Imperfect by Design: What Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak Learned from Crisis and Innovation
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 07/01/2025
Daniel Sobel: Elevating Inclusive Education with the Rise of the Practitioner
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
📢 New Podcast and New Season! Elevating Inclusive Education with Daniel Sobel on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast! 🎧 We are thrilled to share the beginning of season 4 with this episode featuring , an internationally respected voice in inclusion education, and the founder and chair of the International Forum of Inclusion Practitioners. Daniel champions student participation and belonging while tackling systemic issues like teacher training. In this insightful conversation, we dive into two crucial areas: 1. The Power of...
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Dr. Jenn Lowery: Progress Over Perfection
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
🎙️ Final Episode of Season 3! 🎧 Don't miss the powerful insights from our conversation with Dr. Jenn Lowery, former Superintendent of Tea Area School District in South Dakota (now the , as we wrap up an incredible Season 3 of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast! 🎉 Dr. Lowery led one of the fastest-growing districts in South Dakota, having grown to over 2000 students today. She shares invaluable lessons on leading through significant growth and challenging times. Here are 2 big takeaways from this inspiring episode: Progress Over Perfection...
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Dr. Eric Knost: Where Imperfection Defines Perfection in Leadership
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
New school year is in full swing for many and is just weeks away for others! As leaders, we often strive for perfection, but what if embracing imperfection is our greatest strength? In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we're honored to host Dr. Eric Knost, a former superintendent with 34 years of experience in the education field, including 17 years as a superintendent and deputy superintendent in three different school districts. Eric shares his journey, emphasizing that prioritizing people, honesty, and vulnerability are the true...
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The Best Award? A Student’s Respect – Dr. Mark Bedell on Leading with Purpose
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Get ready for an insightful conversation on the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast featuring the esteemed Dr. Mark Bedell, Superintendent of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Mark’s journey and leadership offer powerful lessons on authentic impact, learning from challenges, and leading with humility. Mark is celebrated for leading Kansas City Public Schools to full accreditation status for the first time in over 20 years, a testament to his transformative leadership. But as you'll hear, his most cherished accolades come directly from...
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Michael Nelson Sees the Good: How Proximity and Relationships Lead to Student Success
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Dive into the latest episode of "An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast" featuring the incredible , former Superintendent of Enumclaw School District and former Assistant Executive Director for professional learning for the Washington Association of School Administrators. This conversation offers profound insights into what truly drives educational success. Michael’s dedication to student achievement, especially for First Nations/Native students in Enumclaw, led to remarkable results, including 100% graduation rates for students in the cultural program and...
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Nothing for Them, Without Them: Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil's Humble, Reflective Leadership
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
📢 Encore Episode: A Must-Listen for School Leaders! 🎧 As educators across the country gear up for a new school year, we’re bringing back one of our most powerful conversations featuring Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil, Superintendent of the Uniondale School District in New York. 🙌 Dr. Darrisaw Akil led a massive cultural and educational shift in a district that had been facing significant challenges. This episode is full of honest reflections and practical leadership lessons. Here are 3 big takeaways: 🌿 Imperfect Leadership as a Strength Dr. Darrisaw...
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The Heart of the School with Matt Hornbeck
An 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. INTRO: This week, Matt Hornbeck is my guest. He is the principal of in Baltimore, Maryland. Here are 3 things you won't want to miss in this episode: The Transformative Power of Restorative Practices: Learn how Hampstead Hill has achieved remarkable success in increasing joy, improving attendance, reducing tardies, and...
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What Community Really Means: Lessons from the Bronx with Dr. Meisha Porter
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
The most unexpected thing happened the other day. My car was on the fritz, and to my surprise, the mechanic offered to swing by my house. That alone was generous. He popped the hood, diagnosed the issue, and had it fixed in no time. Now, just when I thought the day couldn’t get any more unusual, he spotted a ukulele sitting on my table. Without missing a beat, he grabbed a guitar from his truck. Minutes later, we were strumming in my driveway - two strangers improvising a melody with no script, no pressure… just music. Of course, my schedule had other plans. But in that moment,...
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Dr. Adam Swinyard on Public Education as a Promise and Relationships at the Core (Encore Episode)
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
This past week has seen many of us in education trying to make sense of what the future holds. It's for that reason, I wanted to bring back my conversation with Dr. Adam Swinyard, Superintendent of Spokane Public Schools and the 2023 Washington State Superintendent of the Year 🏆 Here are 🔑 highlights from this inspiring episode: 💡 Organizational Learning = Higher School Performance Adam’s award-winning research found a clear correlation between principals who engage in organizational learning and better school outcomes. 🏫✨ He urges leaders to avoid quick fixes and instead...
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Imperfect by Design: What Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak Learned from Crisis and Innovation
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
📢 New Episode Alert! 🎧 We're thrilled to share a powerful new episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast! This week, we sit down with two incredible Illinois Superintendents: and . This conversation is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and practical insights for anyone in leadership! Here are three key themes you won't want to miss: ✨ "Leading for Tomorrow's Schools Today" & The C.H.A.N.G.E. Leadership Framework: Nick and Mike, co-authors of the upcoming book Leading for Tomorrow's Schools Today, dive deep into their...
info_outline📢 New Episode Alert! 🎧 We're thrilled to share a powerful new episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast! This week, we sit down with two incredible Illinois Superintendents: Dr. Nick Polyak and Dr. Michael Lubelfeld.
This conversation is packed with wisdom, vulnerability, and practical insights for anyone in leadership! Here are three key themes you won't want to miss:
✨ "Leading for Tomorrow's Schools Today" & The C.H.A.N.G.E. Leadership Framework: Nick and Mike, co-authors of the upcoming book Leading for Tomorrow's Schools Today, dive deep into their innovative C.H.A.N.G.E. framework. Learn how to Challenge the status quo, Have open conversations, Adapt and be flexible, Navigate obstacles, Generate a shared vision, and Enjoy the journey – even when it's tough!
💡 Embracing Imperfection & Learning from After-Action Reviews: The imperfect leader concept truly shines as Mike shares his candid "after-action review" of leading through the COVID-19 pandemic. He reveals the profound lesson that "perfect is the enemy of good" and reflects on the challenges of widespread e-learning, concluding it "didn't work on scale" despite his deep passion for ed tech.
✨ Navigating Resistance & Championing Innovation: Discover how these leaders tackled the inherent challenges of change, especially when "the system will work aggressively to return to that status quo." Nick shares an inspiring example from his school district, where educators completely reinvented freshman year into an interdisciplinary, project-based model. They discuss battling criticisms, fending off labels, and the critical role of support and celebration in embedding lasting change within a system.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone committed to growth, innovation, and resilient leadership in education!
Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/
Website: https://imperfectleader.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animperfectleader/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@animperfectleader
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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 https://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.
