An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

Hello and welcome to An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, a series where leaders look back at decisions they made and ask themselves: * What happened? * What got overlooked? * What did you learn about relationships or what new relationships were formed? * What frustrated you? * What could you have done differently? * And in the end, what was something good that came out of the experience – because it is through our mistakes where our greatest learning takes place. I'm Peter Stiepleman. I'm your host AND I'm an imperfect leader. I spent more than 20 years teaching and leading, first in the Oakland Public Schools in Oakland, CA and then in the Midwest – Missouri, to be exact – where I was a teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent and the superintendent of the 4th largest school district in a state of more than 500 districts. I am constantly striving to learn from my experiences and from the experiences of other leaders. The aim of this podcast is to lift the learning and lift the imperfect leaders up. That way, when you hear the term imperfect, you’ll see strength, strength from the candor needed to recognize imperfection as a real advantage. an imperfect leader, TLI, peter stiepleman, Dr. Peter Stiepleman, imperfect leaders, school culture, education, culture, school, positive school culture, principal, superintendent, aspiring superintendent, new superintendent, experienced superintendent, leadership, district leadership, school leadership, school leadership thoughts, inspiration, strategic planning, leadership development, human-centered leadership, collective aspiration, nested patterns, leaders’ learning work, educators, superintendent pipeline, Model for Human Centered School Transformation, transformation, podcast

Understanding Trauma: Insights from Dan Joseph 05/07/2024

Understanding Trauma: Insights from Dan Joseph INTRO: Before listening to this episode, I want to make sure that you know that this episode deals with trauma. If you have experienced trauma in your past, you might want to find the right time to listen to this episode. And remember, if you or someone you know needs the suicide or crisis lifeline, you can dial 988 from any phone. For me, the experiences my guest describes in this episode were a reminder of leading a school district during the pandemic. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. The year was turning from 2019 to 2020. I was a superintendent and I started hearing about a virus appearing in Seattle and New York. I wrote a note in my journal that we should plan to give an update on the emerging coronavirus at the April board meeting. In mid-March, however, I had a meeting with the Director of the local Health Department. It was abundantly clear the presentation would need to be way earlier than April. I would be explaining why the virus would be closing the district down. I remember responding to questions from community members. They wanted to know how this year was different from past years when there were high cases of the flu. In all other years, I thought, we were not directed to stay in our homes by every level of national, state, and local government. In all other years, we were not tuning in to the news or talking with neighbors who had been impacted in some way by this global pandemic. In all other years, we hadn’t felt such tremendous loss. And I can remember hoping for a return to normal routines. Everyone was hoping for that! Unfortunately, like school districts all across the globe, each decision caused more and more grief. My guest, an author and former army veteran and trainer, talks about how to talk with adults who have experienced trauma. School leaders, all leaders, are not often trained to handle their own distress, nor are they necessarily skilled at recognizing the trauma of others. Dan Joseph is a terrific guest because he talks about the things to look for, the things to notice (like people being hypervigilant, for example). In the second part, he describes a time when a soldier was dealing with mental health during lockdowns. People were struggling with their own traumas and didn’t have the bandwidth to help this individual. The directions were to keep it quiet and stick with the mission. It’s a fantastic episode. BIO: Dan Joseph is an Army veteran and author of . When I’ve read parts of his book, reviewed , and listened to him on The Power of Our Story, I was struck by some of the similarities we look for when it comes to leadership (in the military and in education), including the ability to look back and see what we can learn from our experiences. . ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------ At the end of every interview we have for teacher candidates, we say, “What questions do you have for us?” And they always ask, “What kind of support can I expect?” And we always say, “Don't worry, we'll give you a mentor.” But it's not real mentorship. I mean, it's support with the difficult kid, or the field trip form, or the grade card. But it isn't coaching. That's where partners like EdConnective step in. Because they provide real coaching, observations and feedback with practice. EdConnective ensures that every student thrives by facilitating exceptional educator growth. If you're looking for support for your people, for your leaders, for science of reading efforts, for recruitment and retention initiatives, check out . ------ Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. -------- Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/31044768

Be Caught Trying with Samir Goel 04/30/2024

Be Caught Trying with Samir Goel INTRO: Hello Imperfect Leaders! In this episode, co-founder, Samir Goel, talks about empowering individuals to build credit and access financial opportunities previously out of reach. 💡 Samir shares invaluable insights gleaned from his partner, and mentor (emphasizing the crucial role of compassion and transparency). In part 1, we talk about the company he co-founded and in part 2, we talk about what he has learned about giving feedback to employees. Join us as we talk about the different types of feedback: appreciative, motivational, constructive (and even destructive feedback). Together, we explore the power of compassionate leadership, the importance of transparency, and the dynamics of teamwork in cultivating shared visions. Imperfect leaders, you’re going to love this episode. BIO: Samir Goel (along with his partner, Wemimo Abbey) is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of , the leading financial technology company helping individuals save money and build credit. Esusu's rent reporting platform captures rental payment data and reports it to credit bureaus to boost credit scores. This allows renters to build and establish their credit scores while helping property owners mitigate against initiating evictions, powered by differentiated data and insights. Founded in 2018, Esusu reaches over 5 million rental units across all 50 states in the United States. Learn more at Follow them on Instagram: @myesusu and on Twitter: @getesusu. ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------ At the end of every interview we have for teacher candidates, we say, “What questions do you have for us?” And they always ask, “What kind of support can I expect?” And we always say, “Don't worry, we'll give you a mentor.” But it's not real mentorship. I mean, it's support with the difficult kid, or the field trip form, or the grade card. But it isn't coaching. That's where partners like EdConnective step in. Because they provide real coaching, observations and feedback with practice. EdConnective ensures that every student thrives by facilitating exceptional educator growth. If you're looking for support for your people, for your leaders, for science of reading efforts, for recruitment and retention initiatives, check out . ------ Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. -------- Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30973448

Infiltrating Perspectives: Danielle Nuhfer Unveils Leadership Insights Using a Teacher's Lens 04/23/2024

