Why Stories Matter: The Key to Connection, Belonging, and Culture

How Great School Cultures Are Built | Conversations with Two Legendary Educators

What does character education actually look like in practice? In this special compilation episode of Communities of Character, host Jennifer Hogan returns to the Hope Institute Network Summit to sit down with two educators whose careers demonstrate what it means to build culture through consistency. First, Jennifer talks with Jupie Lindley, who was longtime teacher at Cahaba Heights Elementary and recently retired after 44 years (!), about the everyday moments that shape students far beyond academics. Then Jennifer sits down with Sue Grogan, longtime principal of Shades Cahaba Elementary, Alabama's first National School of Character, to discuss what it takes to build a school culture that lasts. Together, these conversations explore: * Why relationships are the foundation of character education * What students remember long after they leave our classrooms * How teachers and principals shape culture every day * Why consistency matters more than perfection * Lessons learned from decades of educational leadership * How character becomes a lasting legacy If last month's Voices from the Network episode explored why character-centered leadership matters, this episode explores what it looks like when educators faithfully live that mission every day. Whether you're a teacher, principal, instructional coach, counselor, or district leader, you'll leave encouraged to keep investing in the small moments that shape school culture over time. Resources from the Episode: Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights - https://vhech.vhcs.us/ Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights celebrates Ms. Lindley's retirement after 44 years of teaching: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16bKLzD6zn/ Shades Cahaba Elementary School: https://sces.homewood.k12.al.us/ Retired Principals Leave a Mark: Sue Grogan https://thehomewoodstar.com/schools/shades-cahaba/retired-principals-leave-a-mark/ Becoming a School of Character - https://character.org/programs/schools-of-character-intro/ Follow Communities of Character * Instagram: @coc.podcast * Share this episode with an educator who is committed to building a culture where every student can flourish. "Culture isn't built in one extraordinary moment. It's built in ordinary moments repeated with extraordinary consistency." Music attribution: From the Ground Up Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: CWWY3ZRHKFDNWLIL Sugarcane Music licensed through Soundstripe. Code: HRE24VRVJAUPWZXR

A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #6 - June 2026

In this month’s Character Conversation, Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey reflect on powerful themes from the recent Voices from the Network episode, recorded live at the Hope Institute Network Summit featuring Dr. Tom Lickona, Drayton Nabers, and Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. This conversation explores why culture is rarely shaped in big, visible moments but instead through ordinary, repeated interactions over time. Jennifer and Laura unpack the idea that leadership is always teaching something, whether we realize it or not, and why modeling values matters far more than simply messaging them. You’ll hear reflections on: * Why students experience culture long before they understand mission statements * Dr. Eric Mackey’s reminder that “It’s not just teaching it. It’s demonstrating it.” * Dr. Tom Lickona’s challenge to move beyond “posters on the wall” toward relationship-driven culture * How consistency, not intensity, is what ultimately builds trust * Why every educator shapes school culture, regardless of title or position * A summer reflection challenge to help educators intentionally prepare for the next school year Whether you’re a principal, teacher, counselor, coach, or support staff member, this episode will encourage you to think deeply about the environment people consistently experience around you and the culture you are helping create every single day. * Hope Institute -  https://hopeinstitute.org [https://hopeinstitute.org] * Dr. Tom Lickona - https://www.thomaslickona.com/ [https://www.thomaslickona.com/] * Coach Micheal Burt - https://www.coachburt.com/ [https://www.coachburt.com/] * Alabama State Department of Education - https://www.alabamaachieves.org/sboe/eric-g-mackey-ed-d/ [https://www.alabamaachieves.org/sboe/eric-g-mackey-ed-d/] Follow the podcast on Instagram for more conversations and leadership reflections: @coc.podcast If this episode encouraged you, share it with another educator or leader who is committed to building cultures of character in their community. Resources & Links Mentioned in This Episode

