Steven Bollar—aka Stand Tall Steve—joins the Innovating Education Podcast to talk about school culture, decision making and the leadership lessons that no one wants to talk about. Steve’s worn every hat: teacher, principal, superintendent, author and national keynote speaker. In this episode, he breaks down why so many school improvement efforts fail—because they’re chasing perfection instead of progress.

We dive deep on the five levels of decision-making, how to lead with transparency after mistakes, and why leaders need to stop overcomplicating school culture. Steve’s new book, Just Do This, is front and center. He explains how it's built for educators who don’t have time for theory and just need something that works.

This one’s packed with smart insights, practical frameworks, and advice for anyone trying to lead well in complex systems.

In this episode, we cover:

• The five levels of decision-making every leader should know

• How to avoid “initiative fatigue” and lead with clarity

• Why culture work isn’t about rewards—it’s about repetition

• How to use “reduce, not eliminate” as a realistic leadership strategy

• A sneak peek into Steve’s new book Just Do This—and how it’s helping school leaders take action

🔗 Connect with Steve Bollar:

• Visit: www.standtallsteve.com

• Email: steven@standtallsteve.com

• Explore his podcast: The School Climate and Culture Show with Megan Diede

• Learn about the Just Do This Boost Camp: a 3-day leadership experience hosted in partnership with Innovative School Summit (details on his site).