Listen First, Lead Better: David Carson on Rural Culture, Four-Day Weeks, and Community Trust
In today’s episode, host Nate Lichte sits down with David Carson, Superintendent at Gooding School District (ID). A longtime educator and rural leader, David shares a “listen first” approach to culture—learning community history, aligning decisions to local values, and celebrating wins so the positive story travels farther than the noise.
From districtwide PLCs and full-day kindergarten to a four-day instructional calendar with targeted Friday supports, David explains how Gooding focuses resources where they matter most. He also unpacks sustainable trust-building: transparent funding conversations, visible celebrations (yes, even the reader board on Main Street), and equipping staff as community storytellers who carry the message into neighborhoods and local businesses.
Nate and David close with practical guidance for new superintendents: build your mentor network, stay visible, and never stop asking great questions—especially when the stakes are high and the context is uniquely local.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & David’s pathway into leadership
03:33 Meet Gooding SD: rural context, community identity
05:59 “Listen first”: learning the local story before decisions
09:03 Classroom visibility with principals—walk-throughs that build trust
12:02 Celebrating wins publicly (and why it’s harder than it sounds)
14:44 Using a community reader board to share data & good news
19:42 Post-pandemic recovery: PLCs, full-day K, monthly PD days
24:35 Four-day school week: why it works and Friday supports
28:32 Moving from five to four days—process, surveys, and buy-in
33:38 Sustainable funding in a rural context—reserves, grants, tradeoffs
38:00 Levies & facilities: telling the story so voters understand the “why”
41:38 Advice for first-time superintendents—mentors, networks, and balance
Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you’re leading in a rural community—or anywhere trust is earned in conversations, not memos—this episode is a playbook. Learn how to pair curiosity with clarity, turn small wins into public momentum, and organize time (PLCs, PD days, targeted Fridays) so instruction and culture move together.
Follow Us
Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq
About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.
👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.
From districtwide PLCs and full-day kindergarten to a four-day instructional calendar with targeted Friday supports, David explains how Gooding focuses resources where they matter most. He also unpacks sustainable trust-building: transparent funding conversations, visible celebrations (yes, even the reader board on Main Street), and equipping staff as community storytellers who carry the message into neighborhoods and local businesses.
Nate and David close with practical guidance for new superintendents: build your mentor network, stay visible, and never stop asking great questions—especially when the stakes are high and the context is uniquely local.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & David’s pathway into leadership
03:33 Meet Gooding SD: rural context, community identity
05:59 “Listen first”: learning the local story before decisions
09:03 Classroom visibility with principals—walk-throughs that build trust
12:02 Celebrating wins publicly (and why it’s harder than it sounds)
14:44 Using a community reader board to share data & good news
19:42 Post-pandemic recovery: PLCs, full-day K, monthly PD days
24:35 Four-day school week: why it works and Friday supports
28:32 Moving from five to four days—process, surveys, and buy-in
33:38 Sustainable funding in a rural context—reserves, grants, tradeoffs
38:00 Levies & facilities: telling the story so voters understand the “why”
41:38 Advice for first-time superintendents—mentors, networks, and balance
Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you’re leading in a rural community—or anywhere trust is earned in conversations, not memos—this episode is a playbook. Learn how to pair curiosity with clarity, turn small wins into public momentum, and organize time (PLCs, PD days, targeted Fridays) so instruction and culture move together.
Follow Us
Nate Lichte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nate-lichte/
Lebra Website: https://www.lebrahq.com/
Lebra LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lebrahq
About Lebra Podcast
The Lebra Podcast is where host Nate Lichte speaks with education leaders and innovators about the future of schools, uncovering stories and strategies that create meaningful impact.
👉 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to the Lebra Podcast for more conversations on leadership, culture, and the future of learning.
