Dr. Doug Bolton: Building Resilient Schools One Connection at a Time

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast we had the pleasure of talking with Dr. Doug Bolton, clinical psychologist, author of Untethered, and director of school consultation for Formative Psychological Services.

In Untethered: Creating Connected Families, Schools, and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation, Doug breaks down what it means to lead in a moment when educators are carrying unprecedented levels of stress and trauma, and how leaders can build schools that feel safe, connected, and resilient.

🔍 In This Episode, We Dig Into:

• Connection as the foundation for everything: Doug explains why belonging isn’t a nice to have. It directly boosts student achievement, improves mental health, reduces behavior issues, and increases attendance. And it starts with leaders creating that sense of belonging for staff first.

• Why punishment doesn’t work — and what does: Misbehavior is often stress behavior. Instead of tightening rules, Doug urges leaders to double down on connection and regulation. Even simple practices  like greeting students at the door can raise time on task by 20% and lower misbehavior.

• Leading with clarity, vision, and psychological safety: Doug pushes leaders to go upstream: address root causes, build teams where every voice is heard, and create systems that support genuine regulation and trust. Start small, pilot ideas, and support one another along the way.

This episode gives leaders practical, human-centered tools for navigating tough situations with curiosity, compassion, and steadiness.

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Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/
Website: https://imperfectleader.com/

YouTube (video of conversation):  

https://www.youtube.com/@animperfectleaderleadershi5144/featured

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animperfectleader/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@animperfectleader 

Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on:

Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com

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An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student.

Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most.

IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress. 

Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect

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An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by Yondr. 

Schools around the world are seeing the damaging effects of phones on student engagement, social development, and mental health.

Yondr has developed a unique product and program to allow schools to become phone-free, from arrival to dismissal.

Learn why 1 Million Students use Yondr every day.

MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS. MAXIMIZE LEARNING POTENTIAL.

Go to overyondr.com to learn more.

  

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The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project! 

 

The Project’s ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, “gametivities”, and real conversations.  We’re proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.

  Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project.

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Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization. 

Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org

Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org

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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 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.