Dr. Sheldon Berman Talks Integration, Division, and the Importance of Knowing Our History
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 01/30/2024
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
info_outline Dr. Ron Taylor's Imperfect Leader's Playbook: Integrity, Grace, and TrustAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
info_outline The Power of Listening: Jerry Almendarez on Leadership, Collaboration, and Embracing ImperfectionAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
🎙️Join us for this insightful conversation with Jerry Almendarez, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District Jerry's leadership journey provided valuable takeaways, especially regarding school improvement initiatives: The Power of Student Voice 🗣️: Jerry emphasized the importance of incorporating student perspectives in decision-making processes. He shared a compelling anecdote about how pausing a graduate profile rollout to conduct student listening sessions led to crucial insights and ultimately, a more impactful outcome. Resisting Quick Decisions 🛑: Jerry...
info_outline Be Caught Trying with Samir Goel: A Conversation on Leadership and Gratitude (Encore +)An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
INTRO: It's Thanksgiving week, and what better time to reflect on the things we're grateful for? 🙏 This week, we're sharing an encore episode (with before and after commentary with Jamie Almanzán) that truly embodies the spirit of gratitude. 🍂 Join me as I speak with Samir Goel, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, a company dedicated to dismantling barriers to housing for working families. What truly resonated with me was Samir's moral focus and his commitment to creating win-win solutions. 🙌 Whether it's through Esusu's mission to helps individuals build credit or the rent...
info_outline Beyond the Default Setting: Larry Dake on Embracing Imperfection, Cultivating GrowthAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Dr. Larry Dake, Superintendent of the Chenango Valley Central School District, shares invaluable lessons learned throughout his leadership journey, emphasizing the importance of: Relationships: Building strong relationships with staff, students, and families is crucial for effective leadership. Dr. Dake highlights the power of visibility and accessibility, advocating for "management by walking around" to foster meaningful connections and gain valuable insights. Empathy: Leaders must approach challenging...
info_outline When Education Wins, We All Win: A Conversation with Vikas PotaAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
It was an honor to have as our guest on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast 🎧 🎙️ We had a fantastic conversation about T4 Education, the World's Best School Prize, and the importance of recognizing and celebrating the amazing work happening in schools around the globe. Here are four key takeaways: Shining a Spotlight on Success: Prizes are a powerful way to recognize the achievements of entire school communities, not just individuals. This recognition can inspire others, attract resources, and drive systemic change. 🏆 The Power of...
info_outline Tony Aylsworth Builds Trust and Teaches Us How Every Vote CountsAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
It's Election Day! Make sure you get out there and make your voice heard-- every vote counts! 🎧 In this encore episode of An Imperfect Leader, we feature , Superintendent of Pleasantville Community Schools in Pleasantville, Iowa. Tony shares valuable insights from his leadership journey, including: The Power of Collective Aspiration: Tony discusses how he works with his school community to define shared images of success and create pathways for students to thrive. He highlights the importance of character education, emphasizing service and community engagement. Leading Through Uncertainty:...
info_outline Dr. Kim Hartmann's Recipe for Outcome-Focused School Boards: TrustAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Join us as we sit down with , CEO of KCH Solutions and former school board member, for a conversation about building trust, fostering collaboration, and navigating the complexities of school leadership. Kim shares invaluable insights from her experience in both the corporate and education worlds, including: 🔑 The critical link between trust and outcomes: When trust is present, school boards focus on results. When trust is lacking, they get bogged down in process. 🤝 Strategies for building high-performing teams: Discover the power of team psychological safety, a key ingredient for...
info_outline Dr. Rachel White Talks Mirrors, Windows, and Data in the SuperintendencyAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Join Jamie Almanzán and me for an insightful conversation with Dr. Rachel White, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. White, a former school board member and policy analyst, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for equity to her research on the superintendency. In this episode, you'll learn: 💡 The importance of humanizing the superintendency. Dr. White discusses the need to see superintendents as individuals with feelings, families, and a deep commitment to their communities. 📊 The stark...
info_outline Beyond the Label: Kurt Schneider Transforms Education for Every LearnerAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
📣 Tune in to the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader 🎧 featuring r of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 in Highland Park, Illinois. Dr. Schneider shares his insights on leading systemic transformation in education, emphasizing the importance of equity and inclusion for ALL learners. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation: *️⃣ Transformation requires a cultural shift, not just initiatives: Kurt highlights the need to move beyond temporary programs and embrace inclusive practices that benefit every student. *️⃣ Meaningful change takes time and patience: Kurt...
info_outlineINTRO: This episode is coming out just as I have returned from co-presenting at a conference hosted by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (or COSA). During our presentation, we talked about distinguishing between reform and transformation. Specifically, that reform is usually made up of outside forces telling you what to do, coaching for compliance and using sticks and carrots to get results. Whereas transformation is about establishing your district’s compelling purpose. It relies on cycles of inquiry and peer coaching, and adjusting the goal, when appropriate. It relies on appreciative inquiry, the act at looking at what’s going well and then working to get more of it. My guest today talks about one of the more challenging issues urban school districts face: segregated schools. In this case, in Louisville, KY, the schools were integrated and served as a successful model for the nation. Political interests forced a change, and my guest, Sheldon Berman, was Louisville’s superintendent at the time. In his words, “there was a collective interest in retaining the best integrated school district.” Want to know what happened? Listen to his After Action Review.
In the episode, we also talk about an article Shelley wrote: Taking a Stand Against Divisive Concepts Laws. We talk about how to be a principled leader, one that works to reclaim the narrative, that when you’re defending, you’re losing (advice from one of Shelly’s former board members).
Thanks for tuning in. I’m Peter Stiepleman and this is An Imperfect Leader
BIO: Dr. Sheldon Berman is a veteran superintendent having served 28 year in Hudson and Andover, MA, Jefferson County (Louisville), KY, and Eugene, OR. During his tenure in Andover, he launched a new strategic plan focused on innovation and authentic learning. This included capstone projects for 5th, 8th and 12th graders, innovation labs and maker spaces, and a high school global network focused on the United Nations sustainability goals. On January 1, 2021, Dr. Berman was appointed AASA’s Lead Superintendent for Social-Emotional Learning.
-------
An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by Yondr.
Schools around the world are seeing the damaging effects of phones on student engagement, social development, and mental health.
Yondr has developed a unique product and program to allow schools to become phone-free, from arrival to dismissal.
Learn why 1 Million Students use Yondr every day.
MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS. MAXIMIZE LEARNING POTENTIAL.
Go to overyondr.com to learn more.
-------
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at www.human-centeredleaders.com.
Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley.
Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.
-------
NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
"What do we want to create together?"
So proud to have co-written the foreword with Zach Taylor to this essential book on Human-Centered School Transformation. If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page.
-------
AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
My book, An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is available at Amazon.com. If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or peterstiepleman.com to order a copy.