Mission & Purpose: Insights from John McGlothlin 04/16/2024

Mission & Purpose: Insights from John McGlothlin INTRO: I was interested to see how ChatGPT might create an intro for me. I gave it some information and it spat out: “Welcome to a journey that transcends the conventional boundaries of education. Imagine a school where purpose is not just a buzzword but the very essence that breathes life into every corridor, classroom, and curriculum.” Yeesh. I asked it to sound less like a carnival announcer and it got worse: “Hey there, folks! Get ready for a wild ride into the heart and soul of education – where purpose isn't just a fancy word, but the very lifeblood of every nook and cranny in our schools.” Oof! That’s the very stereotype of a used-car salesman or auctioneer. So instead, let me take it myself and say that my guest today made me think about Rick DuFour and his book "Professional Learning Communities at Work,” especially the concept of purpose-driven schooling, AND SPECIFICALLY how in the absence of a guiding purpose (my guest refers to this as self-awareness), one will find it difficult to do just about anything else. Start with your WHY before you discuss anything else. My guest is and his book introduces us to five traits essential for cultivating an environment where purpose thrives. They are: 1. Self-awareness 2. Initiative 3. Adaptability 4. Efficiency 5. Insistence John has a military background – it made this conversation a little different, and soooo interesting. I am Peter Stiepleman and this is An Imperfect Leader. BIO: is my guest. John is former JAG, a former Army paratrooper who served across the US, Europe, and both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a professor and the author of . ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------ ------ Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? It's a silly question, I know, because I know you are! understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. Empat Speech. Empowering students. Empowering Schools. -------- Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30742223

Challenges to Triumph with: Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil 04/09/2024

Challenges to Triumph with: Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil the Superintendent of the Uniondale School District, is my guest. One simply had to read the following excerpt from the to know why had to talk with Dr. Akil: “Residents throughout Uniondale will tell you — this community, once grappling with educational challenges that seemed insurmountable, has undergone a remarkable transformation under the leadership of the Herald Beacon’s inaugural Person of the Year, Monique Darrisaw-Akil, the superintendent of the Uniondale School District.” When she took over in Uniondale, the district faced many challenges: · Lagging graduation rates · Below-average proficiency scores · Outdated infrastructure. Dr. Akil has been credited with orchestrating a massive cultural and educational shift, including adding additional student resources. When I asked her about it, she was made it very clear that (a) she was the beneficiary of a good plan and (b) she the people she gets to work with are exceptional. A good plan and good people are great predictors for success! In the first part of the conversation, we talk about the successes being seen Uniondale and in the second part, we discuss the adoption of a tech product and how the roll out didn’t go as planned. Here was a tool that was going to revolutionize a system they were working on. They launched and it was not good. It's a GREAT episode. One of my favorites! ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------ ------ Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? It's a silly question, I know, because I know you are! understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. Empat Speech. Empowering students. Empowering Schools. -------- Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30712833

Julio Nuñez Leads with Heart 04/02/2024

Julio Nuñez Leads with Heart INTRO: About a year ago, at about the one-year anniversary of Justice Ginsburg’s death, I was asked by my family to be a part a school naming committee in Philadelphia. There was a school there considering her name for the new name, and I was to represent Justice Ginsburg. In the end, the school community didn’t choose to name the school Ruth Bader Ginsburg Elementary School. Instead, they chose . Gloria was an LGBTQ+ advocate who served Philadelphia’s City Hall as the director of LGBT Affairs from 2008 to 2014 and she was attended this school as child. This was the perfect way to honor a local hero who died too early. The renaming process did something really rewarding for me. It gave me the opportunity to meet this week’s podcast guest, Julio Nuñez. In the first part of the conversation, Julio tells us about the process for changing the name of his elementary school in the Kensington Neighborhood of Philadelphia. In the second part, Julio talks about his first principalship and the intensity of being a school/district leader, and the mental health toll it takes on a leader, especially leaders typically underrepresented in leadership roles. Throughout our conversation, I kept thinking of a quote my aunt famously said: "Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." Julio does just that. It’s a great episode. BIO: is my guest. Julio serves the children, families, and staff as the principal of Roosevelt Campus of the Norristown Area High School, outside of Philadelphia. His leadership journey, which spans a broad range of experiences, is firmly rooted in his desire for service and self-improvement. He values compassion, courage, citizenship, and resilience above all else. Julio studied public policy at Georgetown University, graduated from Temple University with a degree in Journalism, Economics, and Political Science, and earned a master's degree in second language acquisition from Drexel University. Julio is pursuing his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Saint Joseph’s University, focused on immigrant and bilingual communities. NOTE: In our conversation, Julio that speaks to the ripple effect – or unintended consequences – of a decision. In the scenario he described the process of “leveling” (now known as “enrollment-driven resource review”). We talk about the consequences of this practice, and how he draws a line from consolidating and eliminating a teacher to gun violence. ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------ ------ Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? It's a silly question, I know, because I know you are! understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. Empat Speech. Empowering students. Empowering Schools. -------- Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30619958

Visualizing Leadership with James Sturm 03/26/2024

Visualizing Leadership with James Sturm INTRO: This week, we feature James Sturm, co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies. In this our conversation, we explore the dynamic interplay between the power of language and the power of images in shaping a district's narrative. Join us as we delve into strategies for effectively communication of vision and values. In the second half, James shares a compelling story about navigating a crisis when a flood threatened the campus library, sparking a reflection on proactive leadership, or the bias toward action. Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation on leadership with James Sturm. BIO: James Sturm is a cartoonist and the cofounder of . He is the editor of the Center’s and his writings and illustrations have appeared in publications that include The Chronicle of Higher Education, Slate, The Paris Review, The Onion, The New York Times and on the cover of The New Yorker. James was a 2020-21 Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow and a 2008 and 2015 MacDowell Colony Fellow. James leads an organization that thinks about the Past, Present, and Potential. Source: The Comics Journal ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? It's a silly question, I know, because I know you are! understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. Empat Speech. Empowering students. Empowering Schools. -------- Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30521348

The Heart of Leadership: Mike Erwin and Building Relationships that Matter 03/19/2024

The Heart of Leadership: Mike Erwin and Building Relationships that Matter INTRO: In just a few weeks, I will be traveling with a small group of amazing volunteers from all over the United States and Australia . I serve on the Board of Directors for Be the Change Volunteers, an organization committed to building schools all over the world for communities interested in providing opportunities to their children, especially their girls. Our co-founders, Jimi and Cristi Cook, believe that communities with educated women thrive - and they’re right! BTCV is also building schools in Peru, Malawi, Rwanda, India, and Puerto Rico, so, if you’re interested in joining us on a build, go to . I mention this human-centered work because my guest embodies these same principles. In a moment, I’ll tell you all about his many accolades, but what I learned from him during his After-Action Review is that it is appropriate to look past one’s resume and consider how that person makes you feel when you spend time with them (resume versus eulogy is how he describes it). This was such a meaningful conversation about leadership. BIO: Mike Erwin is my guest. Mike is the founder and executive director of , an organization dedicated to enhancing veterans’ lives (their mission is deeply personal to Mike as he served three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the US Army and teaches at West Point). Mike is also the co-founder of the , the founder and CEO of the , and is the co-author of his newest book, . . ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? It's a silly question, I know, because I know you are! understands the critical need for qualified professionals in your schools. The recognize that communication lies at the heart of academic success. Don't let open positions hinder your students' progress. Partner with Empat Speech today and ensure every child in your district has access ot the speech therapy they deserve. Empat Speech. Empowering students. Empowering Schools. -------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30389678

