Rachel Crouch Talks Culture, Accountability, and Restorative Practices

Our guest this week is the current principal of Washington DC’s Perry Street Prep, Rachel Crouch. As the school year looms large for teachers, it’s a time of uncertainty for students, their families, educators, and administrators alike. There’s a lot of discussion around concepts like culture and connection, but actually fostering them in school is much more challenging than defining them or placing them on a PowerPoint. In our conversation this week, Rachel shares how she was able to transform Perry Street Prep by using restorative practices, building a sense of community, and creating a culture where teachers feel supported and encouraged to hold one another accountable for their own, and each others growth. Rachel’s belief in honoring the humanity of her students and staff was an anchor in this episode and, it seems, her practice as well. Julie and I loved Rachel’s willingness to be candid about her journey to get to this point. Building a school culture is hard work and the openness and vulnerability is a lesson for all leaders. We hope you enjoy it!