The Heart of the School with Matt Hornbeck

Hello Imperfect Leaders!

 It's summer!! And for leaders, that means reflection. And it means planning for the coming year. It is for that reason that this week's episode is an encore episode specifically picked with your upcoming year in mind. 

 

INTRO: This week, Matt Hornbeck is my guest. He is the principal of Hampstead Hill Academy in Baltimore, Maryland. Here are 3 things you won't want to miss in this episode:

 

The Transformative Power of Restorative Practices: Learn how Hampstead Hill has achieved remarkable success in increasing joy, improving attendance, reducing tardies, and directly linking these to academic achievement, ultimately becoming the top-performing school in its district for reading and math. Matt explains how restorative practices work, from community-building circles used at least three times a week to the "magic" of restorative conferences that involve asking "What happened?", "Who is affected?", and "What do you need to move on?" to resolve conflicts and build empathy.

Embracing Imperfect Leadership: Discover Matt Hornbeck's philosophy of an "imperfect leader" – someone who embodies vulnerability and openness to discussion, striving to lead with consensus and humanity. This leadership style involves admitting mistakes, owning challenges, and allocating resources equitably to solve problems, rather than offering excuses. 

Innovative Solutions to Real-World School Challenges: Hear how Matt implemented creative solutions to address staff attendance challenges, moving beyond rigid policies to a flexible, human-centered approach that significantly improved instructional minutes and fostered a "happy workforce". 

This episode is a must-listen for aspiring, new, and established leaders looking to cultivate resilient, thriving educational environments.

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts!

 

BIO: Matt Hornbeck is an established leader in Baltimore, Maryland. Before becoming a principal at Hampstead Hill Academy, a Baltimore City charter school, he was an educational consultant with large urban districts on resource allocation and principal training. He holds a master’s degree in Educational Administration as well as a law degree.  

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