Relentless Leadership with Yaw Obeng 03/12/2024

Relentless Leadership with Yaw Obeng Intro: As I prepared for this week’s episode, I traded in personal anecdotes with a traditional story, one about two farmers and their approach to change. One always bought the latest tools for his farm, hoping they would solve his problems. Meanwhile, his neighbor focused on building relationships with other farmers, learning from their experiences, and sharing his own knowledge. When a drought hit, the first farmer struggled alone with his fancy equipment, while his neighbor’s network came together to devise solutions. In the end, it was the approach of building in instead of buying in, and harvesting the wisdom of his community that led to a thriving farm and a stronger, more resilient village. My guest today, , taught me that term, building in. In Part 1, we talk about how he chose the word relentless for their theme and how it became a living word. In Part 2, during his After-Action Review, Yaw describes the changing of attendance areas and what he learned from that experience. I am Peter Stiepleman and this is An Imperfect Leader. Bio: Yaw Obeng holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, history, and health sciences from the University of New Brunswick, Canada and a master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling Psychology from the University of Toronto. He also has a Master’s Certificate of Business Performance and Risk Management from York University. PS: At one point, Yaw tells me about the creation of a Super Council. I decided to see what AI would create if I asked it to create a super council led by a relentless superintendent wearing a cape. I added the HM for Hickman Mills. 😊 ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. ------- My book, or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30263173

Equity Conversations: Resistance and Resilience with Graig Meyer and Jamie Almanzán 03/05/2024

Equity Conversations: Resistance and Resilience with Graig Meyer and Jamie Almanzán INTRO: Earlier this year, I read and was thrilled when the authors agreed to be guests on the podcast. In the two years since I left the superintendency, I have found myself talking with superintendents who have faced (or are facing) this same dilemma. They recognize the importance of the children in their district learning about systems of oppression, but sometimes their communities see any topic of equity as an assault on their "traditions" (or, in one example from their article, they say superintendents are bringing Critical Race Theory to their community when they talk about equity). As you can see, I have really been looking forward to talking with my guests today, the leaders of , Graig Meyer and Jamie Almanzán In the first part, we talk about their article and in second part, the After-Action Review, I want you to imagine you have been asked to give the beginning of the year kickoff to 1000 teachers who may have been told they’re the obstacle to equitable practices. Not only that, you learn that contract negotiations have not been going well and the teachers have threatened to walk out of the kickoff! And let me apologize in advance, I clearly forgot to turn on my mic, so I sound as if I am down a well, but Graig and Jamie sound AMAZING – you’ll hear more from them than me! BIO: is a facilitator, teacher, curriculum developer and leadership coach currently working as an Equity Leadership Coach and the owner of The Equity Collaborative in Oakland, California. Prior to leading The Equity Collaborative, he held the position of Senior Coach at the . is a social worker, educator, and youth development specialist working as an Equity Leadership Coach and partner in The Equity Collaborative. He has 16 years of experience leading equity work in public schools. ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30183208

Jeff Utecht Envisions the Future of Education: Charting Tomorrow's Course 02/27/2024

Jeff Utecht Envisions the Future of Education: Charting Tomorrow's Course INTRO: In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, , educational futurist and podcast host of , joins me in conversation. We reflect on the intersections of tradition and transformation, innovation and integration. We delve into Jeff's insights and experiences, and how he helps educators navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world. In the first part, we talk about topics like esports, , and AI. In the second part, Jeff talks about a time he looked to the future for everyone else, and forgot to do it for himself and his career. My takeaway is it is clear, Jeff talks about what is currently on the minds of teachers and kids as they look to the future of schooling. Welcome to An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership podcast. BIO: Jeff is a highly regarded speaker, consultant, and author who has dedicated his career to exploring the intersection of technology and our lives. With over 20 years of experience working in the field, Jeff is widely recognized as an expert in educational technology integration, innovative practices and corporate onboarding programs. He is a sought-after speaker and presenter, having delivered keynote addresses and workshops at conferences around the world. Jeff’s work has helped to shape the way we think about technology and its role in our lives, and his insights continue to inspire leaders to embrace new technologies and approaches in their own practice. ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/30067813

Charting the Course: Sean Stewart Provides Lessons from the Past for Today's Leaders 02/20/2024

Facing the Crucible: Dr. Gary Yee's Lesson of Adversity and Healing 02/13/2024

Facing the Crucible: Dr. Gary Yee's Lesson of Adversity and Healing INTRO: My guest this week holds a special place in my professional life. I met him during his first campaign for the school board in Oakland, CA. In the second part of the show, my guest, Dr. Gary Yee, describes what has got to be one of the most difficult experiences of any superintendent – the vandalizing of his home, navigating a hunger strike of two teachers, and community members occupying a school, all in response to proposed school closures. Other Topics Discussed: Superintendent Tenures Community Engagement Superintendent/Board Relations Dr. Marcus Foster Hunger Strike Hartford, Connecticut Case Study I'm Peter Stiepleman and this is An Imperfect Leader. BIO: Dr. Gary Yee is a special guest because his life and work as a learner and a leader have taken place all in one spot, the Bay Area. Born to Chinese working-class immigrant parents, Gary attended Oakland’s public schools. He graduated from UC Berkeley, joined the US Air Force (as 2nd LT) and returned to Oakland in 1972 to be a teacher and then a principal. He completed his doctorate at Stanford University and began a career as a professor and then Dean to the Vice Chancellor at Peralta Community College. Gary’s service to the Oakland Public Schools extended beyond the classroom and the building. In 2002, he was elected as a member of the school board, left the board in 2013, but was appointed to become the Interim Superintendent, for a year, because the superintendent left, and was subsequently re-elected to the Board in 2018, and served there until 2023. Gary worked with 9 superintendents during his 20 years of board service. ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29926088

