Culture
Unite teams around shared identity, strong relationships, and a clear sense of belonging.
Leadership support rooted in real school experience
Better Together Leadership
Building one school, one culture, and one community.
Better Together Leadership 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 Leadership 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."
Presentations & Services
Workshops, Presentations, and Practical Resources
Practical support for schools and districts through keynote-style presentations, hands-on workshops, and ready-to-use leadership resources connected to culture, change, data, and AI.
People Over Paperwork Workshop
Practical AI for educators who want to save time, improve feedback, strengthen instruction, and reinvest more energy in people.
People Over Paperwork Presentation & Resources
Beyond Spreadsheets shows how school leaders can use AI to lead smarter, reduce paperwork, and create more time for people.
Better Together Presentation & Resources
From "Why Us?" to "Whee!" shares the leadership story of building one school, one culture, and one community through change.
Better Together Leadership Workshop
A practical workshop for leadership teams ready to strengthen culture, relationships, communication, and systems for lasting school improvement.
Book WorkshopPeople Over Paperwork
Practical AI Workshop for Educators
A full-day, hands-on workshop designed to help school leaders and educators use AI to reclaim time, strengthen instruction, improve decisions, and invest more in people than paperwork.
Workshop Resources
Participant Resource Library
Schools that book the workshop receive an access code for slides, activities, sample data files, and AI Gallery Walk resources.
Code can be changed by editing the workshop access setting in script.js.
Unlocked Workshop Area
People Over Paperwork Resources
Add slides, participant handouts, and follow-up materials here as the workshop library grows. Start in the Activities section to open the AI Gallery Walk or the AI Build Challenge.
Slides
Open People Over Paperwork workshop slide decks.
Activities
Open hands-on workshop activities for participants.
Sample Data Files
Use these files during Station 4 for benchmark and growth analysis.
Biology Pre-Test Biology Benchmark 1 Biology SOL Post-TestAI Gallery Walk Activity
Five Stations for Reclaiming Time
Participants rotate through five practical stations focused on feedback, lesson design, standards and assessments, data conversations, and leadership systems.
7 Minutes
Station 1: Better Feedback for Teachers
Mission: Turn quick classroom walkthrough notes into meaningful, growth-focused instructional feedback that supports teachers while saving administrators valuable time.
Walkthrough Feedback Coach
Purpose: Turn quick classroom walkthrough notes into meaningful, growth-focused instructional feedback that supports teachers while saving administrators valuable time.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please take my walkthrough notes below and generate professional walkthrough feedback focused on student engagement.
Include:
- Celebrations
- Instructional strengths
- Evidence observed
- One reflective question
- One actionable next step
- An encouraging closing statement
Walkthrough Notes
Teacher: Mrs. Emily Carter
Course: Algebra I
Walkthrough Focus: Student Engagement
9:18-9:28 walkthrough
- Learning target posted and referenced
- Bell ringer started immediately
- Students working collaboratively in pairs
- 18 of 21 students actively engaged
- Teacher circulating and checking for understanding
- Students explaining thinking to partners
- Academic vocabulary heard: slope, intercept, substitute
- One group briefly off task; teacher redirected quickly
- Most questions were procedural
- Only two higher-order questions observed
- Several students waited for teacher before attempting the next problem
- Exit ticket aligned with lesson objective
- Positive classroom climate
- Students respectful and comfortable asking questions
- Consider increasing opportunities for students to justify reasoning before teacher assistance
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Create a short email to the teacher that shares this feedback in a conversational, encouraging, and coaching-focused tone.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
What are two or three high-impact coaching questions I could ask during a five-minute follow-up conversation with this teacher?
Formal Teacher Observer
Purpose: Generate a comprehensive formal observation aligned to the Virginia Uniform Performance Standards from your classroom observation notes.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please take my classroom observation notes below and provide professional comments aligned to all eight Virginia Uniform Performance Standards.
Formal Observation Notes
Teacher: Mr. Michael Reynolds
Course: Biology I
Learning target posted: Students will compare photosynthesis and cellular respiration using evidence from today's lab.
- Teacher reviewed lesson objective and success criteria.
- Bell ringer connected previous learning.
