(VIDEO) Designing Spaces, Simplifying Plans: Human-Centered Leadership with Dr. Ben Ploeger
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does authentic, human-centered leadership actually look? 💡 In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, we sit down with Dr. Ben Ploeger, Director General at the American School of Asunción in Paraguay, for a candid conversation on navigating international school leadership. Three big insights really stuck with me: 1. If you can’t explain your strategy in 30 seconds, it’s time to simplify. Early in his tenure, Ben inherited a complex 12-goal strategic plan spread across a multi-tab spreadsheet. At a board meeting, he respectfully asked if anyone in the room could name the top...
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(AUDIO) Designing Spaces, Simplifying Plans: Human-Centered Leadership with Dr. Ben Ploeger
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does authentic, human-centered leadership actually look? 💡 In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, we sit down with Dr. Ben Ploeger, Director General at the American School of Asunción in Paraguay, for a candid conversation on navigating international school leadership. Three big insights really stuck with me: 1. If you can’t explain your strategy in 30 seconds, it’s time to simplify. Early in his tenure, Ben inherited a complex 12-goal strategic plan spread across a multi-tab spreadsheet. At a board meeting, he respectfully asked if anyone in the room could name the top...
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(VIDEO) Melanie Vrba on Co-Creating Schools & Owning Missteps: Lessons from International Leadership
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Are we leading with our school communities, or imposing leadership upon them? In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with , Director of the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Together, we explore what it truly takes to build connection, cultivate student agency, and navigate the messy, human reality of school leadership. Two take aways from our conversation: 1️⃣ Student Agency & Co-Creating School Experiences: School shouldn't be something administrators do to kids, it should be something experienced together. Whether it's a second-grader...
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(AUDIO) Melanie Vrba on Co-Creating Schools & Owning Missteps: Lessons from International Leadership
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
Are we leading with our school communities, or imposing leadership upon them? In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with , Director of the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Together, we explore what it truly takes to build connection, cultivate student agency, and navigate the messy, human reality of school leadership. Two take aways from our conversation: 1️⃣ Student Agency & Co-Creating School Experiences: School shouldn't be something administrators do to kids, it should be something experienced together. Whether it's a second-grader...
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(VIDEO) From Control to Partnership: Rethinking Instructional Coaching with Jim Knight
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What an incredible, deep-dive conversation on the An Imperfect Leader podcast! This week, I turned over the mic to Jamie Almanzan who sat down with his long-time mentor and coaching pioneer, , to talk about what it truly takes to lead and support educators. If you’ve ever felt the tension between wanting to drive change and wanting to support your team with dignity, this episode is a must-listen. Some takeaways from their conversation: 1️⃣ Partnership Over Control: Real coaching and leadership aren't about manipulating or telling teachers what to do. When we treat educators...
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(AUDIO) From Control to Partnership: Rethinking Instructional Coaching with Jim Knight
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What an incredible, deep-dive conversation on the An Imperfect Leader podcast! This week, I turned over the mic to Jamie Almanzan who sat down with his long-time mentor and coaching pioneer, , to talk about what it truly takes to lead and support educators. If you’ve ever felt the tension between wanting to drive change and wanting to support your team with dignity, this episode is a must-listen. Some takeaways from their conversation: 1️⃣ Partnership Over Control: Real coaching and leadership aren't about manipulating or telling teachers what to do. When we treat educators...
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(VIDEO) Emily Sargent-Beasley on Navigating Transition & Complexity: How Effective Leaders Get Out of the Way
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does it truly take to lead an educational community through complex transitions without falling into the trap of linear quick fixes? 🏫✨ In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, Emily Sargent-Beasley (President of the American College of Sofia) shares profound insights from her career in international education and her doctoral research at the University of San Diego. Here are some leadership themes to listen for: 1️⃣ Navigating Transitions in Complex Systems: School transitions are deeply bounded by context, inherited conditions, and unseen relational dynamics. Rather than...
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(AUDIO) Emily Sargent-Beasley on Navigating Transition & Complexity: How Effective Leaders Get Out of the Way
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
What does it truly take to lead an educational community through complex transitions without falling into the trap of linear quick fixes? 🏫✨ In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, Emily Sargent-Beasley (President of the American College of Sofia) shares profound insights from her career in international education and her doctoral research at the University of San Diego. Here are some leadership themes to listen for: 1️⃣ Navigating Transitions in Complex Systems: School transitions are deeply bounded by context, inherited conditions, and unseen relational dynamics. Rather than...
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(AUDIO) "You Are the Strategy": Transforming Chronic Absenteeism Through Relational Invitation with Shelley Berman
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
When a student stops showing up to school, our default instinct as a system is often to drop the hammer: automated warning letters, threats of fines, or referrals to juvenile court. Here’s the truth: those compliance letters don't build enthusiasm. They alienate families and often worsen the problem. In this latest episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we sit down with veteran superintendent and former CASEL CEO to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing education today: chronic absenteeism. Instead of treating attendance as an...
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(VIDEO) "You Are the Strategy": Transforming Chronic Absenteeism Through Relational Invitation with Shelley Berman
An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast
When a student stops showing up to school, our default instinct as a system is often to drop the hammer: automated warning letters, threats of fines, or referrals to juvenile court. Here’s the truth: those compliance letters don't build enthusiasm. They alienate families and often worsen the problem. In this latest episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we sit down with veteran superintendent and former CASEL CEO to tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing education today: chronic absenteeism. Instead of treating attendance as an...
info_outlineAre we leading with our school communities, or imposing leadership upon them?
In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with Melanie Vrba, Director of the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Together, we explore what it truly takes to build connection, cultivate student agency, and navigate the messy, human reality of school leadership.
Two take aways from our conversation:
1️⃣ Student Agency & Co-Creating School Experiences: School shouldn't be something administrators do to kids, it should be something experienced together. Whether it's a second-grader designing a "Library Treehouse" that inspired the actual blueprint for a new campus building or students training alongside teachers in systems thinking for sustainability, authentic student voice shapes school culture.
2️⃣ Grace, Accountability, and Intention vs. Impact: Even with positive intentions, leaders make missteps. Leadership maturity means owning errors, apologizing for unintended harm, and committing to personal growth. When leaders extend and receive grace, trust and institutional resilience follow.
Check out the episode here or wherever you listen to your podcasts!
🐾 P.S. Question for Melanie Vrba:
We have to ask... did you ever find out what the fourth-graders officially named the kitten in Ms. Maggie’s office? Listeners (and I!) are eagerly waiting for the update!
#EducationalLeadership #AnImperfectLeader #StudentVoice #InternationalEducation #SchoolCulture #StudentAgency #GraceAndGrowth #ListeningLeader #K12Leadership
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Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/
Website: https://imperfectleader.com/
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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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.