Their Parents FaceTime Them In Class? Diego Ochoa and Graham Dugoni Describe A Phone-Free Approach 02/06/2024

Their Parents FaceTime Them In Class? Diego Ochoa and Graham Dugoni Describe A Phone-Free Approach INTRO: In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, join us as we delve into the world of education leadership with Superintendent Diego Ochoa, a veteran with over 25 years of experience, and Graham Dugoni, the founder of Yondr – a pioneer in creating phone-free spaces. Together, they discuss the impact of going phone-free on student success and the compelling purpose that drives their work. Discover how the San Mateo-Foster City Schools district's strategic plan, led by Diego, was influenced by the decision to minimize distractions and create a focused learning environment. Graham shares insights from working alongside school leaders globally, emphasizing that phone-free leads to creativity and innovation, just without all the distractions. Join the conversation as we uncover the shared goals and aspirations that led educators, parents, and students to want to create meaningful phone-free learning experiences. It's an engaging discussion on leadership, purpose, and the pursuit of student success in a digital age. I am Peter Stiepleman. Welcome to An Imperfect Leader BIO: Diego Ochoa has been Superintendent of the San Mateo-Foster City Schools since 2021. He has more than 25 years of educational experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director, executive director, and superintendent, and has a strong background in curriculum, instruction, special education, equity, student wellness, parent engagement, and school facilities. Graham Dugoni is the founder of Yondr, the established industry leader in helping educators, performing artists, families, organizations, and businesses all around the world create phone-free spaces (for full disclosure, Yondr is a sponsor of the podcast). NOTE: At one point, we talk about a school’s compelling purpose or their strategic plans, and how they cannot be achieved if the underlying issue is that nearly 50% of teens say they are online “almost constantly,” which is roughly double the share who said the same thing 10 years ago (that’s according to ). ------ An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29766363

Dr. Sheldon Berman Talks Integration, Division, and the Importance of Knowing Our History 01/30/2024

Dr. Sheldon Berman Talks Integration, Division, and the Importance of Knowing Our History INTRO: This episode is coming out just as I have returned from co-presenting at a conference hosted by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (or COSA). During our presentation, we talked about distinguishing between reform and transformation. Specifically, that reform is usually made up of outside forces telling you what to do, coaching for compliance and using sticks and carrots to get results. Whereas transformation is about establishing your district’s compelling purpose. It relies on cycles of inquiry and peer coaching, and adjusting the goal, when appropriate. It relies on appreciative inquiry, the act at looking at what’s going well and then working to get more of it. My guest today talks about one of the more challenging issues urban school districts face: segregated schools. In this case, in Louisville, KY, the schools were integrated and served as a successful model for the nation. Political interests forced a change, and my guest, Sheldon Berman, was Louisville’s superintendent at the time. In his words, “there was a collective interest in retaining the best integrated school district.” Want to know what happened? Listen to his After Action Review. In the episode, we also talk about an article Shelley wrote: . We talk about how to be a principled leader, one that works to , that when you’re defending, you’re losing (advice from one of Shelly’s former board members). Thanks for tuning in. I’m Peter Stiepleman and this is An Imperfect Leader BIO: Dr. Sheldon Berman is a veteran superintendent having served 28 year in Hudson and Andover, MA, Jefferson County (Louisville), KY, and Eugene, OR. During his tenure in Andover, he launched a new strategic plan focused on innovation and . This included capstone projects for 5th, 8th and 12th graders, innovation labs and maker spaces, and a high school global network focused on the United Nations sustainability goals. On January 1, 2021, Dr. Berman was appointed AASA’s Lead Superintendent for Social-Emotional Learning. ------- An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29638348

Leading with Purpose with Dr. Meisha Porter 01/23/2024

Leading with Purpose with Dr. Meisha Porter INTRO: The most unexpected thing happened the other day. I was having car issues and the mechanic offered to do a home visit. That in itself was a nice gesture. He found the issue (resolved it pretty quickly, actually. If you’re dying to know, it was an electrical issue beyond my expertise. Ok, let’s be honest, I have no expertise beyond the radio shack club at the summer camp I attended as a kid where I soldered together a motion detector one summer. You had to be within something like 4 inches for it to actually detect you! So we’re chitchatting and through the window, he sees a ukulele sitting on a table. He takes out a guitar from his vehicle and moment later, we find ourselves in a little jam session. I can safely say this was not how I expected my day to go. I didn’t have time for a jam session. I heard myself self-talking, to consciously accept the moment, to accept the change in schedule, to lean in to the unknown, and to be ok with a different plan. My guest today had to do just that, but on a GRAND scale. Today on an Imperfect Leader, is my guest. She was called to service, to a mammoth job, and from all accounts, she did it with distinction. In my story a moment ago, I can say we were just noodling on our stringed instruments, with no expectation of being good. In Meisha’s case, she was tasked with something tantamount to conducting a full symphony. And she had to be good. She had to be great. In the episode, she tells us a story she has not previously discussed publicly. I’m Peter Stiepleman and welcome to An Imperfect Leader. Thanks for tuning in. BIO: Dr. Porter is inaugural President and CEO, but previously she held the position of Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education (the first Black woman to serve as NYC’s Chancellor) in the largest school system in the nation. To put that into context, she was responsible for educating 1.1 million students in over 1,800 schools. Prior to taking on the role as Chancellor, she served as The Bronx Executive Superintendent where she was deeply invested in sharpening school leaders’ equity lens and building collaborative practices across schools. She has served as superintendent for Community School District #11 and as a teacher, community coordinator, and principal of . ------- An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29569793

Breaking Free from Educational Stagnation: Insights from Dr. Doug Reeves on Leading Schools and Embracing Growth 01/16/2024

Breaking Free from Educational Stagnation: Insights from Dr. Doug Reeves on Leading Schools and Embracing Growth INTRO: In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, Dr. Doug Reeves is my guest. The first thing we talk about is an article he authored, . In the article, he hooks the reader by describing a former intern he had while you has in China, and how she had gone on to anchor the news on China Central Television. She told Doug and his colleagues at a forum in Cambridge, MA: “We have no censorship in China.” When she was challenged at this evidently absurd statement, she replied, “We do not need censorship in China. We censor ourselves.” In and in the I use to advise others, there is a dimension called Nested Patterns, and that is the muscle of an organization’s work. Inside that dimension are terms Doug has discussed as an author and speaker: · Terms like creativity and courage (in his book , he and his co-authors step into a complex national dialogue – that took courage). · Terms like high level collaboration (in , he reminds readers that trust is built when decisions are made collaboratively). · Carol Dweck’s term growth mindset is visible in his work (in the book , Doug references the fixed mindset paralyzing educators even when research disputes deeply-held beliefs – reading instruction, for example). We talk about all of these topics and more! Thanks for tuning in to An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. BIO: Dr. Doug Reeves is the author of more than 40 books and more than 100 articles on leadership and education. He has twice been named to the Harvard University Distinguished Authors Series and was named the Brock International Laureate for his contributions to education. Additionally, Doug was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his service with the United States Army’s Military Intelligence. ------- An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29397248

