The Best Award? A Student’s Respect – Dr. Mark Bedell on Leading with Purpose
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 08/12/2025
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...
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Authentic Leadership in Action: Marlon Styles Brags About What’s Right in Public Education
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
🎙️Join us on An Imperfect Leader with trailblazing Marlon Styles!🎙️ This week on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we get to feature Marlon Styles, former Superintendent of Middletown City School District (OH) and current Partner at the Learner Center Collaborative. 🏫💼 🏆 Named K12 Dive’s Superintendent of the Year in 2020, Marlon is a fierce advocate for educational equity and a visionary leader in learner-centered education. In this powerful conversation, Marlon shares lessons on leadership, innovation, and community...
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Crisis to Clarity: Essential Lessons for Superintendents from Communications Expert Veronica Sopher
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
This week, we had an incredibly conversation with , an award-winning media-trained public information officer and founder of Veronica Sopher K12 Communications Consulting. With 25+ years of experience counseling school leaders, Veronica shared invaluable wisdom on navigating the complexities of educational leadership. 🏫💡 We delved into how superintendents can build trust and shape compelling narratives, especially during high-stakes moments and crises. Veronica's approach starts with a fundamental question: What problem are we trying to solve? We explored the...
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What 30+ Years in the Superintendency Taught Dr. Dennis Peterson About Leadership Today
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
In this week’s episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we sit down with veteran superintendent to explore the shifting landscape of school leadership over the decades. 👇 💡 Key Insights: 🔄 Leadership Has Evolved: From autocratic to inclusive, with school boards now at the center of decision-making. 🧭 Courageous, Inclusive Leadership Matters: Superintendents must proactively build trust with boards, unions, and the broader community. 🏫 Strategic Open Enrollment: Dennis shares how Minnetonka used open enrollment to grow enrollment,...
info_outlineGet 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 the students he serves.
Here are some profound themes from our discussion that truly resonated with me:
- Prioritizing Authentic Student Impact over Accolades: Mark consistently emphasizes that the most meaningful recognition comes from the students whose lives he touches, underscoring a deep commitment to their well-being and success.
- Embracing Imperfection and Leading with Humility: Mark's definition of an “imperfect leader” centers on being genuinely human, acknowledging mistakes, and fostering a culture of grace and collaboration.
- Strategic Innovation and Learning from Mistakes: Mark's willingness to experiment and then rigorously analyze the outcomes, even failures, demonstrates his commitment to continuous improvement and systems thinking.
This episode is a masterclass in leadership, offering raw honesty about challenges and powerful insights into how to genuinely serve a community's children. Mark’s dedication to understanding the full ecosystem of education, including navigating complex relationships with charter schools, truly stands out.
Tune in to hear the full story and gain actionable insights for your own leadership journey!