- Materials organized before students entered.
- Teacher modeled lab expectations clearly.
- Students worked collaboratively in groups of four with assigned roles.
- Students used academic vocabulary: chlorophyll, glucose, ATP, carbon dioxide, oxygen.
- Teacher circulated consistently and checked for understanding.
- Teacher used questioning to uncover misconceptions.
- Students justified responses using evidence from their lab.
- Teacher redirected misconceptions about ATP production.
- Nearly all students actively engaged.
- Positive classroom culture.
- Students respectful and comfortable asking questions.
- Exit ticket aligned with today's learning target.
Possible growth areas:
- Increase opportunities for student-led questioning.
- Provide enrichment opportunities for advanced learners.
- Increase structured student reflection before whole-group discussion.
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Add more depth to the comments by including additional evidence from the observation and explaining the instructional impact.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Design a post-observation conference agenda based on this observation.
Include:
- Celebrations
- Reflective questions
- Coaching conversation
- Areas for continued growth
- Agreed-upon next steps
Follow-Up Prompt #3
What are the strongest coaching points I should discuss during the post-observation conference?
Reflection: Discuss with your partner:
- Which tool would save you the most time?
- How could these tools improve the quality of your feedback?
- How could AI allow you to spend more time coaching and less time writing?
- What would you still personalize before sharing feedback with a teacher?
People Over Paperwork Reflection: If this station saved you 30 minutes every week, how would you reinvest that time in your teachers or students?
7 Minutes
Station 2: Building Better Lessons
Mission: Great instruction begins with great planning. These AI tools help teachers create engaging, standards-aligned lessons and serve as an instructional coach by evaluating lesson quality before students ever walk into the classroom.
By the end of this station, you will:
- Create a complete Virginia SOL lesson.
- Evaluate two lesson plans for rigor and instructional quality.
- Discover how AI can strengthen planning while preserving teacher creativity.
AHPS Virginia SOL Lesson Plan Creator
Purpose: Create engaging, standards-aligned Virginia lesson plans that include best instructional practices, differentiation, formative assessment, and student engagement.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Create a complete Virginia SOL lesson plan using the information below.
Include:
- Learning Target
- Essential Question
- Success Criteria
- Bell Ringer
- Vocabulary
- Direct Instruction (I Do)
- Guided Practice (We Do)
- Independent Practice (You Do)
- Formative Assessment
- Exit Ticket
- Differentiation
- Extension Activities
- Student Reflection
Lesson Information
Course: Algebra I
Virginia SOL: A.4 - The student will solve systems of linear equations in two variables using graphing and algebraic methods.
Lesson Topic: Solving Systems of Equations by Graphing
Class Length: 90 Minutes
Student Needs:
- Mixed ability classroom
- Three students receive accommodations
- Two English Learners
- Several students need additional opportunities for mathematical discourse
- One student requires enrichment opportunities
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Revise this lesson to increase student engagement and collaborative learning opportunities.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Suggest three formative assessment strategies I can use throughout the lesson to check for understanding.
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Create differentiated supports for struggling learners and enrichment activities for students who master the content early.
Assistant: Evaluating the Rigor of a Lesson Plan
Purpose: Evaluate lesson plans for standards alignment, rigor, student engagement, instructional flow, cognitive demand, differentiation, and overall lesson effectiveness.
Think of this GPT as your instructional coach.
Activity 1: Evaluate Lesson Plan A
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please evaluate the lesson plan below.
Analyze:
- Standards Alignment
- Learning Target
- Student Engagement
- Instructional Rigor
- Depth of Knowledge
- Formative Assessment
- Student Discourse
- Differentiation
- Overall Lesson Effectiveness
Provide strengths, areas for improvement, and specific recommendations.
Lesson Plan A
Teacher: Mrs. Ashley Roberts
Course: Algebra I
Lesson Length: 90 Minutes
Virginia SOL: A.4 - Solve systems of linear equations in two variables using graphing and algebraic methods.
Learning Target: I can solve systems of equations by graphing and explain why the point of intersection represents the solution.
Essential Question: How can multiple methods be used to determine whether two relationships share the same solution?
