A Walk in Their Kicks: Dr. Aaron Johnson and School Environments That Value All
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 01/28/2025
AI in education and navigating a school through crises with Dr. Curtis Cain
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent of the Rockwood School District and 2022's National Superintendent of the Year. With decades of experience in educational leadership, Dr. Cain offers deep insights into navigating the complexities of leading a major school district through unprecedented times. During our discussion, Dr. Cain and I explored what constitutes effective leadership in the ever-evolving landscape of education. We explore the critical roles of trust and accountability in maintaining team...
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Lee Loving's Guide to Asking the Right Questions - Including What Might Happen if I Close the School's Library? 😬
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, our guest is in Stayton, Oregon! In our conversation, Lee shares insightful perspectives on leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. Listen in as we discuss: Connection: The importance of building trust and rapport with students, parents, and the community. 🤝 Strategic Planning: Creating a strategic plan with community input to prepare students for their next steps. 🧭 Imperfect Leadership: Embracing imperfection, learning from mistakes, and the importance of continuous discovery...
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Marcus Chambers on Community, Relationships, and Post-Pandemic Realities
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, shares his insights on leadership, community, and navigating the challenges in education today. Here are three key takeaways: A+ School District: Superintendent Chambers explains Okaloosa County's focus on being an "A+ school district" ➕, emphasizing academic excellence as well as athletics and the arts. Community Engagement: Discover how Okaloosa County Schools actively engage with their community, understanding that a healthy school district contributes to a healthy community 🏘️. Marcus...
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Beyond Best Practices: Earl Franks on "Next Practices" and the Future of Elementary Education
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we had the pleasure of speaking with . We explored some critical themes for today's educational leaders: 🤝 The Power of Collaboration: Earl emphasizes how crucial it is for educational organizations to work together. Discover how collaboration can drive meaningful change in public education! 📣 Advocating for Our Schools: Earl urges school leaders to proactively share the great stories happening in their schools with political leaders at all levels. Learn how to effectively advocate for your students and schools! 🌱 Embracing Imperfect...
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Rethinking Grades: Joe Feldman on Creating Fair and Motivating Learning Environments
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
On this week's podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Joe Feldman, the founder and CEO of Crescendo Education Group, about equitable grading practices. 🍎 It was an insightful conversation, and here are three key things I'm taking away: Traditional grading often undermines learning: Many teachers receive little to no training on grading. As a result, they often replicate the practices they experienced, which may not be effective. Joe's work emphasizes that traditional grading can be inconsistent, unfair, and demotivating for students. Multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery are...
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A Walk in Their Kicks: Dr. Aaron Johnson and School Environments That Value All
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
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Beyond the Arena: Melissa Sonnek's Journey in Education and Equity
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
This powerful conversation dives deep into leadership, equity, and creating inclusive educational spaces. Melissa, Associate Superintendent at Roseville Area Schools, shared invaluable lessons that are a must for any leader. Here's a quick recap: 💪 Courageous Leadership: Melissa emphasizes the need to challenge inequity head-on. 🌱 Identity & Achievement: Melissa powerfully states, "I won't consider myself an effective educator until no identity marker predicts achievement." Her personal story of overcoming low expectations as a young mom is truly inspiring. ❤️ ...
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An Imperfect Leader: Michelle Osterhoudt on Connection, Community, and Courage
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
📢 Exciting new episode of An Imperfect Leader! 📢 I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Michelle Osterhoudt, Superintendent of Margaretville Central Schools, and it was an incredibly insightful conversation! Here are some of the key themes: Rethinking Traditional Education 🏫: Michelle shared her personal experience with her daughter's struggles in the traditional school system, which led her to advocate for diverse learning pathways. The Importance of Community and Connection 🤝: We discussed how crucial it is for schools to foster a sense of community and for...
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Stephen Pruitt on Removing Barriers and Leading with Compassion and Action
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
📢 We had an INCREDIBLE conversation with Dr. Stephen Pruitt, President of the Southern Regional Education Board. 🎧 We dove deep into education, leadership, and creating real change. Here are some of the key takeaways: 🤝 Stakeholder vs. Shareholder: Dr. Pruitt brilliantly explained that in education, we need to move beyond "stakeholders" and cultivate "shareholders"—those invested in a common vision and who feel ownership of the process! ✍️ Defining Standards: Standards are a "contract between the State Department of Ed and teachers". It's about shared agreements and...
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Quintin Shepherd: Owning the Complexity of Leadership
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Have you ever felt like the traditional leadership models just don't fit? 🤔 Then you NEED to listen to our latest episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast with the incredible . 🎧 We dive deep into #transformational #leadership, the power of language, and how to truly connect with your #community. 🤝 Here are 4️⃣ things you absolutely should listen for: 💡The distinction between "#complicated" and "#complex" problems: Learn why applying a "one right way" approach to complex issues can backfire. 💡The power of "#feedforward" vs. "#feedback":...
info_outlineIn this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we get to sit down with Dr. Aaron Johnson, leader, author, and professor. Here are some takeaways from our conversation:
🗣️ Humanizing Students: It's so crucial to allow students to be themselves, express their opinions, and share what they like and dislike about school.👂
🏫 Relationships are Key: Building strong, authentic relationships with students, teachers, and the community is fundamental.
💔 Challenging the Status Quo: We need to critically examine our own identities, biases, and the historical context of our education systems.
🔄 Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Surround yourself with people who don't think like you.
📚 Literacy as a Tool: Use literacy to connect with students and explore relevant issues.
🧊 The Iceberg Model: Remember that what we see (behaviors) is just the tip of the iceberg.
⚖️ Intentionality: Leaders need to be intentional in their actions and call out inequities.
🙏 Grace over Perfection: Embrace imperfection and be willing to make mistakes. I
🔑 Compromise: Sometimes you need to compromise to move forward.
🚀 Actionable Steps: Dr. Johnson’s book, "A Walk in Their Kicks," offers concrete steps for educators looking to create more just and equitable school environments.
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An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by Yondr.
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An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at www.imperfectleader.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.
