Featured Guest: Dr. William Hayes, CEO of Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School

Season 1 Finale

Leadership is more than managing a school—it is about creating a culture where every student, educator, and family feels valued, empowered, and connected to a shared purpose.

In the Season 1 finale of Project: School Dad Podcast, host Eric Gardner sits down with Dr. William Hayes, CEO of Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, for an inspiring conversation on Leadership & Community. Together, they explore how transformational leadership extends beyond policies and programs to shape school culture, strengthen relationships, and create environments where Black and brown boys can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Drawing from his experiences as an educator and school leader, Dr. Hayes shares the leadership principles that have guided Boys' Latin's growth and discusses the non-negotiables of building a community rooted in trust, accountability, excellence, and belonging. The conversation examines how leaders cultivate systems that support culturally responsive teaching, empower educators, and ensure students see themselves reflected in those who teach, mentor, and advocate for them.

Eric and Dr. Hayes also unpack the critical role of representation in education, exploring why recruiting, developing, and retaining Black male educators is essential—not just for diversity, but also as a strategy to improve student outcomes, strengthen school culture, and expand opportunities for young people. Backed by research and personal experience, they discuss how mentorship and culturally grounded leadership influence students long after they leave the classroom.

The episode concludes by turning attention to families and community partnerships. Dr. Hayes reflects on what authentic collaboration with parents looks like, how schools can move beyond traditional engagement, and why shared ownership between educators, families, and communities is essential for lasting student success. As with every episode of Project: School Dad, the conversation ends with a heartfelt Student Letters segment—a reminder that the relationships educators build often become their greatest legacy.

This Season 1 finale is a celebration of visionary leadership, community partnership, and the collective responsibility to build schools where every child is seen, challenged, affirmed, and prepared to lead.

Topics include:

• Leadership that builds community and belonging
• Creating a positive school culture through trust and accountability
• Culturally responsive leadership and instructional systems
• The importance of Black educators and mentorship
• Parent partnerships and shared ownership in education
• Building schools that prepare students for lifelong success
• Student letters and the lasting impact of educators

If you've followed Project: School Dad throughout Season 1—or you're discovering it for the first time—this finale captures the heart of the podcast's mission: building stronger schools through authentic relationships, courageous leadership, and meaningful community partnerships.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with an educator, school leader, parent, or community advocate who believes every child deserves to be seen, supported, and inspired.

In this episode of Project: School Dad Podcast, Eric Gardner sits down with Karen Williams, Assistant Principal at William Kelley Elementary School, for a meaningful conversation on family connection, community partnerships, and what it truly means to build bridges between school, home, and community.

Titled “Family Connection: Community & Partnerships,” this episode explores how schools can move beyond basic parent involvement and create deeper, more intentional systems of trust, communication, and shared responsibility. Karen Williams brings the perspective of a school leader who understands that families are not separate from student success — they are central to it.

Throughout the conversation, Eric and Karen discuss the needs families are navigating, what real partnership looks like inside a school building, and how educators can communicate respect without judgment. This episode highlights the importance of building trust before introducing strategies, ensuring that families feel safe, valued, and heard.

Karen also shares insight on actionable systems that increase parent buy-in, including what it looks like when parents are not only showing up, but helping shape solutions. From academics and behavior outcomes to community partnerships and school-based supports, this conversation examines how schools can use data, relationships, and collaboration to better serve children and families.

At its core, Episode 6 reminds us that strong schools are not built in isolation. They are strengthened through meaningful partnerships with parents, caregivers, educators, and community organizations working together toward a shared vision.

Family Connection: Community & Partnerships is a call to reimagine family engagement as a living practice — one rooted in trust, shared power, accountability, and love.

Tune in to Project: School Dad Podcast as Eric and Karen continue the conversation on what it takes to build schools where students, families, and communities can thrive together.

EP. 5 — The Voices of the Community: "Parent Voice, Student Success — A Legacy of Partnership" Featured Guests: Casandra Chase, Nicole Figueroa, & Terri Ayers

In this episode of Project: School Dad, we center the voices of parents and caregivers as critical partners in student success. Featured guests Casandra Chase, Nicole Figueroa, and Terri Ayers bring powerful perspectives on what it means for schools to build real trust with families, communicate with care, and honor parents as co-educators—not guests.

Together, we explore how parent voice shapes children's academic, emotional, and social development, and why families must be included in decisions that impact learning. From trust-building and respectful communication to resources, access, advocacy, and shared power, this episode calls us to move beyond surface-level parent involvement and toward true partnership.

At its core, “The Voices of the Community” reminds us that families are not outside of the work of education—they are essential to it. When parents are heard, respected, and empowered, students are better positioned to grow, succeed, and feel supported both at home and in school.