Reflections of a Lead Learner: Engaging Researchers and Lessons from the Pandemic with Dr. Nathan Schilling 01/09/2024

Reflections of a Lead Learner: Engaging Researchers and Lessons from the Pandemic with Dr. Nathan Schilling INTRO: In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, Dr. Nathan Schilling discusses so many common issues facing superintendents and district leaders. First, he describes his relationship to researchers studying school districts. He shares his approach to engaging the research community and emphasizes the role of superintendents as lead learners. He takes us through an insightful after-action review of the early days of the global pandemic. Tune in for practical insights into system thinking, delegation, collaboration, and trust—crucial lessons for imperfect leaders navigating evolving educational systems. BIO: Dr. Nathan Schilling is the Superintendent of Schools for Lansing School District 158 in South Cook County, Illinois, a position he has held since 2018. Nathan has experience at every level of public education. He has been a high school principal as well as a middle school band and general music teacher. Additionally, he is a Continuing Adjunct Professor of Educational Leadership at Concordia University Chicago. Dr. Schilling has been recognized for his many leadership accomplishments, many of them were recently highlighted by the . Additionally, he wrote an article we discuss in our conversation: ------- An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29312753

Encore Episode: Demond Means on Equity, Challenges, and Triumphs in Education 01/02/2024

Encore Episode: Demond Means on Equity, Challenges, and Triumphs in Education An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. INTRO: This week, I am thrilled to visit with a tremendous leader, , Superintendent of the Wauwatosa School District, a school district just outside of Milwaukee. During our conversation, an incredibly vulnerable reflection by Dr. Means included a decision he made early in his career as a central office leader. He skipped over principals and went directly to teachers during their continuous learning process. I’ve done something similar. I remember being a new assistant superintendent and going to a family’s kitchen table to problem solve issues their child was having at school. It was a marvelous meeting and I felt so good… until the next day… when I better understood how my actions undermined others. You must listen to that part of the conversation and the importance of recognizing the different perspectives and roles in any given situation! BIO: Dr. Demond Means has spent two decades transforming culture, attaining exceptional organizational results, expanding access to enhanced opportunities to historically marginalized student populations, and shifting mindsets in school districts and communities across the country, fulfilling a passion to heighten achievement expectations, and eradicate inequities in education, opportunity, and access for marginalized populations. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29105263

Encore Episode: History and Change: Leading Transformational Change with Sharonica Hardin-Bartley 12/26/2023

Encore Episode: History and Change: Leading Transformational Change with Sharonica Hardin-Bartley An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by . 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 to learn more. INTRO: In this encore episode, I am thrilled to spend time with a friend, Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, Superintendent of The School District of University City. During our conversation, we talk about storytelling, heroism, equity, and vulnerable leadership. I am grateful for Sharonica's willingness to be genuine and present. There is so much learning in this episode - for any leader in any industry! BIO: is an outspoken advocate for racial equity, traumatic-informed practices and student voice in education. Before becoming the University City's Superintendent, she was the assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development for the Ritenour School District. Before that, she occupied a number of leadership roles over 15 years for the St. Louis Public Schools. In 2021, she was awarded Missouri’s Pearce Award. In January, 2022, she was named one of nationally by "K-12 Dive” and then a month later, in February 2022, she was selected as a prestigious Children and Family Fellow by The Annie E. Casey Foundation. ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29104368

Crisis Unveils Character - Lessons in Leadership with Dr. Jill Siler 12/19/2023

Crisis Unveils Character - Lessons in Leadership with Dr. Jill Siler 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 to learn more. INTRO: In the previous episode, we heard from Jeff Young who told us about complex change and a process for coaching leaders through complex situations. My guest this week also gives us guidance on the complex, and she also gives us a clear example of how she faced a really COMPLICATED situation just soon after starting her new role with the Texas Association of School Administrators. joins me this week. Thanks for tuning in! BIO: is a former Texas superintendent who is now Deputy Executive Director for Professional Learning with the Texas Association of School Administrators in Austin, Texas. She is a leader, a speaker, and the author of ------- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/29048588

Context, Content, and Conduct: A Candid Look at Leadership with Jeff Young 12/12/2023

Context, Content, and Conduct: A Candid Look at Leadership with Jeff Young NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ------ I can’t remember if I’ve used this example in previous episodes. I don’t think so…., and if I did, using it again here is appropriate because I use it as an example in my conversation with my guest. You know, when a candidate is being selected to lead an organization, there is a transition from being the applicant to being the named leader. Have you ever seen the end of the movie, ? If not, I highly recommend it. It’s so good. At the end, the newly elected senator (played by Robert Redford) seeks momentary refuge with his strategist, first in a service elevator and then in a hotel room. He’s just won a hard-fought election to be a US Senator, and in the few seconds of solitude, his face, truly contemplative and obviously transformed, asks, “What do we do now?” Superintendents feel this way when they’ve been named the CEO of their school district. In the they feel jubilation to be named, but they also realize that they now have to do the job. Everyone is counting on the district to succeed. My guest talks about coaching and mentoring. He describes the 3 C’s: Context, Content, Conduct. And he talks about his first-hand experience with the power of language. Jeff Young is my guest. It’s a great episode. Thanks for tuning in. BIO: has been the Program Director for Columbia University’s Education Leadership Program at the Teachers College's and Co-Director of the Urban Education Leaders Program, an Ed.D. program for aspiring district-level leaders, and is now serving as Director of the PK-12 Education Leadership and Policy Studies Program. Dr. Young served as Superintendent of Schools in Cambridge, MA from 2009 through 2016, following terms as Superintendent in Newton, Lexington and Lynnfield, MA. ----- 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 to learn more. ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28812953

