I Love This Place with Patrick Erwin – PMP520

A Quick Note to Listeners:

Before this week’s interview, Jen Schwanke and I take some time to answer a listener question. This week’s question is:

What practical ways can I increase visibility even when I get trapped in my office so often?

Listen in to hear our answer!

Meet Patrick Erwin:

Patrick M. Erwin is an educator, speaker, and leadership development specialist currently serving as Curriculum Director for Maxwell Leadership Foundation. With a background that blends music education, leadership, and school culture development, Patrick spent 17 years as the band director at Hillgrove High School, where he became known for building strong student leadership systems and positive team culture.

He holds degrees from the University of Georgia, Auburn University, and Berry College. Patrick is the author of the new book I Love This Place, which explores how intentional leadership development can transform school culture. A nationally recognized presenter and leadership coach, Patrick continues to encourage educators through speaking, curriculum design, and practical strategies that help schools become places where both students and staff thrive.

Amplifying School Culture Through Leadership:

Patrick and I begin our conversation by exploring one of the central metaphors in Patrick’s new book, I Love This Place: the idea of constructive and destructive interference in music. Patrick explains how school teams either amplify one another or unintentionally cancel each other out depending on how aligned they are around vision, values, and expected behaviors. Just as musical harmony requires people playing together with intention, healthy school culture requires leaders who clearly communicate purpose and create alignment across teams. Leadership, Patrick argues, becomes more influential when others catch the vision and begin amplifying it alongside you.

The Leadership Framework of HUSTLE:

Patrick also shares the story behind the acronym HUSTLE, a leadership framework he developed while leading a large high school band program. Originally a reminder to move quickly and stay focused, HUSTLE eventually evolved into a practical leadership model centered on key character traits: humility, understanding, scholarship, trustworthiness, leadership attitude, and excellence. Patrick explains how those values became the foundation for developing student leaders who could influence culture, support one another, and help sustain a thriving organization far beyond what t