know submissions are still even being accepted. So no, that's really good. Today is the first day of National Principals Month, which, yeah, so it's great talking with you on this and looking ahead at some things to come. It's National Principals Month. What do you love about being a principal?

Heath Henderson (17:02.606)
I love.

Heath Henderson (17:07.906)
So it's gonna sound maybe weird because I was a teacher for 20 years before I was a principal and I was a coach for a bunch of years, for 20 years before I was a principal. And what I love most about those is the relationships and the ability to impact wherever I was at. It's the same answer. My why still is the same. It's just my audience is different. And so for, you know, when you were coaching, it's your team, whenever you're a teacher, it's the students in your room. And what I love now is that that...

team of people that I have that opportunity to impact and coach are the teachers, the paras, our custodian, our lunch lady, our secretary, our nurse. The ability to have an impact over the people who touch every single student in our building and also potentially impact our community. That is the part that I enjoy. So that relationship piece.

is something that is near and dear to my heart. so they always, you that's always the first question I'm always gonna ask. And anybody who's ever gonna interview for a job in my school, if they don't talk about relationships anywhere in that interview, then they probably won't work for me. And so, cause that's something that's, it's a foundational thing for me.

Rick Sola (18:28.776)
When you made that transition from classroom to administration, did you find it challenging even at first to maintain or create and build those kinds of relationships from a different seat and different perspective?

Heath Henderson (18:42.85)
I don't, I didn't personally, and I know that some people do because you have to have your professional boundaries. However, we still have to see people as people. And while we can't necessarily go out, we can still have conversations and be professional. And I can ask you about your family and I can check in on you and I can still see you as a mother or a father first before I see you as a teacher. And that's.

That is very, very important to me as somebody who sat in the other side for so long. The best administrators I ever had were always, always had the ability to connect and relate to their staffs. And again, there was always a boundary still. There's still a boundary. There's still a rule, but that ability to connect is the single most important thing. And I would say that when we talk about teachers, we've all, we all have teachers who

connect with like rock stars with kids. Well, if they can do that, and we can teach them the skill, they're going to be great. And we have the ones who struggle with that ability and they can know everything in the world, but it doesn't matter because it doesn't translate because they don't connect. And so that ability to connect is so important. And so for me, I think it's just one those things where we try to be very intentional. And again, I think it goes back to seeing people as people before you see them as...

employees and teachers and paras and custodians, they're people first. you know, I know every person in my building, you know, if their kids got a game this weekend, if their grandkids got a game this weekend, if their grandchild was just born, if their baby was just born, what's their names and where they're going. And it's just important to care and to show you care and to be genuine. And so for me, I think it's

And it makes it better when you go to work when you like the people you work with and you invest in the people you go to work with. It just makes it better.

Rick Sola (20:39.068)
Yeah, that's great. Really enjoyed that answer. It sounds like there's a lot of authentic relationships in your building. And I think that all is toward the good and the purpose of the school as well. But like you said, it makes it more fun. For those who might be listening who are like first year principals or maybe even considering becoming an administrator, what was the best advice you got?

as a principle, either going into the chair or that you got while serving in the chair.

Heath Henderson (21:15.182)
Well, and so this is a hard one because there's so many different pieces of advice that are so, so, good. And I just kind of touched on relationships. But I would say, I'm going to go way back to a college football coach of mine and they just said, you never stay the same.

Rick Sola (21:24.786)
Yeah.

Heath Henderson (21:42.722)
You never stay the same. either, every day you either get better or you get worse. And so it's up to you what kind of day you're going to have and whether you're going to get better today or get worse today. And so when you attack each day with a singular focus to get better, I think that that comes through in growth mindset, it comes through in your relationships, it comes through in your preparation for your staff. And I think that

That has been my mantra in life, is to try to make sure that I don't get worse today. I need to get better today. Because again, if I thought, I didn't do nothing, I didn't stay the same, I got worse. I took a step back. That doesn't mean you're not gonna have days where you don't take a step back. It just means that you gotta be conscious of that. For me, that's more of a life piece of advice than a necessarily leadership piece of advice.

The other piece to that, I will give one leadership piece of advice and that's...

Heath Henderson (22:51.394)
You're only as strong as your team. So make sure that you are building your team. And you might not get to pick your team, but you can build your team. And so making sure that you're being very intentional with how you maximize the strength of the people you work with. Because every single person in your building has a strength. Every single person. I don't care who they are. They have a strength. And are you going to do things that ask them

to accentuate their strengths, if you do, then you're doing it right. If you're criticizing their weaknesses instead of emphasizing their strengths, we'll never be able to get them better.

Rick Sola (23:32.988)
Yeah, no, that's awesome. Actually, it makes me think of, and I'll put a plug in again for the conference, because I know our mutual friend Dr. Todd Dane is presenting on a really similar topic as far as building your team and being that trust-willing leader and how hard it is sometimes in our position to want to let go of certain things. And I know that that'll be a session of his. No, really, really.

