Episode 110 · September 5, 2023
Stacy Strow
with Stacy Strow, Principal, Wolf Creek Elementary (Broken Arrow)
27 min
Stacy Strow
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In this episode
In this episode I sit down with Stacy Strow, principal at Wolf Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow. Stacy landed on our radar in the best possible way — after Tulsa Kids posted about what families love about their school, the comments filled up with people telling us how amazing she is. So we knew we had to talk to her, and I'm so glad we did.
Stacy has spent 31 years in education, 18 of them as a principal, and her love for the work pours out of every answer. We talk about why she chose this path, what it really takes to be a good teacher, and the small daily practices — like learning every single child's name — that make kids feel valued and safe. She also shares the Starfish story that keeps her going: even if you can only reach one child, it matters to that one.
What I love most is how honest Stacy is about the surprise of it all — she went into education to make an impact on kids, and didn't realize how much they would impact her. If you're a parent sending a little one off to school, a current teacher, or someone wondering whether education is worth it, this conversation is full of warmth and real, doable encouragement. Keep going — you'll want to hear this one.
Key takeaways
- Learning names builds belonging and safety. Stacy and her counselor literally practice, room by room, for the first three weeks of school — and several staff members know every child's name in the building.
- Reach for impact, but stay open to being changed. Stacy went into teaching to make a difference in kids, and the biggest surprise was how much the kids made a difference in her.
- The Starfish story is her compass: you can't save every starfish, but it matters to the one you throw back. Making a difference for even one child makes the work worth it.
- For parents: figure out how you'll communicate with the school and teacher early. Success in the elementary years comes when parents and school are on the same team and trust is built.
- For teachers: relationships plus strong classroom management are everything. Set clear expectations, be consistent, follow through with consequences — and balance it with plenty of praise, goal setting, and focus on the positive.
- Culture is modeled, not mandated. When adults in the building value and respect each other, kids treat each other the same way.
- Every year is a fresh start — a new year of promise and hope. That renewal is exactly what keeps Stacy excited to go to work after three decades.
Chapters
- —Welcome and how Stacy landed on our radar
- —Why Stacy chose education and the road to becoming a principal
- —Fun fact: Squirt the 31-year-old turtle
- —The Starfish story and making a difference for one child
- —Why people should pursue a career in education
- —Learning every child's name — and why it matters
- —Building a school culture that trickles down to kids
- —The Wolf Creek mission statement and how it was created
- —What she wishes she'd known when she started
- —Advice for parents as the school year begins
- —What makes Broken Arrow and this work worth it
- —Advice for future and current teachers
- —Being a boy mom, learning from kids, and running into former students
- —Closing reflections and where to connect
“I went into teaching because I wanted to make an impact... what I didn't realize way back then is the impact the kids were going to make on me.”
“Well, it matters to that one. That's why I get up every day and go to work — to make a difference to that one starfish.”
“I do it because I want the kids to feel value. I want them to know that we know them.”
“Set the expectations, be consistent. Kids want boundaries. They want to be held accountable, and they want to be happy and in a safe place.”
“I 100% feel like I was called to be in education, and I'm just so fortunate and blessed that I was able to do that.”
About Stacy
Principal, Wolf Creek Elementary (Broken Arrow)
Stacy Strow has spent 31 years in education, including 18 years as a principal. She currently leads Wolf Creek Elementary in Broken Arrow, where she is known for learning every child's name and building a school culture rooted in relationships, safety, and respect.
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