An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

Peter Stiepleman
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Welcome to An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, a series of conversations with leaders who look back at decisions they made and consider: * What happened? * What got overlooked? * What did they learn about relationships or what new relationships were formed? * What frustrated them? * What could they have done differently? * And in the end, what was something good that came out of their experience – because it is through one's mistakes where the 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.

  1. 4 days ago

    (AUDIO) Jennifer Tickle Talks Values, Visas, and Ethical AI in Siena, Italy

    What happens when you ask an 11-year-old student, "Who do you want to be?" instead of "What do you want to be?" 🤔 In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we sit down with Jennifer Tickle, former Head of School at the International School of Siena, Italy (now the Head of School in Monza), for a candid conversation about values, vulnerability, and the complex systems of international school leadership. Here are some themes from our discussion: 1️⃣ Define the "Who" Before the "What" Rather than relying on inherited values, Jen led a collaborative appreciative inquiry process with students, parents, and teachers to discover who they wanted to be. This deep community alignment centered on three core anchors: Respect, Integrity, and Compassion.  2️⃣ The 9-Month Recruitment Reality Check (Systems Thinking) In an honest "After Action Review," Jen shares the raw reality of trying to recruit a highly qualified, non-European physics teacher without fully anticipating the bilateral visa challenges of her host country.  3️⃣ Reframing AI as a "Library Assistant" How do we teach critical thinking when answers are just a click away? In her Grade 7 music class, Jen teaches students to use AI ethically (not to write the work, but to act as a digital "library assistant" guiding them to the right book on the shelf).  True leadership isn't about being perfect. It's about having the humility to admit mistakes, learn alongside your community, and lead relationally. 🎧 Tune in to the full episode (And yes, you'll hear about Peter's newfound obsession with padel!). #AnImperfectLeader #InternationalEducation #SchoolLeadership #AISH #Podcasserole #ValuesDrivenLeadership #RestorativePractices #SystemsThinking #GlobalRecruitment #EdTechIntegrity ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  2. 4 days ago ·  Video

    (VIDEO) Jennifer Tickle: Values, Visas, and Ethical AI in Siena, Italy

    What happens when you ask an 11-year-old student, "Who do you want to be?" instead of "What do you want to be?" 🤔 In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we sit down with Jennifer Tickle, former Head of School at the International School of Siena, Italy (now the Head of School in Monza), for a candid conversation about values, vulnerability, and the complex systems of international school leadership. Here are some themes from our discussion: 1️⃣ Define the "Who" Before the "What" Rather than relying on inherited values, Jen led a collaborative appreciative inquiry process with students, parents, and teachers to discover who they wanted to be. This deep community alignment centered on three core anchors: Respect, Integrity, and Compassion.  2️⃣ The 9-Month Recruitment Reality Check (Systems Thinking) In an honest "After Action Review," Jen shares the reality of trying to recruit a highly qualified, non-European physics teacher without fully anticipating the bilateral visa challenges of her host country.  3️⃣ Reframing AI as a "Library Assistant" How do we teach critical thinking when answers are just a click away? In her Grade 7 music class, Jen teaches students to use AI ethically (not to write the work, but to act as a digital "library assistant" guiding them to the right book on the shelf).  True leadership isn't about being perfect. It's about having the humility to admit mistakes, learn alongside your community, and lead relationally. 🎧 Tune in to the full episode (And yes, you'll hear about Peter's newfound obsession with padel!). #AnImperfectLeader #InternationalEducation #SchoolLeadership #AISH #Podcasserole #ValuesDrivenLeadership #RestorativePractices #SystemsThinking #GlobalRecruitment #EdTechIntegrity ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  3. 1 Sept

