Dr. Richard Labbe and The Courageous Choice to Cancel the Football Season
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 05/28/2024
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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Hello Imperfect Leaders! It's summer!! And for leaders, that means reflection. And it means planning for the coming year. It is for that reason that this week's episode is an encore episode specifically picked with your upcoming year in mind. As Labor Day approaches, Season 3 will kick off. And I am so excited about THAT because will be joining me as a cohost and commentator. It's going to be great! So, sit back and enjoy this encore presentation of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. Intro: Hope is a powerful theme for today’s conversation. ...
info_outlineAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Hello Imperfect Leaders! It's summer!! And for leaders, that means reflection. And it means planning for the coming year. It is for that reason that this week's episode is an encore episode specifically picked with your upcoming year in mind. As Labor Day approaches, Season 3 will kick off. And I am so excited about THAT because will be joining me as a cohost and commentator. It's going to be great! So, sit back and enjoy this encore presentation of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. INTRO: Choosing a name for a public building is a...
info_outlineAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Hello Imperfect Leaders! It's summer!! And for leaders, that means reflection. And it means planning for the coming year. It is for that reason that this week's episode is an encore episode specifically picked with your upcoming year in mind. As Labor Day approaches, Season 3 will kick off. And I am so excited about THAT because will be joining me as a cohost and commentator. It's going to be great! So, sit back and enjoy this encore presentation of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. INTRO: This week, Matt Hornbeck is my guest. He is the...
info_outlineAn Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Hello Imperfect Leaders! It's summer!! And for leaders, that means reflection. And it means planning for the coming year. It is for that reason that this week's episode is an encore episode specifically picked with your upcoming year in mind. As Labor Day approaches, Season 3 will kick off. And I am so excited about THAT because will be joining me as a cohost and commentator. It's going to be great! So, sit back and enjoy this encore presentation of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. Intro: Hello Imperfect Leaders! On August 29, 2005,...
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INTRO: Hop on the Energy Bus for our latest podcast episode! This week, we're thrilled to have Dr. Jim Van Allan, a nationally recognized speaker and co-author of , take the wheel. Jim shares his expertise on school leadership, student engagement, and the power of positivity in education. In this episode, discover how Jim's journey and dynamic approach can transform a school's culture. Whether you're an educator, administrator, or just passionate about positive change, this conversation is packed with valuable insights and practical tips, include: Part 1: We dive into the themes of...
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Sometimes as school leaders, you are forced to make difficult decisions. Whether or not to non-renew an employee can be really difficult. Whether to close a teaching section, which will increase class sizes, is an agonizing decision. My guest this week made the gut-wrenching decision to cancel his school district’s football season. He did it for all the right reasons. He did it while considering the short-term, long-term, and unintended consequences of the decision. He did it with empathy and compassion.
Please welcome my guest, Dr. Richard Labbe.
In Part 1, he discusses the importance of coaching for new teachers though the EdConnective. He then touches on the decision to cancel the football season.
In Part 2, he returns to the football decision because there were many moving parts to the decision. His After Action Review is an incredible resource for our field. I’m grateful for Dr. Labbe’s willingness to revisit a very difficult career decision.
BIO: Dr. Richard Labbe, the superintendent of the Sayreville Schools in Sayreville, NJ has been a teacher, a principal, a director of special services, and a superintendent. He didn't start out in education. In fact, Richard took a different path to education. He started out at a small automobile public relations company, served as a football and wrestling coach, and met a class of children as a substitute teacher. It was as a sub that he knew he HAD to be in a classroom. In his words, he “simply fell in love with the profession." We're glad that he did!
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An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by Yondr.
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At the end of every interview we have for teacher candidates, we say, “What questions do you have for us?” And they always ask, “What kind of support can I expect?” And we always say, “Don't worry, we'll give you a mentor.”
But it's not real mentorship. I mean, it's support with the difficult kid, or the field trip form, or the grade card. But it isn't coaching.
That's where partners like EdConnective step in. Because they provide real coaching, observations and feedback with practice. EdConnective ensures that every student thrives by facilitating exceptional educator growth. If you're looking for support for your people, for your leaders, for science of reading efforts, for recruitment and retention initiatives, check out EdConnective.com.
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Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve.
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Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley.
Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.
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My book, An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is available at Amazon.com or peterstiepleman.com.