Defining the 'What' and Delegating the 'How': AJ Crabill and Mastering the Board-Superintendent Relationship
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Release Date: 05/12/2026
(VIDEO) Zaretta Hammond on Reclaiming Cognitive Justice and the Power of the "First Pancake"
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Are we settling for "belonging" in our schools while leaving student brainpower underdeveloped? I recently had a deep, transformative conversation with , author of . We moved past the surface-level "equity talk" to discuss what it really takes to move a student from a dependent learner to a cognitively independent one. Zaretta’s insights on cognitive justice and intelligent failure are essential. Here are 3 themes from our talk that will matter to leaders: Cognitive Justice is the True Moral Imperative: Equity isn't just about celebrating flags or hosting potlucks....
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Zaretta Hammond on Reclaiming Cognitive Justice and the Power of the "First Pancake"
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Are we settling for "belonging" in our schools while leaving student brainpower underdeveloped? I recently had a deep, transformative conversation with , author of . We moved past the surface-level "equity talk" to discuss what it really takes to move a student from a dependent learner to a cognitively independent one. Zaretta’s insights on cognitive justice and intelligent failure are essential. Here are 3 themes from our talk that will matter to leaders: Cognitive Justice is the True Moral Imperative: Equity isn't just about celebrating flags or hosting potlucks. Zaretta challenges us to...
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Dr. Melissa Sadorf and Why Rural Schools are the Soul of Their Communities
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does it actually mean to be a "resilient" leader? Is it just about weathering the storm, or is it about what you build while the storm is still raging? I recently had a conversation with , Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association and author of . Melissa has spent over 30 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, and she deeply understands the unique, multiplex relationships that define rural education. Whether you lead a small rural district or a large urban system, Melissa’s insights on leading through loss and building authentic credibility are...
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(VIDEO) Dr. Melissa Sadorf and Why Rural Schools are the Soul of Their Communities
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does it actually mean to be a resilient leader? Is it just about weathering the storm, or is it about what you build while the storm is still raging? I recently had a conversation with , Executive Director of the National Rural Education Association and author of . Melissa has spent over 30 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, and she deeply understands the unique, multiplex relationships that define rural education. Whether you lead a small rural district or a large urban system, Melissa’s insights on leading through loss and building authentic credibility are universal....
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(VIDEO) Heidi Sipe: Leading with Clarity and Compassion
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does it mean to be a nationally recognized rural leader while navigating the messy, imperfect realities of the superintendency? In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with , Superintendent of Umatilla School District, to discuss how she has led her district for 19 years through innovation and intense challenge. Here are a few topics from our conversation that every education leader should hear: Empowering Teacher Agency with Structured Systems: Heidi shares how her district uses a color-coded intervention system (Green, Orange, Red) that authorizes teachers to...
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Heidi Sipe: Leading with Clarity and Compassion
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does it mean to be a nationally recognized rural leader while navigating the messy, imperfect realities of the superintendency? In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with , Superintendent of Umatilla School District, to discuss how she has led her district for 19 years through innovation and intense challenge. Here are a few topics from our conversation that every education leader should hear: Empowering Teacher Agency with Structured Systems: Heidi shares how her district uses a color-coded intervention system (Green, Orange, Red) that authorizes teachers to make...
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Moving from Command-and-Control to Shared Stewardship: Jesse Boise and 25 Years of Coherence at Hillsdale High
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
How do you keep a school transformation alive for 25 years when most initiatives fizzle out after three? Jamie Almanzán recently sat down with , Assistant Principal at Hillsdale High School, to talk about the staying power of and what it truly means to lead with humility. Hillsdale is a "living artifact" of what happens when a school commits to a collective vision rather than a collection of individual classrooms. Whether you are a superintendent or a site leader, Jesse’s insights on coherence are a game-changer. Here are some themes from his conversation that you won’t want to miss: ...
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(VIDEO) Moving from Command-and-Control to Shared Stewardship: Jesse Boise and 25 Years of Coherence at Hillsdale High
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
How do you keep a school transformation alive for 25 years when most initiatives fizzle out after three? Jamie Almanzán recently sat down with , Assistant Principal at Hillsdale High School, to talk about the staying power of and what it truly means to lead with humility. Hillsdale is a "living artifact" of what happens when a school commits to a collective vision rather than a collection of individual classrooms. Whether you are a superintendent or a site leader, Jesse’s insights on coherence are a game-changer. Here are some themes from his conversation that you won’t want to miss: ...
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Defining the 'What' and Delegating the 'How': AJ Crabill and Mastering the Board-Superintendent Relationship
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Is your school board focused on the right things, or is it caught in a "dumpster fire" of adult drama? I recently had an terrific conversation with , author of , about how to move from dysfunctional governance to a system that actually serves children. AJ has seen it all. From serving as a parent leader to becoming a state agency leader and a national governance director, we dove deep into why school boards often fail and, more importantly, how they can become effective. Here are some themes from our conversation: Student Outcomes vs. Adult Inputs: One of the biggest mistakes boards make is...
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Lead Collectively with Peter Dewitt and Michael Nelson: Moving From Intent to Lasting Impact
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Are you leading in isolation? Education leadership can often feel like a lonely journey - navigating everything from systemic challenges to the day-to-day realities of school life. In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we sit down with veteran educators and co-authors Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson to discuss their transformative framework for collective leadership. In our conversation as well as in their work with the , they challenge the traditional top-down approach, moving beyond mere good intentions to create lasting impact through collective efficacy. Drawing on their latest...
info_outlineIs your school board focused on the right things, or is it caught in a "dumpster fire" of adult drama? I recently had an terrific conversation with AJ Crabill, author of Great on Their Behalf, about how to move from dysfunctional governance to a system that actually serves children.
AJ has seen it all. From serving as a parent leader to becoming a state agency leader and a national governance director, we dove deep into why school boards often fail and, more importantly, how they can become effective.
Here are some themes from our conversation:
- Student Outcomes vs. Adult Inputs: One of the biggest mistakes boards make is trying to "own" the strategic plan. AJ argues that the board's unique expertise is representing the vision and values of the community by defining student outcomes (the "what"). The superintendent then owns the "adult inputs" and the strategic plan (the "how") to get there.
- Authority is Collective, Not Individual: It’s a common trap: an individual board member tries to go "rogue" to fix a specific issue. AJ reminds us that state law affords zero authority to individual board members. True power only exists when the board acts collectively, ensuring the entire community has a voice in the system.
- Mindset is the Ultimate Lever: We often try to "professional development" our way out of problems with more knowledge and skills. While those are necessary, mindset is the foundation because it’s how a leader makes meaning of the world.
If you’re ready to stop "pretending to govern" and start making a real impact on student achievement, this episode is for you. Some superintendents might not agree with the advice. If that's you, I want to know!
Listen to the full episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast.
#SchoolBoard #EducationLeadership #StudentOutcomes #AnImperfectLeader #Governance #EdChat #SuptChat #Podcasserole
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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://youtu.be/VkKiXpczSEAhttps://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.