Success Criteria:
- Solve systems using graphing.
- Explain mathematical reasoning.
- Compare multiple solution methods.
- Defend answers using evidence.
Bell Ringer: Students analyze two graphs and predict where they will intersect. Students complete a Turn and Talk discussing: "What do you notice?" and "What do you wonder?"
Direct Instruction (I Do): Teacher models solving one system using Desmos while thinking aloud. Students predict each next step before it is completed.
Guided Practice (We Do): Students solve progressively more difficult systems with partners. Teacher circulates asking probing questions instead of providing answers.
Collaborative Learning (You Do Together): Groups solve a real-world ticket sales problem. Students create chart paper explaining their mathematical process, supporting evidence, and why their solution works. Groups participate in a gallery walk and provide peer feedback.
Checks for Understanding:
- Whiteboards
- Poll Everywhere
- Teacher questioning
- Peer feedback
- Exit Ticket
Differentiation Supports: Graphic organizers, color-coded graphs, and sentence stems.
Extensions: Three-variable systems and students create their own real-world application.
Assessment: Students complete an exit ticket requiring them to solve, explain, and defend reasoning.
Reflection: Students complete "I used to think..." and "Now I think..."
Quick Reflection
- What strengths did the GPT identify?
- Was there anything you had not considered?
- What suggestions could make an already strong lesson even better?
Activity 2: Evaluate Lesson Plan B
Use the same beginning prompt above.
Lesson Plan B
Teacher: Mr. Jason Miller
Course: Algebra I
Lesson Length: 90 Minutes
Virginia SOL: A.4
Learning Target: Students will learn systems of equations.
Bell Ringer: Finish yesterday's homework.
Direct Instruction: Teacher lectures using PowerPoint for approximately 35 minutes. Students copy notes into their notebooks. Teacher demonstrates four examples while students watch.
Guided Practice: Teacher completes two additional examples with the class. Students volunteer answers when called upon.
Independent Practice: Students complete twenty textbook problems independently.
Student Engagement: Students raise their hand if they need assistance.
Checks for Understanding: Teacher asks, "Does everyone understand?"
Assessment: Students solve one system of equations for an exit ticket.
Differentiation: Students who finish early complete additional textbook problems. Students needing help may ask the teacher.
Closure: Teacher reminds students homework is due tomorrow.
Quick Reflection
- What concerns did the GPT identify?
- Which instructional areas need the greatest improvement?
- How would the student experience differ between Lesson A and Lesson B?
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Compare Lesson Plan A and Lesson Plan B.
Which lesson demonstrates stronger alignment, engagement, rigor, and instructional effectiveness?
Use specific evidence from each lesson to support your analysis.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Rewrite Lesson Plan B so it reflects high-quality instructional practices while remaining realistic for a 90-minute Algebra I lesson.
Keep the same Virginia SOL and lesson topic.
Follow-Up Prompt #3
If you conducted a classroom walkthrough during each lesson, what instructional evidence would you likely observe in Lesson A versus Lesson B?
Reflection: Discuss with your partner:
- Which tool would save you more planning time?
- Which lesson would you rather experience as a student?
- Which improvements had the greatest impact on lesson quality?
- How could these GPTs support new teachers, PLCs, or instructional coaching?
People Over Paperwork Reflection: If AI could help you strengthen every lesson before it was taught, how would that improve student learning while giving you more time to focus on students instead of paperwork?
7 Minutes
Station 3: Better Standards & Better Assessments
Mission: Great instruction begins with a deep understanding of the standard. Great assessments ensure students demonstrate the intended learning.
These AI tools help educators unpack standards, identify what students must truly know and do, and evaluate whether assessments accurately measure student learning.
By the end of this station, you will:
- Unpack a Virginia SOL into student-friendly learning targets.
- Evaluate whether an assessment truly measures the standard.
- Discover how AI can strengthen instruction before students are assessed.
Assistant: Unpacking a Standard
Purpose: Break a Virginia SOL into clear learning targets, essential understandings, vocabulary, misconceptions, and instructional priorities.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please unpack the Virginia SOL below.