Heath Henderson (23:58.062)
Well, and that's one that if you don't go to, then you, then I don't know. I hope we don't have a session at the same time because I'm going to say the same thing because he is absolutely amazing. And if you don't, if you're not going to his sessions, then there's something wrong.

Rick Sola (24:12.176)
Yeah. I had a session that I presented at at the same time as a USA. was like, Todd, this is not good for me. But no, it's all good. There's definitely going to be overlap of really good quality sessions. But yeah, some really good things. Hey, before we sign off here, a couple of quick hitters here, just a little bit about you. And part of the reason I'm doing this is because I see a mug over your shoulder here. But we'll see if it matches.

Heath Henderson (24:25.015)
Cough

Rick Sola (24:41.916)
Favorite movie of all time.

Heath Henderson (24:44.148)
off the top of my head, football movie, replacements, gladiator for any other movie.

Rick Sola (24:51.344)
OK, football move. That's Keanu Reeves, OK, OK, OK. Yeah. I think Gladier, OK, good one. TV show.

Heath Henderson (24:53.804)
Yeah, Shane Falco, footsteps, man. Come on now.

Heath Henderson (25:01.922)
Ooh, TV show? Well, I have just, I'm a proud Native American, so, reservation dogs.

Rick Sola (25:13.158)
Reservation dogs? Okay.

Heath Henderson (25:14.444)
Yeah, it's filmed out of Tulsa. It's a fairly new show. And when I say all time, it's just my favorite recent show. If I was to go all time, I would probably say The Wire or The Sopranos.

Rick Sola (25:20.648)
right now.

Rick Sola (25:26.074)
Okay. Well, I see world's best boss over your shoulder. So was thinking the office was

Heath Henderson (25:30.198)
Well, know, hey, funny thing about that, that is actually a boss's gift. So all these things that you see above me are gifts from staff, students, you know, from over the years. And so I don't ever get rid of it. I always just proudly display it. And so.

Rick Sola (25:34.77)
Okay.

Rick Sola (25:51.443)
Yeah, that's awesome. That's really cool. Okay, last one. If I'm driving through El Dorado and my alternator happens to go out and I'm stranded on the side of the highway and I need a place to eat, not that that's ever happened to me before, but it has. And actually the highway patrol was amazing out there. There's a whole story with that. But anyway, what restaurant would you recommend that I make sure I get to if I need a place to eat?

Heath Henderson (26:14.67)
Well, and we have a couple really good Mexican restaurants, it's hard. I would say Anita's if you want Mexican food. And I would say, but if you want some of best chicken strips or best chicken salad with jalapeno ranch dressing, Willie's.

Rick Sola (26:35.784)
Okay. All right. Well, next time I'll be driving right through El Dorado on the way to the conference. So I think I will. Yeah. One way or the other. you know, we've talked a little bit or quite a bit. You've referenced your community and the people. And I love to conclude these podcasts with an opportunity to brag on your people before you totally do that. I should have started with this, but just kind of a quick

Heath Henderson (26:41.56)
Well you better stop and eat.

Rick Sola (27:03.112)
you know, how big is your school and Skelly Elementary School and what makes it up and then brag on your people.

Heath Henderson (27:10.092)
Yeah, Skelly Elementary, are the pride of the South Side here in El Dorado. are, like I said, we are about, we're a two section school, so we're right around 275. We're an early childhood through fifth grade. Like I said, we have, it is a magical place to work. We have great people here. I'm not sure exactly what else I want to say, but I I like to say we will.

talk a lot more about that at the conference and I will elaborate on all the successes and barriers that we have but this place right here is a place where if I was a kid I would want to go this is a place where I want to send my grandkids this is a place where if I was a parent I would want to send my kids

Rick Sola (28:02.344)
And I think that's probably the best answer that any of us could give, is if we're principal of a school, to be able to truly and honestly say, this is where I would want my own kids to be, and here's why. And it sounds like a lot of really neat things happening out at Skelly Elementary. Looking forward to hearing more about it here at KPA. And just once again, a plug for the conference, November 5th and 6th. I think there's early registration.

or events November 4th in the evening, but the conference fifth and sixth and hope to see all of our principals there because it is a principal focus conference and there's not a lot of those out there and it's a really well done conference.

Heath Henderson (28:44.552)
I 100 % agree, I think it's going to be an amazing conference. And if you are pre-registered, don't forget to go on the website and there are some festivities that might happen the evening before that you might want to make sure that you register for as well.

Rick Sola (28:58.6)
Yep, I am registered and some of the team here are as well. And it's going to be a good time. It's going to be a really good time. And Heath, thank you so much for taking time at the end of a long day and looking forward to seeing you here soon here in Wichita.

Heath Henderson (29:12.888)
Well, thank you for having me and thank you for all you do for the principles across the state with your podcast. It's an amazing platform and I look forward to watching this thing continue to blow up and grow over the next decade.

Rick Sola (29:26.761)
I appreciate that. Hey, thanks so much, Heath. We'll see you soon.

Heath Henderson (29:31.694)
See ya.