Culture
Unite teams around shared identity, strong relationships, and a clear sense of belonging.
Leadership support rooted in real school experience
Better Together Consulting
Building one school, one culture, and one community.
Better Together Consulting grows from Derek Cantrell's experience bringing two rival schools together through consolidation and helping a new school community become stronger together. Derek helps leaders build practical systems for culture, data-informed decisions, instructional growth, and AI tools that save educators time.
Data
Turn dashboards and team conversations into decisions that support students and instruction.
AI
Use AI thoughtfully to reduce workload, improve planning, and protect time for people.
Field-Tested Leadership
From "Why Us?" to "Whee!"
Derek's work is shaped by the lived experience of consolidation: helping students, staff, families, and community members move from uncertainty into shared pride. The lesson behind Better Together is simple and demanding: culture is built through what people feel, how they are treated, and what leaders reinforce every day.
About
Derek Cantrell
Derek Cantrell is a high school principal at Alleghany High School in Virginia and the 2026 Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP) Outstanding High School Principal of the Year.
- High school principal at Alleghany High School
- Author of Better Together
- Speaker and consultant
- 2026 VASSP Outstanding High School Principal of the Year
He is a recognized leader in school culture, instructional innovation, and leading through change. With nine years of experience as a principal, he has played a key role in the successful consolidation of two rival high schools into one unified school community, building a strong and positive culture centered on connection, collaboration, and shared success.
Under his leadership, Alleghany High School has implemented impactful initiatives focused on student engagement, staff recognition, and academic improvement. His work emphasizes relationships, clear systems, and intentional culture-building to drive both academic and organizational success.
Derek is a frequent presenter at state and national conferences, including the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP) and the Making Schools Work Conference in New Orleans. He has also been featured on education leadership podcasts, including the Proud Principal Podcast, Principal Matters, and Better Leaders Better Schools.
In addition to his leadership work, Derek is an author and speaker focused on helping schools navigate change while maintaining a strong, people-centered culture. His message centers on the idea that schools are strongest when they operate with a shared vision and a commitment to being Better Together.
Better Together Philosophy
People. Systems. Consistency.
Culture is not one more thing on a leader's plate. It is the plate. Better Together Consulting helps teams turn shared values into repeatable leadership habits that make people feel seen, supported, and ready to grow.
People
Build trust through relationships, visibility, listening, and moments that help staff and students feel noticed and valued.
Systems
Create clear routines for communication, meetings, recognition, data conversations, and instructional follow-through.
Consistency
Reinforce what matters daily so culture is taught, modeled, celebrated, and sustained beyond a single event.
The Book
Better Together: A Leadership Playbook for Culture, Change, and Unity
Derek's book tells the story behind the work: two proud rival high schools, decades of tradition, and the leadership challenge of helping students, staff, families, and a community build something new together.
The book is both story and playbook. It shares practical lessons on communication, trust, student voice, recognition, data leadership, AI in schools, daily positivity, and the first 90 days of leading change. Its central message is clear: culture does not happen by accident. It is built through daily choices, relationships, and consistent systems.
"If we didn't get the culture right, nothing else would work."
"Culture had to be intentionally built, day by day."
Services
Support Built for Real School Leadership
Practical workshops, keynotes, and consulting for leaders who want stronger culture, clearer systems, smarter use of data, and AI tools that make school work more manageable.
AI for School Leaders
Help leaders use AI to save time on planning, communication, meeting design, observation summaries, and daily leadership tasks.
Learn MoreCustom GPT Workshops
Build practical GPT tools for lesson planning, assessment review, PLC prompts, school improvement planning, and repeatable workflows.
Learn MoreSchool Culture & Climate
Strengthen trust, relationships, staff clarity, and belonging through systems leaders can sustain.
Learn MoreData Dashboards for Principals
Create dashboards and routines that help principals see patterns, track growth, ask better questions, and support students sooner.
Learn MoreBetter Together Leadership Systems
Turn the Better Together philosophy into practical rhythms for meetings, communication, decisions, and follow-through.
Learn MoreWorkshops
Sample Workshop Options
Each session can be adapted for school-based teams, district cohorts, leadership retreats, conferences, or consolidation culture work.
Half-Day AI Leadership Workshop
Outcomes: Identify practical AI use cases, draft time-saving prompts, and plan next steps for responsible implementation.
Format: Interactive half-day session with demonstrations, guided practice, and planning time connected to real leadership work.
Full-Day Custom GPT Workshop
Outcomes: Build and test custom GPT concepts for school workflows, communication, staff support, and instructional planning.
Format: Full-day design lab with examples, build time, feedback, and implementation planning.
Two-Day AI + Data Leadership Institute
Outcomes: Connect AI tools, dashboard design, data routines, and leadership systems into a plan that supports students and saves time.
Format: Two-day institute with templates, team collaboration, and facilitated action planning.
Better Together School Culture Workshop
Outcomes: Clarify adult culture priorities, strengthen relationships, and design systems that help a school become one community.
Format: Keynote, half-day, full-day, or retreat format with reflection, examples, and action planning.
Resources
Practical Tools for Culture, AI, and Leadership
Resources designed to help schools continue the Better Together work through book study, time-saving AI tools, and practical leadership systems.
Coming Soon
Better Together Book Study
Continue the Better Together journey with a leadership book study designed for schools and districts.
Facilitator guides, discussion questions, implementation resources, and leadership activities that help schools build one culture and one community.
Learn MorePeople Over Paperwork AI Tools
A collection of custom GPTs and AI tools designed to save school leaders and teachers time while improving instruction, communication, and school leadership.
Practical AI tools built specifically for educators to reduce paperwork and increase time with people.
