loader from loading.io

Kim Armstrong and Sandy Husk and the Power of Clear Communication During Challenges

An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

Release Date: 03/18/2025

Nothing for Them, Without Them: Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil's Humble, Reflective Leadership show art 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...

info_outline The Heart of the School with Matt Hornbeck show art 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...

info_outline What Community Really Means: Lessons from the Bronx with Dr. Meisha Porter show art 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,...

info_outline Dr. Adam Swinyard on Public Education as a Promise and Relationships at the Core (Encore Episode) show art 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...

info_outline Imperfect by Design: What Michael Lubelfeld and Nick Polyak Learned from Crisis and Innovation show art 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 Authentic Leadership in Action: Marlon Styles Brags About What’s Right in Public Education show art 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...

info_outline Crisis to Clarity: Essential Lessons for Superintendents from Communications Expert Veronica Sopher show art 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...

info_outline What 30+ Years in the Superintendency Taught Dr. Dennis Peterson About Leadership Today show art 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_outline The Power of Wholehearted Leadership with Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver show art The Power of Wholehearted Leadership with Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver

An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

🌟 The Power of Wholehearted Leadership: 4 Key Insights from Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver 🌟 In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we have an incredible conversation with , the Executive Director of Mizzou Academy. Some key takeaways from our conversation include: 📖 1. Stories Are the Shortest Distance Between People "Stories are the connective tissue that holds us all together. The space to share who we are - being fully human - doesn't happen by accident." 🤝 2. Wisdom Is Everywhere - Embrace Shared Leadership "The most important ideas for...

info_outline Dr. Laura Chávez-Moreno and How Schools Make Race: What They Miss by Staying in Dr. Laura Chávez-Moreno and How Schools Make Race: What They Miss by Staying in "Sesame Street"

An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

This week on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we talk with UCLA's , author of "". Dr. Chavez Moreno's work challenges us to think beyond superficial approaches to racial identity in schools. Here are three key themes and insights from our conversation: Schools implicitly make race through practices and policies. Beyond explicit lessons on race, schools reinforce racial ideas through their structures. As Dr. Chávez Moreno explains, "Schools make race through implicit ways also... through the policies and the practices that they engage in". This includes...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Sandy Husk, former interim superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and Dr. Kim Armstrong, the district’s current superintendent. These two remarkable leaders discuss the challenges and opportunities of transitioning leadership, navigating budget constraints, and the importance of fostering strong relationships within a school district.

Dr. Kim Armstrong and Sandy Husk share their experiences managing large-scale budget reductions, engaging communities in advocacy, and leading with clarity and resilience. They offer key insights into being an imperfect leader and how embracing imperfection can drive meaningful educational progress.

If you're a school leader, educator, or someone interested in shaping the future of education, don't miss this insightful conversation with Dr. Kim Armstrong and Sandy Husk.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

  • Leadership Transition & Trust – How superintendents can balance their personal leadership philosophy while adapting to district needs.

  • Navigating Budget Cuts – Strategies for making tough financial decisions while prioritizing student success.

  • Engaging Communities & Advocacy – The importance of transparency and mobilizing communities to support public education funding.

  • Leading with Humanity – Why valuing people before the work, trusting expertise, and staying student-centered is critical for effective leadership.

  • Lessons in Resilience – Dr. Kim Armstrong’s personal journey overcoming adversity and how it shapes her leadership approach.

Listen to the full episode to hear my conversation with Dr. Kim Armstrong and Sandy Husk about their leadership journey and the transformative policies shaping education today.

Listening Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26Y4nEEwL9mLzrxUh17NWf
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-imperfect-leader-the-superintendents/id1644897856
Podcast Site: https://imperfectleader.com/podcasts/ 

Follow Our Guests:

Dr. Kim Armstrong

Sandy Husk

Follow the 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 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 https://www.overyondr.com/ to learn more.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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/