HR podcast profiles South Park Elementary principal on student connection and staff wellbeing

Dr. Marcy Faust, principal at South Park Elementary in Deerfield SD 109, told hosts of a district podcast that making students feel seen is the most important part of her work. In an episode of "HR in the Car," Faust described traditions she uses to build school culture, including a weekly "proud penguin of the week" recognition announced during livestreamed morning meetings and followed by positive phone calls to families.

Faust, who began teaching at South Park in 2003 and later served as assistant principal before becoming principal in 2020, said she spends time with kindergarten classes and holds "munch bunch" lunches so she can learn students’ names and family connections. "I try to think about what I look like to students and to visitors, and am I smiling, and am I being, like, a positive presence?" she said.

She credited two high-school mentors, a theater teacher "Mr. Conway" and guidance counselor "Mr. Benet," with influencing her path into school leadership. Faust recounted returning to school for a master’s in education after college and described how those mentors helped her see leadership as a goal.

On work–life balance, Faust advised younger educators to set boundaries and disconnect from constant email and phone notifications: "I want you to give your all when you are at work, and I want you to save the hard emails and the tense ones for work so your colleagues are there to support you." She said that learning to recharge has made this her best professional year and has had a positive effect on staff morale.

The episode is framed as a human-interest profile rather than a public meeting: it contains personal reflections, school-level traditions, and career stories but does not record any district decisions, votes, motions, or formal actions.