Voices of Character: Leadership Insights from the Hope Institute Network Summit

What does it really take to build a culture of character and make it last? 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Hear: In this special compilation episode of Communities of Character, we take you inside the Hope Institute Network Summit, where school and district leaders gathered to continue the work of character-centered leadership. Recorded live in a pop-up podcast studio, this episode features short, powerful conversations with three influential voices in education: * Dr. Tom Lickona, a leading expert in character education * Drayton Nabers, respected leader and advocate for character-driven communities * Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent of Education with a broad perspective on school culture Each guest offers a unique lens on leadership, culture, and the role of character in today’s schools, while reinforcing a shared belief: Character isn’t an add-on. It’s the work. Whether you’re a principal, teacher leader, or district administrator, this episode will challenge you to think more deeply about what you’re modeling, what you’re prioritizing, and what will ultimately stick in your organization. * Why character must be embedded—not added—in school culture * Leadership insights from local, district, and state perspectives * What it takes to sustain culture over time * How leaders can model values in everyday decisions * Why this work matters now more than ever 💡 Key Takeaway Culture is not built in big moments, it’s shaped in consistent, intentional actions over time. 🔁 Reflection Question What is sticking in your leadership, and what are others learning from what you model? Follow along and join the conversation:📱 Instagram: @coc.podcast

A Pause to Reflect on Character - Bonus Ep. #5 - May 2026

What do we actually believe? In this month’s Character Conversation, Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey reflect on their recent interview with Dr. Jimmy Shaw, former superintendent of Florence City Schools, and unpack one of the most important leadership questions schools and organizations can ask. This conversation explores the connection between clarity, culture, and character-centered leadership, and why meaningful culture work starts long before initiatives, programs, or expectations are introduced. Jennifer and Laura discuss: * Why “clarity creates stability” in schools and organizations * How shared values shape decision-making and relationships * The difference between posting values and actually living them * Why adult culture drives student culture * How leaders build buy-in through relationships, consistency, and trust * Dr. Shaw’s powerful idea of building a “coalition of the willing” This episode is a reminder that culture is not built through slogans or branding, it’s built through consistent modeling, everyday interactions, and leaders who are willing to return to what matters most. If you’re leading a school, team, or organization and trying to strengthen culture in a meaningful way, this conversation will challenge you to reflect on what your community truly believes and whether those beliefs are visible in daily practice. 🎧 Listen, reflect, and share with another leader who’s doing this work. 📱 Follow the conversation on Instagram: @coc.podcast

Character Isn’t Extra: Leading a District with Purpose

What does it take to lead character work at the district level, and make it stick? In this episode of Communities of Character, Jennifer Hogan and Laura Casey sit down with Dr. Jimmy Shaw, former superintendent of Florence City Schools, to explore what it really looks like to build a culture of character across an entire system. With more than 25 years in education and nine years as superintendent, Dr. Shaw shares how a simple but powerful question: “What do we actually believe?” became the starting point for meaningful, system-wide change. This conversation moves beyond theory and into the real work of leadership: how to create alignment, build buy-in, and keep character at the center, even in the middle of competing priorities and daily demands. If you’re a school or district leader looking to move from ideas to implementation, this episode offers both clarity and encouragement. 🎯 In This Episode, You’ll Hear: * Why defining core values must come before setting expectations * How Dr. Shaw led a district-wide focus on character and culture * What it takes to build a “coalition of the willing” across schools * Early signs that character work is becoming part of the culture—not just an initiative * Lessons learned from leading change at the district level * Why adult culture is the foundation for student success * What it means to lead with legacy in mind 💡 Key Takeaway Character isn’t something you add to the work; it is the work. And when leaders get clear on what they believe and commit to living it out consistently, culture begins to shift in ways that last. 🔁 Reflection Question As you listen, consider: 👉 What do we actually believe in our school or district—and how consistently are we living that out? RESOURCES from the episode: Jimmy’s website - 431llc.net [http://431llc.net] Seeking a Learning University by Jimmy Shaw - https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Learning-University-Meetings-Movements-ebook/dp/B0GS4GQQ2S [https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Learning-University-Meetings-Movements-ebook/dp/B0GS4GQQ2S] The Hope Institute - https://www.hopeinstitute.org/ [https://www.hopeinstitute.org/] Character.org - http://Character.org [http://character.org] Florence City Schools - https://www.florencek12.org/ [https://www.florencek12.org/] Episode with Dr. Ashley Bowling - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/character-isnt-extra-its-the-work-of-adults-first/id1598728843?i=1000747563865 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/character-isnt-extra-its-the-work-of-adults-first/id1598728843?i=1000747563865] 🔗 Connect with Dr. Jimmy Shaw Instagram - ⁠https://www.instagram.com/davisshaw/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/davisshaw/]  Facebook - ⁠https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.shaw.7⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/jimmy.shaw.7]  📲 Stay Connected 👉 Follow Communities of Character on Instagram: @coc.podcast 👉 Catch up on previous episodes wherever you listen to podcasts 👉 Share this episode with a leader who is committed to modeling character every day