Dr. Ben Churchill: Listen First then Lead with Focus

How do you enter a large district mid-year and still set a clear path forward? Dr. Ben Churchill (Poway USD) shares his 90-day listen-and-learn plan, school visits across 41 campuses, and a leadership approach built on focus over frenzy: double down on what works, let go of what doesn’t, and align the organization around a few wildly important goals.

He also lays out how Poway balances district direction with principal autonomy—and why that combination increases engagement and results.

Chapters you’ll hear: entry planning, belonging and learning, narrowing priorities, 4 Disciplines of Execution, and aligning principals while honoring local context.