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A Quick Note to Listeners:
Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and I take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is:
What practical ways can I increase visibility even when I get trapped in my office so often?
Listen in to hear our answer!
Meet Patrick Erwin:
Patrick M. Erwin is an educator, speaker, and leadership development specialist currently serving as Curriculum Director for Maxwell Leadership Foundation. With a background that blends music education, leadership, and school culture development, Patrick spent 17 years as the band director at Hillgrove High School, where he became known for building strong student leadership systems and positive team culture.
He holds degrees from the University of Georgia, Auburn University, and Berry College. Patrick is the author of the new book I Love This Place, which explores how intentional leadership development can transform school culture. A nationally recognized presenter and leadership coach, Patrick continues to encourage educators through speaking, curriculum design, and practical strategies that help schools become places where both students and staff thrive.
Amplifying School Culture Through Leadership:
Patrick and I begin our conversation by exploring one of the central metaphors in Patrick’s new book, I Love This Place: the idea of constructive and destructive interference in music. Patrick explains how school teams either amplify one another or unintentionally cancel each other out depending on how aligned they are around vision, values, and expected behaviors. Just as musical harmony requires people playing together with intention, healthy school culture requires leaders who clearly communicate purpose and create alignment across teams. Leadership, Patrick argues, becomes more influential when others catch the vision and begin amplifying it alongside you.
The Leadership Framework of HUSTLE:
Patrick also shares the story behind the acronym HUSTLE, a leadership framework he developed while leading a large high school band program. Originally a reminder to move quickly and stay focused, HUSTLE eventually evolved into a practical leadership model centered on key character traits: humility, understanding, scholarship, trustworthiness, leadership attitude, and excellence. Patrick explains how those values became the foundation for developing student leaders who could influence culture, support one another, and help sustain a thriving organization far beyond what two directors alone could accomplish.
Humility vs. Humiliation:
One of the most powerful parts of the conversation centers on Patrick’s distinction between humility and humiliation. He explains that both words share the same root idea of being “grounded,” but humility is choosing to ground yourself honestly, while humiliation happens when the world grounds you instead. Patrick shares transparent stories from his early years as a teacher, including difficult moments where ego and pride created blind spots in his leadership. Those experiences ultimately helped him recognize that leadership is not about protecting personal reputation or legacy, but about serving others, learning continuously, and staying open to growth.
Why Diversity Strengthens Teams:
We also dive into Patrick’s reflections on diversity, inclusion, and team composition. Drawing from both research and his own classroom experience, he explains why diverse teams naturally create friction—but also produce stronger decisions, better creativity, and healthier outcomes over time. Patrick describes looking across his classroom and recognizing the incredible variety of personalities, experiences, and backgrounds represented within a single group of students. Rather than trying to erase differences, he argues that leaders must learn how to celebrate them, understand them, and help teams find common purpose while allowing different strengths to shine.
Creating Rituals That Build Belonging:
Patrick shares several practical strategies for building school culture, including one especially powerful ritual involving nuts, bolts, and paracord necklaces. At the end of each marching band season, students exchanged nuts and bolts with peers who had “helped them hold it together” throughout the year. The simple physical artifact became a lasting symbol of teamwork, support, and shared accomplishment. Patrick explains how attaching meaningful objects to emotional moments can help students remember that they belong to something bigger than themselves and that strong cultures are built through intentional connection and recognition.
Building Places People Love:
As the episode closes, Patrick reminds listeners that culture change takes time, often several years, but leadership development remains one of the most powerful drivers of long-term transformation. When schools intentionally invest in helping both adults and students grow as leaders, cultures become places where people feel connected, valued, and proud to belong. Eventually, students begin leaving campus and telling others, “I love this place.” And according to Patrick, that is when true culture change begins spreading into the broader community.
Now It’s Your Turn:
As you reflect on this conversation, consider these questions for your own leadership:
- Are your teams amplifying one another or unintentionally canceling one another out?
- How clearly have you communicated vision, values, and expectations within your organization?
- Are you choosing humility, or waiting for humiliation to teach the lesson instead?
- How are you helping diverse voices and strengths shine within your team?
- What rituals or traditions could help your students and staff feel more connected and valued?
- Where might you need to give someone permission to lead instead of trying to control every outcome?
Learn more about I Love This Place and connect with Patrick at Patrick Erwin’s Website