Include:
- Student-Friendly Learning Targets
- Essential Understandings
- Academic Vocabulary
- Common Student Misconceptions
- Essential Questions
- Success Criteria
- Formative Assessment Ideas
Virginia SOL
Virginia Mathematics SOL A.4
The student will solve systems of linear equations in two variables using graphing and algebraic methods.
The student will:
- Determine the solution to a system graphically.
- Interpret the meaning of the point of intersection.
- Verify solutions.
- Apply systems of equations to solve practical problems.
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Create three student-friendly "I Can" statements from this standard.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
What misconceptions do students commonly have when learning this standard, and how can teachers proactively address them?
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Design three engaging classroom activities that would help students master this standard.
Quick Reflection
- What part of the standard did the GPT emphasize?
- Were there misconceptions you had not considered?
- How could this improve collaborative planning during PLCs?
Assistant: Analyzing an Assessment
Purpose: Evaluate teacher-created assessments for alignment, cognitive demand, rigor, and balance to ensure students are being assessed on the intended learning.
Challenge
This assessment intentionally includes both strengths and weaknesses.
Before asking AI to evaluate it, discuss with your partner:
- Which questions appear well aligned?
- Which questions seem weak?
- Which questions require deeper thinking?
Then compare your observations with the GPT's analysis.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please evaluate the assessment below.
Analyze:
- Alignment to the Virginia SOL
- Standards Coverage
- Cognitive Demand (Depth of Knowledge)
- Balance of Question Types
- Student Thinking Required
- Instructional Rigor
- Potential Gaps
Provide strengths, areas for improvement, and specific recommendations.
Sample Assessment
Algebra I Quiz
Virginia SOL A.4
Systems of Linear Equations
Directions: Answer all questions. Show your work where appropriate.
- Solve the following system by graphing: y = 2x + 3 and y = -x + 6. (4 points)
- Solve the system algebraically: 2x + y = 8 and x - y = 1. (4 points)
- What is the definition of a system of linear equations? (2 points)
- Circle the point where the two lines intersect. Graph provided. A. (2,1) B. (1,4) C. (3,5) D. (0,2). (2 points)
- Which of the following is an example of slope? A. x + y = 4 B. y = 3x + 2 C. (4,5) D. x^2 + y^2 = 9. (2 points)
- A concert sold adult tickets for $12 and student tickets for $8. 150 total tickets were sold for $1,520. Write and solve a system of equations to determine how many adult and student tickets were sold. Show all work. (6 points)
- Explain why the point of intersection represents the solution to a system of equations. Use mathematical evidence to support your answer. (4 points)
- Which solving method is ALWAYS the best method? A. Graphing B. Substitution C. Elimination D. There is always one correct method. (2 points)
- True or False: A system of equations always has exactly one solution. (1 point)
- Draw a picture that represents two intersecting lines. (2 points)
- Extra Credit: Write three interesting facts about famous mathematicians. (+3 points)
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Identify which questions are well aligned to the Virginia SOL and which questions should be revised or removed.
Explain your reasoning for each.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Rewrite this assessment so every question aligns to the intended Virginia SOL and includes an appropriate balance of procedural fluency, conceptual understanding, application, and mathematical reasoning.
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Classify each assessment question using Webb's Depth of Knowledge (DOK).
Explain why each question fits that level and identify where additional rigor is needed.
Station Reflection: Discuss with your partner:
- Which tool would you use more often?
- What surprised you most about the GPT's analysis?
- Were there assessment questions you initially thought were strong but actually missed the intent of the standard?
- How could these tools improve common assessments developed during PLC meetings?
People Over Paperwork Reflection: How could using AI to unpack standards and evaluate assessments before instruction begins improve student learning while saving teachers valuable planning time?
Better Together Challenge: Think about one assessment you use every year. Does it truly measure the intent of the standard? Are students explaining their thinking or simply recalling information? Is there an appropriate balance of procedural fluency, conceptual understanding, and application? How could these AI tools help strengthen that assessment before your students ever take it?
7 Minutes
Station 4: Better Data Conversations
Mission: Turn assessment data into meaningful instructional decisions.
These AI tools help educators quickly identify trends, prioritize instructional needs, organize intervention groups, and create actionable next steps from assessment data.
