The Golden Waffle Principle
From Celebration to Publication
Honoring a Legacy
Educators are often overwhelmed, under-supported, and stretched thin—yet their stories, wisdom, and reflections are rarely given a platform outside of academic circles.
Steven R. Perkins, a beloved Latin teacher and the 2014 Indiana Teacher of the Year, had a compelling message to share about the deeper meaning of teaching, but needed support to bring his vision to life as a professionally published book.
The Big Idea
In honor of the 10-year anniversary of his statewide recognition, Steve set out to publish The Golden Waffle Principle: Finding Meaning in Teaching, a powerful collection of essays that celebrates the art and heart of teaching.
Cogrounded partnered with Steve to develop, design, and publish the book under its new imprint, offering a seamless pathway from manuscript to marketplace.
Activate – Build – Grow
Activate
Supported manuscript refinement, established a publishing roadmap aligned with Teacher Appreciation Week, and shaped the book’s visual identity.
Build
Designed a custom interior layout and cover with the author’s son, managed ISBN/metadata, and produced hardcover and softcover editions.
Grow
Positioned the release around national recognition timelines, developed marketing materials, and enabled bulk ordering for outreach.
The Impact
- Debut title published under Cogrounded’s imprint
- Released in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week 2025
- Available globally in hardcover and paperback via Amazon and Barnes & Noble
- Already praised by national and international educators for its insight, wisdom, and encouragement
- Features an exclusive design collaboration between author and son—a rare father-son publishing project
Expanding Awareness
With The Golden Waffle Principle now published, Cogrounded is partnering with Steve to expand awareness through book events and speaking engagements.
