An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

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

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I'm joined by Damian McBeath , Principal of the John Wallis Church of England Academy . As an experienced school leader and author, Damian brings a wealth of knowledge on education reform, leadership, and the evolving role of schools in shaping students beyond academics. During our discussion, Damian and I discusse...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent of the Rockwood School District and 2022's National Superintendent of the Year. With decades of experience in educational leadership, Dr. Cain offers deep insights into navigating the complexities of leading a major school district through unprecedented times. During ou...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, our guest is Lee Loving, Superintendent of the North Santiam School District in Stayton, Oregon!  In our conversation, Lee shares insightful perspectives on leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. Listen in as we discuss: Connection : The importance of building trust and rapport with students, par...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Marcus Chambers shares his insights on leadership, community, and navigating the challenges in education today. Here are three key takeaways:   A+ School District: Superintendent Chambers explains Okaloosa County's focus on being an "A+ school district" ➕ , emphasizing academic excellence as well as athletics and...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we had the pleasure of speaking with Earl Franks, the Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) . We explored some critical themes for today's educational leaders: 🤝 The Power of Collaboration : Earl emphasizes how crucial it is for educational organizations to work together. Discover how collaboration can drive...

On this week's podcast, we had the pleasure of speaking with Joe Feldman, the founder and CEO of Crescendo Education Group, about equitable grading practices . 🍎 It was an insightful conversation, and here are three key things I'm taking away: Traditional grading often undermines learning : Many teachers receive little to no training on grading. As a result, they often replicate the practices the...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we get to sit down with Dr. Aaron Johnson , leader, author, and professor. Here are some takeaways from our conversation: 🗣️ Humanizing Students: It's so crucial to allow students to be themselves, express their opinions, and share what they like and dislike about school. 👂 🏫 Relationships are Key: Building stron...

This powerful conversation dives deep into leadership, equity, and creating inclusive educational spaces. Melissa, Associate Superintendent at Roseville Area Schools, shared invaluable lessons that are a must for any leader. Here's a quick recap: 💪 Courageous Leadership : Melissa emphasizes the need to challenge inequity head-on. 🌱 Identity & Achievement : Melissa powerfully states, " I won't co...

📢 Exciting new episode of An Imperfect Leader! 📢 I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Michelle Osterhoudt, Superintendent of Margaretville Central Schools, and it was an incredibly insightful conversation! Here are some of the key themes: Rethinking Traditional Education 🏫 : Michelle shared her personal experience with her daughter's struggles in the traditional school system, which led...

📢 We had an INCREDIBLE conversation with Dr. Stephen Pruitt, President of the Southern Regional Education Board. 🎧 We dove deep into education, leadership, and creating real change. Here are some of the key takeaways: 🤝 Stakeholder vs. Shareholder : Dr. Pruitt brilliantly explained that in education, we need to move beyond "stakeholders" and cultivate "shareholders"—those invested in a common v...

Have you ever felt like the traditional leadership models just don't fit? 🤔 Then you NEED to listen to our latest episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast with the incredible Dr. Quintin Shepherd . 🎧 We dive deep into #transformational #leadership , the power of language, and how to truly connect with your #community . 🤝 Here are 4️⃣ things you absolutely shoul...

📢 The tree is lit and the cookies have been set out for Santa. It's the perfect time to tune in to an amazing remastered encore episode with Douglas Reeves on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast! 🎧 We dive deep into crucial topics for today's education leaders. Here are some key takeaways: 1️⃣ Theme 1: The Urgent Need for Safety 🛡️ Doug highlighted the intense pressur...

This week, Casey Hallgarth, Superintendent of the Baker School District in Baker City, Oregon, joins the podcast.  Here are a few key takeaways: Building relationships is paramount to successful leadership. Casey emphasizes the significance of authentic and genuine connections with staff, community members, and board members.  Shared image of success. To promote a shared image of success, Casey be...

Join me for a powerful conversation with Dr. Ronald Taylor , former superintendent and author of The Courage to Lead with Integrity for Equity, on the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader! Dr. Taylor shares his remarkable journey in education , exploring the critical importance of equity, integrity, and courage in leadership. We discuss: The impact of the Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS) organizat...

🎙️ Join us for this insightful conversation with Jerry Almendarez, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District Jerry's leadership journey provided valuable takeaways, especially regarding school improvement initiatives: The Power of Student Voice 🗣️ : Jerry emphasized the importance of incorporating student perspectives in decision-making processes. He shared a compelling anecdote about ho...

INTRO: It's Thanksgiving week, and what better time to reflect on the things we're grateful for? 🙏 This week, we're sharing an encore episode (with before and after commentary with Jamie Almanzán) that truly embodies the spirit of gratitude. 🍂 Join me as I speak with Samir Goel, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu, a company dedicated to dismantling barriers to housing for working families.  What tru...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Dr. Larry Dake, Superintendent of the Chenango Valley Central School District, shares invaluable lessons learned throughout his leadership journey, emphasizing the importance of: Relationships: Building strong relationships with staff, students, and families is crucial for effective leadership. Dr. Dake highlights...

It was an honor to have Vikas Pota as our guest on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast 🎧   🎙️ We had a fantastic conversation about T4 Education, the World's Best School Prize, and the importance of recognizing and celebrating the amazing work happening in schools around the globe.   Here are four key takeaways: Shining a Spotlight on Success: Prizes are a powerful way...

It's Election Day! Make sure you get out there and make your voice heard-- every vote counts ! 🎧 In this encore episode of An Imperfect Leader, we feature Tony Aylsworth , Superintendent of Pleasantville Community Schools in Pleasantville, Iowa. Tony shares valuable insights from his leadership journey, including: The Power of Collective Aspiration: Tony discusses how he works with his school com...

Join us as we sit down with Dr. Kim Hartmann , CEO of KCH Solutions and former school board member, for a conversation about  building trust, fostering collaboration, and navigating the complexities of school leadership. Kim shares invaluable insights from her experience in both the corporate and education worlds, including: 🔑 The critical link between trust and outcomes: When trust is present, s...

Join Jamie Almanzán and me for an insightful conversation with Dr. Rachel White, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. White, a former school board member and policy analyst, brings a wealth of experience and a passion for equity to her research on the superintendency.   In this episode, you'll learn:   💡 The importance of human...

📣 Tune in to the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader 🎧 featuring Kurt A Schneide r of TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 804 in Highland Park, Illinois. Dr. Schneider shares his insights on leading systemic transformation in education, emphasizing the importance of equity and inclusion for ALL learners. Here are three key takeaways from our conversation: *️⃣ Transformation requires a cultural s...

Join us for this week's episode of  An Imperfect Leader featuring Kim Marshall, author and creator of The Marshall Memo . Kim has spent over 20 years curating the best research and ideas in education and distilling them into easily digestible summaries that have empowered countless educators. In this conversation, we discuss: The five levels of engagement with The Marshall Memo . Kim outlines how...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast , we're thrilled to welcome Dr. Howard Benyon, Superintendent of Cape Girardeau Public Schools in Missouri, and Dr. Brice Beck, Deputy Superintendent. These inspiring leaders share insights on: ✅ Making fearless, student-first decisions, especially when it comes to going #phone #free in their schools   ✅ The conce...