By the end of this station, you will:
- Analyze benchmark or assessment data.
- Identify instructional priorities.
- Develop intervention groups.
- Generate reteaching strategies.
- Prepare for productive PLC conversations.
Assessment Data Bot
Purpose: Analyze assessment data and transform it into actionable instructional recommendations.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please analyze the assessment data I uploaded.
Upload These Sample Files
Upload:
- Biology Pre-Test
- Biology Benchmark
- Biology SOL Post-Test
Participants can upload one file or all three to compare growth.
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Identify the greatest student strengths and the highest-priority instructional needs.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Create intervention groups and recommend instructional strategies for each group.
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Compare the pre-test, benchmark, and post-test.
Highlight student growth, remaining learning gaps, and instructional trends.
Quick Reflection
- What trends surprised you?
- Which skills need immediate attention?
- How could this save time during data meetings?
PLC Discussion Prompter - Virginia SOL Edition
Purpose: Transform assessment data into productive PLC conversations focused on improving instruction and student learning.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please use the assessment data I uploaded to create a PLC discussion.
Use the Same Uploaded Files
Use the same uploaded assessment files from the previous activity.
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Create a 45-minute PLC agenda based on these assessment results.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
What are the biggest misconceptions students have, and what instructional strategies should teachers consider during reteaching?
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Develop a two-week reteaching plan and identify evidence teachers should collect to monitor student progress.
Station Reflection: Discuss with your partner:
- Which tool would you use first after giving a benchmark assessment?
- How could these tools improve the quality of your PLC meetings?
- What instructional decisions became clearer after using AI?
- How could these tools reduce the amount of time spent preparing for data meetings?
People Over Paperwork Reflection: If AI could prepare your benchmark analysis, intervention groups, and PLC agenda in just a few minutes, how would you reinvest that time to better support teachers and students?
Better Together Challenge: Imagine tomorrow is your PLC meeting. Instead of spending the first 30 minutes sorting through spreadsheets, you already have performance trends, student growth analysis, suggested intervention groups, priority standards, reteaching strategies, and a ready-to-use PLC agenda. How would that change the conversation?
7 Minutes
Station 5: Better Leadership
Mission: Great schools improve through intentional leadership - not just more meetings.
These AI tools help school leaders analyze instructional needs, develop action plans, strengthen walkthroughs, and focus coaching conversations around what matters most.
By the end of this station, you will:
- Create a leadership action plan.
- Identify instructional priorities.
- Develop walkthrough look-fors.
- Generate coaching questions.
- Discover how AI can strengthen instructional leadership.
School Plan Assistant
Purpose: Develop improvement plans, testing plans, leadership action plans, and implementation timelines aligned to school priorities.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please help me develop a school improvement action plan using the information below.
School Improvement Scenario
School: Jefferson High School
Enrollment: 1,120 Students
Recent Benchmark Results:
- Reading proficiency: 72%
- Mathematics proficiency: 61%
- Biology proficiency: 67%
Walkthrough Trends:
- Students are generally engaged during direct instruction.
- Student discourse is inconsistent across classrooms.
- Teachers frequently ask procedural questions rather than higher-order questions.
- Formative assessment strategies vary greatly between classrooms.
- Learning targets are posted in nearly every classroom but are not consistently referenced during instruction.
Teacher Feedback:
- Teachers would like additional support with questioning strategies.
- PLC meetings often focus more on logistics than instructional planning.
- New teachers need additional coaching on lesson design.
School Goal: Increase student engagement, academic discourse, and instructional rigor while improving mathematics achievement.
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Develop a 30-day leadership action plan with specific weekly priorities.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Identify the three highest-impact leadership actions that would improve instruction across the school.
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Create an agenda for a leadership team meeting focused on implementing this improvement plan.
Quick Reflection
- Would this help your leadership team stay focused?
- Which recommendation surprised you?
- What actions would you implement first?
Virginia Instructional Leadership Coach
Purpose: Develop a shared instructional vision by identifying evidence of high-quality instruction and strengthening coaching conversations.
Beginning Prompt
Copy and paste the prompt below into the GPT.
Please help me identify instructional priorities and develop walkthrough look-fors using the information below.