Stories Unveil a Storied Career with Joe Batory 12/05/2023

Stories Unveil a Storied Career with Joe Batory NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ----- INTRO: From 1998-2004, I worked as a teacher and administrator in the Oakland Public Schools. I loved my time in Oakland. In fact, it was in Oakland where I arrived at my moral focus (like Simon Sinek’s WHY – why I get up every single morning). I even dedicated my recent book, , to the children of Trailer C. Trailer C was my home away from home. It was a magical place with some of the smartest, most creative, and curious children I have ever met. Their families were among the hardest working and loving humans, all of them working tirelessly to provide their child a promising future. In cities across the country, the resources found in public schools have EVERYTHING to do with the socioeconomics of the neighborhood. If you have visited a city school, like the one I taught at in Oakland, you are not likely to find a music program or an art program or library/media program (or even a full-time nurse!). If art or music or library/media existed, it was because the teachers brought them to their classrooms or to the school. In my third year in Oakland, I was a roving teacher. This meant I had my own class of children, but because of overcrowding, I didn’t have my own classroom. Our school had 750 kids, but only room for 550, so every 3 weeks, one quarter of the school went “off cycle” and like the volleyball games of my youth, the teachers without classrooms would rotate to a new space. That was me! My kids and I would pack everything up, every three weeks, and move to a different classroom. Whenever I see a line of ants on a sidewalk, it makes me think of my class following me as I pushed two massive rolling cabinets to our next temporary home. And it was in that year, my third year, that I had a chance meeting with a guy named David Fattig from the US Coast Guard. He was assigned to me for a Junior Achievement ‘Done in a Day’ event. After a full day of teaching lessons on civics and economics (which by the way, my favorite part of the day was walking the kids to lunch and Dave’s astonishment that we’d need to eat, use the bathroom, and prep for the afternoon lessons in only 25 min – with his eyes wide, he asked, “You do this every day??”). After a full day, seated on an old wooden chair, he watched as fourth and fifth graders arrived in my classroom for instrumental music lessons. You see, my public school on Long Island, NY, started teaching instrumental music in 4th grade. I played woodwinds throughout high school and college. Even now, I play alto sax in a pep band for the Seattle’s OL Reign. Dave Fattig played trumpet in the Coast Guard Band and together (with 5 of his bandmates), we started teaching instrumental music. The Allendale Band was even highlighted on the CBS Sunday morning with Charles Osgood. [Note: I still stay in touch with Alma who played clarinet for the nation all those years ago and then continued to excel in school, putting herself through college at SFSU]. Such a heartwarming story, right? I’ve always been so proud of the music program we brought to Allendale. And then after recording a conversation for this podcast with Joe Batory, I felt conflicted. He told me about the It raised my hopes that other states might choose to follow a similar path. And I was frustrated that for all these years, I looked at our little band and thought about how wonderful it was (and it was!), but it didn’t have to be this way (looking at you, CA Prop13). We all know we are lucky to whom we are born. But public education shouldn’t rely on luck. Every child is entitled to attend a well-funded, well-resourced public school. I’ve always said that you can’t aspire unless you’ve been inspired. When you systematically cut funding to the most vulnerable, you get EXACTLY what the system was designed to create: systems of inequity, hopelessness, a reliance on charity and grants. I will ALWAYS look back on my time in Oakland with fondness. I loved being part of the creation of an elementary school band with the US Coast Guard. And, you know what? We owe it to our children and their children to do better. My guest today, Joe Batory, is a celebration of an incredible career. It’s an episode of great stories and reflections. Thanks for tuning in. BIO: is an unusual superintendent. To begin, he had a 15-year run as the superintendent of Upper Darby School District, located just west of Philadelphia, which is somewhat unusual. Secondly, although Joe has written many academic pieces and given many such speeches, he much prefers “telling stories” about his real world superintendent adventures. Rising up from the inner-city streets of Philadelphia, Joe had a remarkable career as one of Pennsylvania’s largest school systems. When he retired, one newspaper called him “a legend” and another termed him “a champion for children and education.” ----- 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 to learn more. ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28812628

Building Tomorrow: Avoiding the Quick Fix in Education with Dr. Joe Johnson 11/28/2023

Building Tomorrow: Avoiding the Quick Fix in Education with Dr. Joe Johnson NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ----- INTRO: In systems thinking, there are stories or archetypes to help leaders map out situations. One archetype I particularly like is called avoiding the quick fix. I’ll give you an example. Recruitment. School districts are determined to recruit teachers of color because they know the decision is backed by research. The The effect of having a black male teacher, especially between grades 3 and 5, decreases the dropout rate among black male students by 30 percent and increases the likelihood of black students aspiring to higher education. Sometimes, though, districts will try and recruit from far away with the hope that this quick fix will help them achieve this goal. It doesn’t work. You get a teacher for a year or so and then they return home where they have genuine community. The better approach is to avoid the quick fix and build a sustainable and lasting system. The school districts who have created Grow Your Own programs are doing it the right way. There’s a part of my conversation with my guest this week that brought to mind time-lapse photography – you know, like when someone wants to capture a project from its inception to completion? Joe Johnson is my guest and when he was describing the cultural field that schools create to demonstrate their love and trust and faith in the children in their care, it made me think about time-lapse images of planning the construction of a building, breaking ground, documenting its progress, and the final image. Well-conceived plans and avoiding the quick fix. You’re going to want to hear what Joe has to say, for he provides optimism for all of us working to make our nation’s greatest treasure, public education, a reality for all. It’s a great one. Thanks for tuning in! BIO: Dr. Joe Johnson is the founding executive director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation () at San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF). While serving at NCUST, he was also a professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University (SDSU), then Dean of the College of Education, and finally the university’s interim provost and senior vice president. Now retired, he exclusively works with and for NCUST. He is considered an elite leader and thinker in his field and his passion and deep practical study of what works in urban education is groundbreaking! ----- 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 to learn more. ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28809708

Encore Episode: Nick Polyak Describes How An Unfinished Leader Is Nearly Finished By His Decision! 11/21/2023

