In the last episode of Unlock 360 Season 4, Principal Donnell Mayberry of Challenger Middle School in Lancaster, California, joins host Wendy York Davoud to share how he is transforming a historically punitive campus into a restorative, relationship-centered learning community. Drawing on years of experience with restorative justice in Oakland alternative schools, Donnell explains how “reset and accept” guides his approach to discipline, culture, and academics.

He walks through the concrete system shifts at Challenger, including block scheduling, single-subject teaching, higher GPA expectations, and intentional family engagement. Throughout, he emphasizes that real change requires listening to students, partnering with parents, and holding everyone to a shared standard of love and accountability.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Principal Donnell Mayberry

00:42 Donnell’s journey from Arizona to Oakland to Lancaster

02:04 What restorative practices really mean in schools

06:29 Bringing restorative practices to Challenger Middle School

10:01 Building teacher capacity and tiered support for students

13:10 The power of positive phone calls and repairing harm

16:21 Shifting language away from punishment and toward reflection

19:16 Raising expectations, GPA standards, and family accountability

21:02 Supporting multilingual learners and equity across groups

22:29 Collaboration, PD, and growing staff buy-in

24:41 Four-year vision to restore academics and school culture

27:25 Spreading restorative work across the district

Why You Will Love This Episode
You will hear a candid, practical look at what it takes to move a middle school away from suspension-first thinking and toward restorative discipline, stronger relationships, and higher academic expectations. Donnell shares specific strategies, honest challenges, and real wins that leaders can adapt to their own campuses.

Connect with Donnell Mayberry
Email: dmayberry@wilsona.k12.ca.us
Website: https://cms.wilsonasd.net/en-US

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Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/

About Unlock 360°
Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, one breakthrough at a time.

Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to Unlock 360° for more.

We’ll be joining you in Season 5.

In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud speaks with Principal Christopher Medinger of Farragut Elementary School in Culver City, California. Chris shares his unconventional path into education, from coaching youth basketball to launching a K–8 charter school, designing a new campus, and eventually leading in Culver City Unified.

He reflects on the power of parent partnership, the routines that create stronger home–school connections, and why simple conversations like “car talk” can transform a child’s confidence and motivation. Chris also discusses the role of AI in classrooms and why students still need to read, write, think, and generate their own ideas to be ready for the future.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Principal Christopher Medinger

01:03 Early career, switching from economics to teaching

04:18 Recruiting families and opening with a full K–8 enrollment

07:34 Teaching parents to support learning during Covid

10:26 The power of parent involvement and daily learning conversations

14:20 Chris’s side life as “Captain Chris” on dolphin cruises

16:10 Moving to Farragut Elementary and learning the community

19:09 Using car talk, bedtime chats, and Bloom’s Taxonomy at home

21:42 Preparing students for a future shaped by AI

24:27 The importance of analyzing student work and scratch paper

31:48 The future of learning and the urgency for high level thinking

33:43 Where to learn more about Culver City Unified

Why You Will Love This Episode

This conversation highlights practical, human ways parents and educators can work together to support student growth. From AI readiness to family engagement to building a schoolwide culture of belonging, Chris offers clear ideas leaders can put into action right away.

Connect with Christopher Medinger
Email: christophermedinger@ccusd.org
Website: https://farragut.ccusd.org/

Follow Us
Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/

About Unlock 360°

Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, one breakthrough at a time.

Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to Unlock 360° for more.

In this episode of Unlock 360°, host Wendy York Davoud speaks with Principal Katherine Hunt of McAlester Public Schools, a veteran educator with more than 40 years of service. Kathy shares her journey from classroom teacher to principal, the influence of her father’s legacy, and what it meant to transform a former junior high into a warm and joyful elementary campus.

She discusses her belief that every child deserves to feel loved, supported, and equipped with four essentials: learning to read, learning math, learning to write, and learning to be a good friend. Kathy also reflects on equity, community investment, the importance of arts and play, and the deep responsibility schools carry for children who face trauma, poverty, and instability.

Key Moments

00:00 Welcome and introduction to Principal Kathy Hunt

01:10 Following her father’s legacy in McAlester

03:50 Creating a joyful, kid centered environment

08:08 Realities of teacher spending and fundraising

09:41 Loving the kids and meeting them where they are

10:12 Four essentials: read, write, math, and friendship

18:39 Bond passage and shared resources

19:20 “Children are our future” and community responsibility

26:27 The role of arts, STEM, and enrichment

28:25 Why exposure and experience matter for all kids

37:44 Balancing tech with hands on learning

43:38 Supporting educators and honoring the profession

Why You Will Love This Episode

This conversation offers a heartfelt look at what it means to lead with love, purpose, and community pride. Kathy brings honesty, wisdom, and decades of lived experience as she shares why schools must be safe, joyful places where every child feels seen and valued.

Connect with Katherine Hunt
District Website: https://mpsbuffs.org

Follow Us
Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead Teach Learn 360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead Teach Learn 360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/

About Unlock 360°

Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, one breakthrough at a time.

Enjoyed this conversation? Subscribe to Unlock 360° for more.