The Superintendent Who Cleans Toilets (And Why His Teachers Never Leave) - Alex Moore

What if your superintendent could name every kindergartner in the district? What if teacher retention wasn't a crisis, but a culture? In this episode, we meet a leader who challenges everything we think we know about school administration—by rolling up his sleeves and leading from the front lines. Guest Introduction Alex Moore is the Superintendent of Montmorency Communities Consolidated School District 145 (CCSD 145) in Rock Falls, Illinois. A true servant leader, Alex has built his career on a radical belief: that the best way to lead a school district is to remain genuinely connected to the people it serves. From playing with kindergartners at recess to cleaning toilets when custodians are sick, Alex embodies a leadership philosophy that's transforming how his district attracts, retains, and empowers educators. What You'll Learn In this compelling conversation, we explore how one superintendent is reimagining school leadership in a resource-constrained rural district. Discover: - **How servant leadership creates loyalty** – The practical strategies Alex uses to build unshakeable school culture - **Why teacher retention is solved differently** – What makes educators want to stay (and it's not what you think) - **Moving beyond standardized testing** – How CCSD 145 is restoring holistic student development and real relationships - **The technology paradox** – Finding balance in an over-digitized educational landscape - **Small district, big impact** – Maximizing limited budgets through authentic leadership and community investment Key Takeaways ✓ **Servant leadership isn't performative** – Real leaders aren't afraid to do the work. When staff sees their superintendent wiping tables and cleaning toilets, it sends a powerful message about dignity and shared responsibility. ✓ **Relationships are the foundation** – Playing with students, knowing their names, and genuinely investing in their development creates a school culture where everyone feels valued. ✓ **"Family first" must be lived, not just said** – Districts claiming to prioritize families while making budget cuts send mixed messages. Authentic family-first cultures are built through consistent, sometimes difficult decisions. ✓ **One leader can influence an entire district** – By shifting focus from test scores to student growth, from compliance to culture, superintendents can redirect their entire school system. ✓ **The best ROI is in retention** – Investing in staff development and creating a supportive culture costs less than constant turnover and is infinitely more impactful. Notable Quotes *"I frequently will go down and I'll go outside at recess and I'll play with the kindergartners and the first graders. And I can build those relationships and get to know an actual face and a person much more than just another number."* *"I've been raised with the idea of servant leadership. So, um, I've been known to wipe tables with the custodians when custodians were out sick during COVID, I'd clean toilets. You know, there's, there's not a job that I, I can't do."* *"We live by here family first. And I know some, some places you'll go, they'll say family first, but we mean it here."* *"Part of the decision making and going from the classroom into admin was I can touch more lives that way."* --- Listen Now If you're a school administrator, teacher leader, or educator searching for what authentic leadership looks like in practice, this episode is for you. Alex Moore's story proves that the best school culture isn't built from a desk—it's built in the hallways, on the playground, and in the willingness to do whatever it takes. **Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.** Share this episode with a colleague who needs to hear that transformational leadership is possible, even in under-resourced districts.