Encore Episode: Nick Polyak Describes How An Unfinished Leader Is Nearly Finished By His Decision! NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ----- INTRO: Hello Imperfect Leaders. This week, many of us are joining the millions of people traveling for the Thanksgiving holidays. In my book, I use the term the power of language to describe the work of a leader. Stories, the art of framing, and the use of metaphors make specific appearances. You know, road trips are an appropriate metaphor for leadership. In this encore episode of the podcast, let’s do that, let’s think of leadership as a road trip. We'll invite Dr. Nick Polyak to be our seasoned driver. In our conversation about the routes of continual improvement (for which there are many – highways, byways, detours, and dead ends). But in this case, my take away was it's not about reaching a final destination; it's about enjoying the ride and growing along the way. We'll stop at Nick’s role as the moderator of #SuptChat, a digital caravan of leaders sharing insights and creating a community that's essential for the road ahead. We'll talk about , a book Nick co-wrote with Michael Lubelfied and PJ Caposey. During our "Imperfect Leadership in After Action" segment, Nick opens up about involving family in major life choices, a real and raw aspect of the leadership road trip. As we cruise along, Nick leaves us with a personal roadmap of advice for aspiring leaders. Buckle up, friends! We're about to hit the road on this personal and insightful journey of unfinished leadership with. The engine is humming, the GPS is set, and our podcast adventure is ready to roll! Too much? Thanks for tuning in! I am pleased to announce he and his co-autors have a new book coming out In January. You can order your copy of today! Bio: Dr. Nick Polyak is the superintendent for Leyden Community High School District in Cook County, Illinois. He has served as a math teacher and tennis and soccer coach before moving into administrative roles at the building and central office levels. As the leader of Leyden schools, the school district has received many recognitions, including awards from the College Board and the National School Board Association. ----- 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 to learn more. ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28715143

Caught in the Crosshairs with Allan Mucerino: Superintendents in the Political Spotlight 11/14/2023

Caught in the Crosshairs with Allan Mucerino: Superintendents in the Political Spotlight NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE "What do we want to create together?" So proud to have co-written the foreword with to this essential book on . If you're a school leader looking to make sense of what you know to be true about schools, check it out. If you're a corporate leader, you will find a pathway to better results in every page. ----- INTRO: Hello, Imperfect Leaders! On October 24, 2020, Missouri’s Joint Committee on Education, a committee of state senators and representatives held a committee hearing next door to my office to discuss COVID-19. I thought it was highly unusual since committee hearings were typically conducted at the Capitol Building in Jefferson City. In this case, with my community’s proximity to the Capital, and with access to multiple media outlets, the more than five-hour hearing was held a little over a mile from my home. On her website describing the hearing, the senator, a self-described champion for charter schools, said, “It is important for state leaders, school officials, parents and students to come together and have their voices heard on this important issue.” In what could only be described as a public execution of public education, I was instructed to sit in the front row while preselected parents and children gave public testimony on the difficulties they were having with virtual learning. After each testimonial, participants were asked whether they would accept a voucher, if it were made available to them. Many responded they would. At some point in the hearing, my Board President, another Board of Education member, and I were invited to make a statement and answer questions. When one of the senators, in defiance of the local health department’s mask mandate, said he had a question for me, I quickly jumped in and said, “Senator, if it is to ask me if I would accept a voucher, I would not.” I do regret succumbing to impulsivity in making the joke, but the senator did laugh (as did many in the room). The ridiculousness of it all was so incredibly frustrating. My guest today speaks to this phenomenon for superintendents, that the job has gotten even more political. His article, , he writes how “as the narrative arc of division rises, superintendents can play the critical role of influencer to bend the arc toward inclusion, compassion, and peace.” is my guest. It’s a great episode. Thanks for tuning in. BIO: Today on an Imperfect Leader, Dr. Allan Mucerino is my guest. Dr. Mucerino is the Superintendent, the Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Equity Officer of the Alvord Unified School District, a PK-12 school district with ~17,500 ADA, ~2,500 employees in the western portion of the City of Riverside, the eastern portion of the City of Corona, and segments of unincorporated communities of Riverside County. Dr. Mucerino has served as a high school and middle school principal, an assistant superintendent, and for the past twenty-nine years. Allan considers himself a research-practitioner, and has been a member of the California State University, Fullerton Department of Education faculty for the past fourteen years as a Superintendent in Residence, supervising dissertations in practice, and serving on the Executive Committee for doctoral studies. Thanks for tuning in! ----- 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 to learn more. ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. ------- AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28504670

Planning, Passion, & Optimism: Doug Younger on How Every Superintendent is a Entrepreneur 11/07/2023

Planning, Passion, & Optimism: Doug Younger on How Every Superintendent is a Entrepreneur Book Update! Imperfect Leaders! My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. INTRO: Hello, Imperfect Leaders! Our family recently held a reunion to celebrate my son, Ezra’s, graduation, and my father’s significant birthday. We were all together – it was really very nice. In fact, a few weeks earlier, my nephew, Henry, graduated from college. Many of us traveled to be there with him. While we were at his graduation, we had an opportunity to go the campus art gallery to see his senior thesis. Henry’s art technique uses something called automatic drawing, which challenges the artist to fully let go of their consciousness and seek something called the flow state. It is in that flow state that much is revealed. Our thoughts, our fears, our wishes – it’s what an artist, Phillip Guston, calls “letting go of something inside.” Looking at his artwork, I am so impressed with Henry’s willingness to be vulnerable and honest about life. As all of us are human, we all struggle with the voices in our heads that say we are not smart enough, or work hard enough. We allow others to define us. This week (and every week), my guests are willing to share their experiences and give insights into what they learned. This week’s guest is good at this. This week’s guest is not my typical guest. Sometimes, I invite education-adjacent leaders to participate in the podcast, but my guest isn’t that, either. Here’s the thing. The more I host this podcast and the more I have opportunities to coach corporate clients as well as superintendents, the more I see the similarities when it comes to leadership. Superintendents have to foster trust-based relationships with teachers, principals, parents, children, their boards, and the community. Business leaders have similar relationships they must build and maintain. Superintendents, just like business executives, must cultivate high performing teams. My guest is Doug Younger, and he is not a superintendent, but an entrepreneur and CEO. He has some good insights around his three values: planning, passion, and optimism. Thanks for tuning in! BIO: Today on an Imperfect Leader, Douglas Younger III is my guest. Doug is an accomplished technologist in cutting-edge industries such as software as a servicer (SaaS), artificial intelligence, virtual reality, powered-exoskeletons, implantable medical devices, and advanced medical imaging. He is the Founder and CEO of , a marketing company, he’s a lecturer at Cal State University, and he’s the host of , A Small Business Podcast. It’s a great episode full of incredible insights! Thanks for tuning in! ----- 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 to learn more. ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28400729

Decoding Leadership: Dr. Jennifer Cheatham's Playbook for Reflective and Transformative Practices 10/31/2023

