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
Unpacking the Science of Reading (and More!) with Kim Marshall and The Marshall Memo
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Join us for this week's episode of An Imperfect Leader featuring Kim Marshall, author and creator of . Kim has spent over 20 years curating the best research and ideas in education and distilling them into easily digestible summaries that have empowered countless educators. In this conversation, we discuss: The five levels of engagement with The Marshall Memo. Kim outlines how educators can use the Memo for individual learning, to facilitate team discussions, and even as a starting point for school-wide initiatives. The ongoing debate surrounding the "Science of Reading." Kim shares his...
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In Cape (Girardeau), They're Leading Like a Buffalo
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Howard Benyon, Superintendent of Cape Girardeau Public Schools in Missouri, and Dr. Brice Beck, Deputy Superintendent. These inspiring leaders share insights on: ✅ Making fearless, student-first decisions, especially when it comes to going #phone #free in their schools ✅ The concept of "Buffalo Leadership" 🦬 – facing challenges head-on and together ✅ Building a strong, supportive culture for teachers and staff ✅ Innovative retention strategies 🌟...
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Leading with Purpose: A Superintendent's Journey on the Wind River Reservation
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
and I are thrilled to announce today's guest on An Imperfect Leader is of s in Fremont District 21 on the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. A proud member of the and descendant of the , Deb has been recognized for her leadership, including being featured in the ' Women Leaders series in 2023. ✨ In this conversation, we dive into Deb’s experiences growing up between two worlds, her role as a trailblazer for Native students, and her efforts to bridge cultural understanding in education. We also discuss how she’s working to meet the needs of her community and...
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The Call to Courage: Shelley Berman Navigates Divisive Forces in Public Education
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
and I are thrilled to announce our guest, Dr. Shelley Berman, a veteran superintendent with over 28 years of experience across Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Oregon. He’s also the co-author of , a timely book co-written with Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent of Ithaca. In this episode, Shelley delves into the growing ideological divisions and attacks on public education that threaten our democratic foundations. He highlights key themes from his book, addressing how educators and leaders can foster the courage to stand firm in the face of divisiveness, while still championing...
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From Hartford to Hawaii: Dr. Christina Kishimoto's Voice 4 Equity in Leadership
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, (of ) and I took a journey with , who shared her remarkable leadership experiences from Connecticut to Arizona to Hawaii to . We dove into the unique challenges of leading Hawaii’s only statewide school district, covering 10,000+ square miles. Christina shares how navigating leadership across vastly different communities — from high-need urban districts to middle-class suburban schools — shaped her approach to resource allocation, community engagement, and equity. 🔑 ...
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Leading with Love: Dr. Luvelle Brown on Equity, Courage, and Compassion in Education
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Welcome to Season Three of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. We’re beginning this season with something truly special—we have a co-host! , a partner and equity coach at , will be joining me this season. Jamie brings a wealth of experience in equity work and leadership coaching, and I’m thrilled to have him help us dive even deeper into the complex issues facing education leaders today. Today, we’re excited to welcome , Superintendent of Ithaca Public Schools in New York. Dr. Brown has been recognized as one of the nation’s top school leaders,...
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Breaking the Rules: A Ruckus Maker's Guide to Leadership with Danny Bauer
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
INTRO: In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we have a very special guest. The Chief Ruckus Maker of , Danny Bauer, is here. You might be asking yourself what makes a Ruckus Maker. I assure you, I ask Danny that in the episode. Let me set the stage a little bit about why today is exciting. Danny describes himself as: An UNORTHODOX leadership coach and who loves to ask “Why follow the rules when you can make them up?” He hosts a podcast that ranks in the TOP 0.5% of all shows worldwide with over 2 million downloads. And he is a best-selling author of ! He has mentored...
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Leading with Compassion and Purpose: A Conversation with Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Intro: Hartford, Connecticut was the location of my very first hockey game. The Hartford Whalers vs the NY Rangers. And what a scene it was. During the second period, there was an obvious offense because both benches cleared and both teams were absolutely brawling! I find myself in Hartford at least once a year and so every year, I revisit, in my mind, that very violent episode in my life. But now, after talking with my guest, Dr. Torres-Rodriguez, I have a delightful replacement memory and for that, I am grateful. My mentor, Dr. Linda Henke, the creator of the human-centered school...
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Jennifer Cheatham Leads Evaluation Revelations & Discipline Transformations
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Hello, Imperfect Leaders! INTRO: Evaluations. In every single profession, employees are evaluated. They are evaluated by their direct supervisors or evaluated by a board of directors. Often they are evaluated by the people they lead in the form of a survey (often referred to as a 360 survey). Plus, there are informal evaluations conducted by the community over social media (those can be brutal). Formal evaluations can be difficult to navigate if there is not a clear process and protocol established at the very beginning. How often have you entered an evaluation meeting only to discover...
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From Finance to the Front Lines: Leading in Kentucky with Matt Robbins
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
INTRO: In this episode, Matt Robbins is my guest. Matt is the Superintendent of the Daviess County Public Schools in Daviess County, Kentucky. What’s different about Matt is that he didn’t follow a traditional route to the superintendency. His background is in finance. In this episode, we talk a little about how his past experiences help him in his current job. In Part 2, in his After Action Review, he describes a situation all superintendents should be prepared to deal with. What happens when you adopt new routing software for your bus system and it crashes? What happens when the...
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.
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