Explore AI ToolsBetter Together Leadership Tools
Leadership systems, templates, and resources that help schools recognize, acknowledge, and extend the great things happening every day.
Practical leadership systems for building culture, strengthening relationships, improving communication, and creating lasting school improvement.
View Leadership ToolsPeople Over Paperwork
Custom AI Tools for Educators
These custom AI tools help educators save time, improve feedback, and streamline lesson design, data analysis, and planning. Each one is live and ready to explore today.
Walkthrough Feedback Coach
Generates positive, actionable, and growth-based walkthrough feedback aligned to observation notes.
Math CoPilot
Supports teachers with SOL-aligned math questions, reteaching ideas, and assessment design.
AHPS Virginia SOL Lesson Plan Creator
Builds complete SOL-aligned lesson plans with objectives, strategies, and checks for understanding.
Assessment Data Bot
Generates color-coded K-12 data reports with DOK analysis, growth tracking, and next steps.
School Plan Assistant
Drafts, organizes, and refines school improvement and testing plans aligned to priorities.
Assistant: Analyzing an Assessment
Evaluates teacher-made assessments for alignment, cognitive demand, and standard balance.
Assistant: Evaluating the Rigor of a Lesson Plan
Reviews lesson plans for rigor, engagement, and Depth of Knowledge levels.
Assistant: Unpacking a Standard
Breaks down Virginia SOLs into key understandings, essential questions, and student-friendly learning targets.
PLC Discussion Prompter - VA SOL Edition
Provides PLC discussion prompts based on SOL data, trends, and misconceptions.
Formal Teacher Observer
Creates detailed, rubric-aligned observation summaries with a professional and constructive tone.
Lesson Aligner
Reviews lesson plans for alignment to standards, learning targets, and rigor.
SOL Analyzer
Converts assessment or spreadsheet data into reteaching strategies, groupings, and PLC prompts.
Lesson Analyst
Analyzes lessons for instructional flow, engagement opportunities, and cognitive complexity.
SOL Prep Coach
Creates Virginia SOL multiple-choice assessments aligned to standards, blueprints, and released items.
Virginia Instructional Leadership Coach
Helps develop a shared observation lens focused on feedback, discourse, and the instructional core.
Better Together
Leadership Tools for Leading Culture Through Change
Practical systems, templates, and examples for communication, belonging, recognition, partnerships, adult learning, and staff voice.
Communication & Community Voice
AHS Communication Plan
Tools and planning documents for building culture through student voice, communication, and shared leadership.
Student Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda
Demonstrates how student voice informed planning, culture, and transition decisions.
AHS Cougars Parent Advisory Committee
Engages families through updates, tradition-honoring, questions, and partnership.
AHS Parent / Student Survey Questions
Questions for listening to families and students during thoughtful, student-centered consolidation.
AHS Student/Parent Survey
Captures student feedback on expectations, concerns, attendance factors, supports, and culture-building.
Student Belonging & Support
AHS Connection Program
A weekly lunch initiative that builds belonging, wellness, leadership, and career readiness.
Cougar Connect Attendance Mentorship
Pairs students with caring staff navigators to build relationships and improve attendance.
Cougar Champions Breakfast Program
A monthly recognition initiative celebrating excellence, kindness, leadership, and school pride.
Recognition, Readiness & Partnerships
Cougar Scholars Club
A tiered recognition program that celebrates students who meet SOL requirements early.
School Podcast Starter Toolkit
A step-by-step guide for launching a school podcast that elevates student and staff voice.
Cougar Compass Seal
A culminating recognition for seniors demonstrating academics, service, leadership, and future readiness.
Alleghany High School Sponsorship Levels
Tiered partnership opportunities supporting incentives, culture, and recognition programs.
Adult Learning & Staff Voice
Instructional Rounds - PD Summary
A structured peer observation model for reflective practice and continuous instructional improvement.
AHS Welcome Back - Staff Questionnaire
Captures staff voice, passions, needs, and supports to guide culture-building decisions.
Testimonials
Amazon Reviews for Better Together
"A must read for all school administrators."
Jerry Seeger, Amazon review
"This is an important book... for any principal who wants to create a family atmosphere."
Amazon Customer, Amazon review
"Culture is not built through programs or slogans, but through daily actions."
Jennifer Raether, Amazon review
"Invaluable to any school that wants to develop a culture of positivity."
Jaclyn Jones, Amazon review
Podcast & Media
Hear the Better Together Story
Explore Derek's school podcast, guest conversations, news features, and conference sessions about culture, consolidation, leadership systems, and practical change.
Featured Podcast
Better Together
A school podcast sharing stories, voices, and practical leadership lessons from the work of building one school, one culture, and one community.
Proud Principal Podcast
Building culture and leading through change.
ListenPrincipal Matters
Better Together with Derek Cantrell.
Apple Podcast YouTubeBetter Leaders / Better Schools
How one principal united two rival high schools.
ListenBeyond Self Care
Connection strategies for turning pressure into power.
WatchWDBJ7 News Interview
Educator spotlights book about reshaping a school division.
Read / WatchValue Proposition Podcast
A conversation on the Better Together story.
WatchTransformative Principal
Better Together with Derek Cantrell.
ListenCool Coffee
A principal's perspective on school leadership.
ListenRegulated Schools / Better Results
Leadership habits that create a unified, powerful school.
WatchHave a Life Teaching
Practical leadership conversation with Derek Cantrell.
ListenContact
Request Support
Share a few details about your school, district, or event. Better Together Consulting can follow up about bringing teams together, workshops, speaking, AI implementation, dashboards, culture, or practical leadership systems. Pricing is handled off-site after the scope, format, and travel needs are discussed.
Email: derekcatch19@aol.com