Decoding Leadership: Dr. Jennifer Cheatham's Playbook for Reflective and Transformative Practices Book Update! Imperfect Leaders! My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. INTRO: Hello, Imperfect Leaders! Evaluations. In every single profession, employees are evaluated. They are evaluated by their direct supervisors or evaluated by a board of directors. Often they are evaluated by the people they lead in the form of a survey (often referred to as a 360 survey). Plus, there are informal evaluations conducted by the community over social media – those can be brutal. Formal evaluations can be difficult to navigate if there is not a clear process and protocol established at the very beginning. How often have you entered an evaluation meeting only to discover that what you thought you were being evaluated on was very different than what your evaluator thought? A shared image of what success looks like is paramount. My guest today, , has incredible advice for school and district leaders about goal setting, reporting on progress, and even tips for how leaders can formally request authority over the evaluation process as part of their contract (I hadn’t thought of that one – so wise!). During her After Action Review, she talks about something very important to me – the tackling of a major system of oppression – a district’s code of conduct (also known as discipline). It’s a great episode full of incredible insights! Thanks for tuning in! BIO: With over twenty-five years of experience in the field of education in San Diego, Chicago, and Madison, Wisconsin, has served as a teacher, a teacher leader, a professional developer, a central office leader, an area superintendent, and a superintendent. In each of these roles, she focused on a number of things, including cultivating strong teams, designing enduring systems, and strengthening routines for organizational learning – all to make the lives of children better. She is now a Senior Lecturer on Education and Co-Chair of the Public Education Leadership Project at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. FURTHER INFO: A few months ago, I had a chance to speak with Max Silverman at the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership. Our conversation was wide ranging, but we kept returning to the role of evaluations. Leaders in every profession are interested in growth. Personal growth and the growth of those they supervise. This is a big topic for educational leaders as well. It wasn’t a day or so later that I came across an article by Jennifer, ? In the article she points out the unintended consequences of a traditional school board process of evaluation and how that the lowering of one point might lead to a superintendent’s quick demise. She references the incredibly disturbing national trend when it comes to leader longevity (we are losing superintendents at alarming rates). As we continue to read the article, we learn more about the shared process she created with your board in Madison, Wisconsin, which included self-reflection. Give it a read! ----- This episode is brought to you, in part, by the . The Waters Center helps people understand what systems thinking is and how to incorporate the Habits, tools and concepts of systems thinking into their work and life to achieve desired results. To learn more, go to . ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28350908

Voices at the Vanguard: Dr. Avis Williams Talks Transformational Leadership, Teacher Engagement, and Communication 10/24/2023

Voices at the Vanguard: Dr. Avis Williams Talks Transformational Leadership, Teacher Engagement, and Communication Book Update! Imperfect Leaders! My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. Intro: Hello Imperfect Leaders! On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane with recorded wind speeds of 140 miles per hour devastated communities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. I remember being a teacher in Missouri, and hearing reports of families heading north to find refuge all along the Mississippi River. Our school system welcomed families, and quickly learned of their very specific needs. The children had been through a great deal of trauma. What I didn’t know until now was that after Katrina, in 2014, the New Orleans Public Schools transitioned from a traditional school district to a 100% charter school district. The superintendent would be hired by a school board, and it would be their responsibility to oversee and authorize each charter school (working with each charter school’s own school boards). What a task! My guest this week describes that important work. Dr. Avis Williams is the New Orleans superintendent. She reminds us that “When you’re bringing people together around an issue, there is a difference between buy in and commitment (you’ll hear her say, “if people can buy in, they can be bought out.”). Listen for it. She also describes the creation of a Joyful Educator Collaborative where she convenes teachers to learn more about what is going well as well as areas for continued growth. Thanks for tuning in! Bio: is the superintendent of schools for the NOLA Public Schools in New Orleans, Louisiana. Prior to her historic appointment to lead the Nola Public Schools, Dr. Williams served as superintendent of Historic Selma City Schools in Selma, AL for five years. An award-winning educator and sought-after speaker, she is a native of Salisbury, NC. A product of poverty, Dr. Williams dreamed of being a teacher from an early age. As a first generation 4-year college student, she followed the path of her older siblings and joined the Army right after high school. While in the Army, she was stationed at Fort Jackson, SC, Yongsan, Korea, and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL. Further Info: Dr. Williams is a leader, a learner, and an author. She is the author of and of professional articles like . Additionally, she has a professional book (co-authored with Bren Elliott) coming out soon. ----- This episode is brought to you, in part, by the . The Waters Center helps people understand what systems thinking is and how to incorporate the Habits, tools and concepts of systems thinking into their work and life to achieve desired results. To learn more, go to . ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28332365

Leadership in Times of Loss with Dr. Uyi Osunde 10/17/2023

Leadership in Times of Loss with Dr. Uyi Osunde Book Update! Imperfect Leaders! My book, If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or You can order it there. Intro: Hello Imperfect Leaders. I am publishing this episode on October 9. I feel an incredible amount of grief and rage and loss for the people of Israel. I feel an incredible amount of grief, too, for the innocent Palestinians in Gaza who are powerless to stop Hamas from bringing about the destruction of their homes and their lives, not to mention the devastation to so many of our hopes for peace and the dream of two states. The last time I felt this sense of loss was nearly 28 years ago, on November 4, 1995. On that tragic day, we learned that Yitzhak Rabin had been assassinated. We feared the progress made during the Oslo Accord would be lost. So much loss. Loss is a profound and sometimes paralyzing feeling. It can push us into despair. School leaders must regularly deal with loss. This week, my guest, Dr. Uyi Osunde uses his After Action Review segment to discuss loss and the promise he made to never allow someone to feel alone, to grieve alone. There’s a good deal of advice for leaders at every level. Thanks for tuning in. Bio: has been the superintendent of schools in Stratford, Connecticut since 2021. Dr. Osunde possesses a wealth of school leadership experience, serving as a high school principal, an assistant principal and counselor in Connecticut high schools. Further Info: In 2014, a former colleague of Uyi's, Scott Goldsmith, . He chronicled Uyi's college and professional football career in such a human-centered way. I urge listeners to follow the link to learn more about Dr. Osunde's life and tremendous display of resilience. ----- This episode is brought to you, in part, by the . The Waters Center helps people understand what systems thinking is and how to incorporate the Habits, tools and concepts of systems thinking into their work and life to achieve desired results. To learn more, go to . ---- An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at . Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly. /episode/index/show/40a5ca8f-5267-4f89-b3e5-b69bd3fcd7ab/id/28271015

An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

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