Leadership Scenario
Recent classroom walkthroughs revealed several instructional trends.
Observed Strengths:
- Positive classroom relationships
- Respectful learning environments
- Learning targets posted in most classrooms
- Teachers consistently circulate during independent work
Areas for Growth:
- Limited student-to-student discussion
- Most questioning remains teacher-directed
- Students rarely explain or justify their thinking
- Inconsistent formative assessment practices
- Limited opportunities for productive struggle
- Closure activities are often rushed or omitted
Leadership Goal: Develop a consistent instructional focus across the school that increases student engagement, academic discourse, and deeper thinking.
Follow-Up Prompt #1
Develop a walkthrough observation tool focused on these instructional priorities.
Follow-Up Prompt #2
Create five coaching questions I could use during post-walkthrough conversations with teachers.
Follow-Up Prompt #3
Develop a faculty professional learning session that addresses these instructional needs.
Station Reflection: Discuss with your partner.
- Which leadership tool would you use first?
- How could these tools improve your instructional leadership?
- Which recommendation would have the greatest impact on teaching and learning?
- How could AI reduce time spent preparing for meetings while increasing time spent coaching teachers?
People Over Paperwork Reflection: If AI helped you spend less time writing plans and preparing meetings, how could you reinvest that time to better support teachers and students?
Better Together Challenge: Imagine tomorrow morning. Instead of spending an hour creating school improvement plans, leadership meeting agendas, walkthrough focus documents, coaching questions, and professional development plans, they're already waiting for you. What could you do with that extra hour?
Workshops
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.
Better 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.
Pilot Update
Graduation Intelligence Center Updates
Secure update downloads for existing pilot installations of the Graduation Intelligence Center.
The system helps counselors and administrators monitor graduation requirements, retesting needs, credentials, readiness indicators, and local reporting.
People 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.
Graduation Intelligence Center
Pilot 1.2.4 Update
For existing pilot installations. This download contains application updates only and no student data. Close the Graduation Intelligence Center before installing.
About the Graduation Intelligence Center
The Graduation Intelligence Center is a secure, locally operated student graduation tracking system designed for school counselors and administrators. It combines assessment results, transcripts, verified credits, credentials, readiness indicators, and local graduation requirements into clear student profiles and class grids.
The system helps schools identify missing requirements, monitor retesting needs, create graduation agreements and checklists, resolve unmatched records, and generate Excel and PDF reports. School data remains on the school-controlled computer or district server and is not sent to the developer, cloud analytics, or external AI services.
The program is currently being piloted with school divisions to evaluate usability, data accuracy, reporting, and local implementation.
Install the Pilot 1.2.4 Update
- Close the Graduation Intelligence Center and its black server window.
- Download the Pilot 1.2.4 Update Only ZIP.
- Open the ZIP in File Explorer.
- Select everything inside with Ctrl+A.
- Drag those items into the existing Graduation Intelligence Center folder containing application, runtime, and school_data.
- Choose Replace the files in the destination.
- Do not delete or replace the school_data folder.
- Restart using Start Graduation Intelligence Center.bat.
- Open Release Notes and confirm Pilot Edition 1.2.4 - July 29, 2026.
Current pilot update: Pilot Edition 1.2.4 - July 29, 2026.
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.
ListenTeachers on Fire
A conversation on the Better Together story, school culture, leadership through change, and practical ways AI can help educators spend more time with people and less time on paperwork.
WatchUnlocking Unlimited Potential Stories
Building One School from Two Rivals with Derek Cantrell - a conversation about leading through change, building trust, and creating one unified school culture.
ListenPrincipal JL Substack
What Happens When Two Rival High Schools Become One? Lessons in leadership from Virginia's Outstanding Principal of the Year.
Read ArticleEducational Leadership with Principal JL
Episode 77: How to successfully merge two rival high schools with leadership lessons from Derek Cantrell.
Listen Watch VideoDistrict Administration - Change Makers Podcast
How two principals are designing professional learning that sticks, with practical leadership lessons for building stronger adult learning.
Read Article ListenContact
Request Support
Share a few details about your school, district, or event. Better Together Leadership 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.