    (AUDIO) Beyond the Report Card: Reclaiming School Greatness with Vikas Pota

    As we wrap up our summer encore series and gear up to launch Season 5 of An Imperfect Leader, we are closing out the sunny season with an absolute powerhouse of a conversation! ☀️🎙️ In our final summer encore episode, I sat down with Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and creator of the World's Best School Prizes. If you are a superintendent, head of school, or district leader, this episode is your ultimate reminder of why your school has every reason to be celebrated on a global stage. Here are three game-changing themes we deconstruct in this episode: 1️⃣ What Makes a School The Best in the World? Vikas shares that while exceptional leadership accounts for 90% of a school's success, the crucial remaining 10% comes down to a deep, embedded organizational culture. The world's top-performing schools excel because they commit to five research-backed, evidence-based strategies: community collaboration, environmental action, innovation, healthy living, and building the resilience to overcome adversity. 2️⃣ The Perception Gap: How We See Ourselves vs. How Others See Us: As leaders, we often operate with an internal image of our own strengths, but does it align with how the world actually experiences us? Vikas shares a brilliant, reflective exercise and the results might stagger you, revealing your true superpowers through the eyes of others. 3️⃣ Reclaiming the Narrative on Education: When we celebrate school communities globally, we build a reinforcing loop that elevates teacher status, mobilizes local communities, and inspires policy-level changes. As we look forward to Season 5, let this episode serve as a reminder of our shared mission. In the words of Global Teacher Prize winner Maggie McDonnell: "When education wins, we all win." #ImperfectLeader #SchoolCulture #WorldsBestSchoolPrize #EducationLeadership #AppreciativeInquiry #SystemsThinking #TeacherStatus #Podcasserole ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  4. 1 Sept ·  Video

    (VIDEO) Beyond the Report Card: Reclaiming School Greatness with Vikas Pota

    As we wrap up our summer encore series and gear up to launch Season 5 of An Imperfect Leader, we are closing out the sunny season with an absolute powerhouse of a conversation! ☀️🎙️ In our final summer encore episode, I sat down with Vikas Pota, founder of T4 Education and creator of the World's Best School Prizes. If you are a superintendent, head of school, or district leader, this episode is your ultimate reminder of why your school has every reason to be celebrated on a global stage. Here are three game-changing themes we deconstruct in this episode: 1️⃣ What Makes a School The Best in the World? Vikas shares that while exceptional leadership accounts for 90% of a school's success, the crucial remaining 10% comes down to a deep, embedded organizational culture. The world's top-performing schools excel because they commit to five research-backed, evidence-based strategies: community collaboration, environmental action, innovation, healthy living, and building the resilience to overcome adversity. 2️⃣ The Perception Gap: How We See Ourselves vs. How Others See Us: As leaders, we often operate with an internal image of our own strengths, but does it align with how the world actually experiences us? Vikas shares a brilliant, reflective exercise and the results might stagger you, revealing your true superpowers through the eyes of others. 3️⃣ Reclaiming the Narrative on Education: When we celebrate school communities globally, we build a reinforcing loop that elevates teacher status, mobilizes local communities, and inspires policy-level changes. As we look forward to Season 5, let this episode serve as a reminder of our shared mission. In the words of Global Teacher Prize winner Maggie McDonnell: "When education wins, we all win." #ImperfectLeader #SchoolCulture #WorldsBestSchoolPrize #EducationLeadership #AppreciativeInquiry #SystemsThinking #TeacherStatus ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  5. 25 Aug

    Dr. Christina Kishimoto and the Radical Power of Relationship Capital

    🚨 How do you lead when the answer is "zero"? 🚨 In our latest encore episode of An Imperfect Leader, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Christina Kishimoto (Founder and CEO of Voice 4Equity and former superintendent in Hartford, Gilbert, and Hawaii) to talk about the radical power of relationship capital, the messy reality of school leadership, and what it truly means to lead with intention. During the conversation, Dr. Kishimoto shared a powerful story from the start of the 2020 pandemic. When her district needed $100 million for student devices to support online learning across seven islands, the state legislature unexpectedly funded her request at ZERO dollars. Instead of accepting defeat, she quickly pivoted. She called on her deep relationship capital by leveraging trusted partnerships in the private sector, nonprofits, the military, and Hawaiian Airlines to secure laptops, hotspots, and food for vulnerable families. Here are some of our favorite takeaways from this episode: 💡 Relationship Capital isn't for politics; it's for safety: True networks are built so leaders can check in, keep each other safe, and ensure no one is leading in isolation. 💡 Imperfect is where the magic happens: Leadership is naturally messy, and that's exactly where innovation, diverse perspectives, and collective problem-solving are born. 💡 Empowering diverse voices: Why women, particularly women of color, need dedicated networks of support to navigate unique, racialized, and gendered leadership contexts. 💡 Staying curious: How curiosity about people makes them feel seen and strengthens organizational trust. 🎧 Tune in to hear the full conversation here or search for An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. 👉 Want to connect with Dr. Kishimoto's work? Visit voice4equity.com ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  6. 18 Aug

    Back by Popular Demand: Casey Hallgarth and Why Relationships (Not Titles) Are the True Key to System Leadership

    This week on An Imperfect Leader, we're heading back into the archives to bring you a conversation that remains incredibly relevant today. My guest, Dr. Casey Hallgarth, Superintendent of Baker School District, shared timeless wisdom on leading with heart and integrity.   Here is why this encore episode is a must-listen: 🤝 Relationships are the Foundation: Successful leadership isn't about the title. It's about authentic connections with staff, your board, and the community. 👂 The Power of Real Listening: To create a shared image of success, you have to convene groups and "really listen to what they're saying." 👣 Walking the Talk: Leading by example is the only way to foster true trust. Your actions must align with your words. 🧒 The Ultimate Filter: Casey uses one powerful question for every decision: "Will it help the kids?" It's a simple but vital reminder of why we do this work. Casey's roadmap for a thriving school environment is just as impactful now as it was then. #EducationLeadership #Podcasserole #AnImperfectLeader #SchoolImprovement  ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  7. 11 Aug

    (AUDIO) Building a Cathedral to Possibility: How Winchester and Jason Van Heukelum are Beyond the Four Walls of a Classroom

    Are we preparing students for a four-year degree that only 20% will actually complete, or are we preparing them for life? In this special encore episode of An Imperfect Leader, we are revisiting a powerful conversation with Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Superintendent of Winchester Public Schools in Virginia. This is an episode every school leader needs to hear, especially if you've ever felt that the current "testing regime" is sucking the joy out of your classrooms. Why should you care? Because Jason is doing something truly bold. He didn't just build a new CTE wing; he created the Emil and Grace Shahadah Innovation Center, which he calls a "cathedral to possibility". Key takeaways: Universal Career Exploration: In Winchester, career and technical education isn't "the track for those other kids." Every single student is required to participate. It's about breaking down social barriers and ensuring all students learn together. The "Elevate 2030" Vision: Jason gets vulnerable about the pressure to "double down" on test scores post-COVID. He shares how he's dusting off the rubrics for skills and dispositions to refocus on student agency and deeper learning. CTE Elevated: Why moving programs out of the basement and into state-of-the-art facilities changes the narrative for students and the community. If you are looking for a path forward that balances accountability with the human need for creativity and curiosity, Jason's story is your blueprint. #EducationLeadership #CTE #StudentAgency #InnovationInEducation #Podcasserole #AnImperfectLeader #SchoolImprovement #ThePoliticsOfPossibility ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

  8. 11 Aug ·  Video

    (VIDEO) Curing the Testing Obsession: Winchester and Jason Van Heukelum are Reclaiming Joy and Agency in the Modern Classroom

    Are we preparing students for a four-year degree that only 20% will actually complete, or are we preparing them for life? In this special encore episode of An Imperfect Leader, we are revisiting a powerful conversation with Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Superintendent of Winchester Public Schools in Virginia. This is an episode every school leader needs to hear, especially if you've ever felt that the current "testing regime" is sucking the joy out of your classrooms. Why should you care? Because Jason is doing something truly bold. He didn't just build a new CTE wing; he created the Emil and Grace Shahadah Innovation Center, which he calls a "cathedral to possibility". Key takeaways: Universal Career Exploration: In Winchester, career and technical education isn't "the track for those other kids." Every single student is required to participate. It's about breaking down social barriers and ensuring all students learn together. The "Elevate 2030" Vision: Jason gets vulnerable about the pressure to "double down" on test scores post-COVID. He shares how he's dusting off the rubrics for skills and dispositions to refocus on student agency and deeper learning. CTE Elevated: Why moving programs out of the basement and into state-of-the-art facilities changes the narrative for students and the community. If you are looking for a path forward that balances accountability with the human need for creativity and curiosity, Jason's story is your blueprint. #EducationLeadership #CTE #StudentAgency #InnovationInEducation #Podcasserole #AnImperfectLeader #SchoolImprovement #ThePoliticsOfPossibility ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect ------- American education is at a crossroads, and the fight for justice cannot wait. Ezekiel Dixon-Roman and Sonya Douglass of Teachers College present The Politics of Possibility, a powerful series confronting the rollback of civil rights and student erasure. Featuring global voices, the series offers real strategies to honor every student's history. Watch Season 1 now. ------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

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About

Welcome to An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, a series of conversations with leaders who look back at decisions they made and consider: * What happened? * What got overlooked? * What did they learn about relationships or what new relationships were formed? * What frustrated them? * What could they have done differently? * And in the end, what was something good that came out of their experience – because it is through one's mistakes where the 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.

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