Standing Tall: Voices in Leadership

Randy Lindquist

In a world that’s rapidly changing, great leadership stands out—and stands tall. Hosted by Randy Lindquist, Standing Tall dives deep into the stories of education’s GIANT leaders. Inspired by Isaac Newton’s quote, “If I see further than others, it’s because I stand on the shoulders of giants,” this podcast uncovers the wisdom, grit, and heart that drive exceptional school leaders. Each episode, Randy sits down with inspiring voices in education to dissect their leadership journeys, tease out practical lessons, and explore the challenges they’ve overcome. From bold innovations to everyday resilience, Standing Tall offers real-world insights that any school leader can lean on, learn from, and build upon. When we learn from giants, we all stand a little taller.

  1. 19 Oct

    How Authenticity and Empathy Transform School Culture with Doug Ammeraal

    Key Takeaways & Discussion Points Building Relational Capacity: Why telling students and staff they are "loved, valued, and appreciated" sets the foundation for high trust and strong expectations.Culture in Micro-Moments: How shifting everyday verbiage (e.g., changing "Why are you late?" to "We're really glad you're here") impacts climate.Coaching vs. Mentoring: Learning when to solve a problem directly versus when to ask guiding questions so others develop self-efficacy.Navigating Difficult Conversations: Applying Brené Brown’s principle that "clear is kind" using the Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) framework.Infusing Joy into Work: Why leaders must slow down, recognize small wins, and avoid taking themselves too seriously.Links & Resources Mentioned in the Episode Organizations & Schools:Mona Shores Public Schools – Mona Shores Middle School in Muskegon, MI.Muskegon Area Intermediate School District (MAISD) – Host organization for Standing Tall.The Kalamazoo Promise – Led by CEO Von Washington Jr., featured in Doug's journey.Camp Sunshine Michigan – Summer camp program for individuals with developmental disabilities.MEMSPA – Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association.Books & Frameworks:Lead from Where You Are by Joe Sanfilippo – Book referenced on finding joy and recognizing micro-moments in education.Situation-Behavior-Impact (SBI) Feedback Model – Framework used for direct, non-emotional communication.Dare to Lead by Brené Brown – Referenced for the concept "Clear is Kind."

    How Authenticity and Empathy Transform School Culture with Doug Ammeraal

  2. 5 Oct

    Build Leaders, Not Dependence: Creating Conditions for Others to Thrive

    Help Others Thrive Without Carrying It All with Dave TeboStanding Tall: Voices in Leadership | Season 3Guest: Dave Tebo  About This EpisodeWhat becomes possible for other people because of your leadership? Dave Tebo, Director of Innovation Services at Ottawa Area ISD and former superintendent of Hamilton Community Schools, joins Standing Tall for a conversation about developing people, leading change, and expanding what is possible for students. Drawing on his experience in district and regional leadership, Dave explains why meaningful innovation begins with empathy, why organizational decisions always affect relationships, and why leaders need to create space for others to experiment and grow. He also reflects candidly on burnout, the pressure to have every answer, and what he would tell his younger self about sharing responsibility. What You’ll Walk Away WithA broader definition of leadership success. Look at the people you help develop and whether the organization can flourish after you leave.A practical test for innovation. Ask what an idea improves for students, teachers, families, or the community—not simply whether it is new.A way to support experimentation. Pair clear strategic direction with permission to test ideas, learn from unexpected outcomes, and stop approaches that are not working.A more collaborative approach to questions. Make clear that you are helping colleagues think through possibilities, rather than questioning their competence or intentions.A stronger commitment to student agency. Build on the authentic problem-solving and purpose students often experience in the arts, career and technical education, athletics, and robotics.A human purpose for AI. Use time saved through technology to strengthen relationships and spend more time alongside students.Permission to stop carrying everything. Share responsibility, listen longer, and protect the balance that allows you to care for others. People, Organizations, and ResourcesConnect with DaveDave Tebo on LinkedIn — Learn more about Dave’s professional background and work.Ottawa Area Intermediate School District — The regional education organization where Dave serves.OAISD Innovation Services — An overview of its approach to designing, prototyping, and reflecting with educational partners.Hamilton Community Schools — The district Dave discusses when reflecting on his superintendency and the teams he helped develop.References from the ConversationJamie Vollmer’s “Nostesia” essay — archived PDF — Dave references Vollmer’s term for the combination of nostalgia and amnesia that can shape how people remember school and respond to change.Dr. Dania Bazzi — Dave shares a story about recognizing her strengths during an interview and encouraging her to consider a different leadership role.Lost — Dave’s favorite television show comes up during the rapid-fire questions. Questions to Take Back to Your TeamAre we creating the conditions for people to lead, or teaching them to wait for our answers?What does our latest innovation actually improve for the people we serve?Do people feel safe sharing what did not work—and what they learned?Where are students showing capabilities that our traditional structures overlook?If technology saves us time, how will we reinvest that time in relationships?What responsibility could we share so that both our people and our leadership become more sustainable?Keep learning, keep leading, and keep standing tall.

    Build Leaders, Not Dependence: Creating Conditions for Others to Thrive

  3. 21 Sept

    Build a Strategic Plan Your People Actually Own

    In this episode, you’ll learn how to:Turn stakeholder feedback into a focused strategic directionCreate meaningful staff ownership and organizational buy-inUse AI to analyze large amounts of qualitative feedbackStructure a collaborative strategic-planning sessionBalance clear expectations with flexibility for departments and teamsConnect ambitious new goals to work that is already succeedingKeep a strategic plan visible, actionable, and relevantBuild a mission that brings people together around a shared purposeTools discussedPLAUD: An AI-powered recording and transcription tool used to capture stakeholder conversationsNotebookLM: An AI research tool used to explore source materials, compare perspectives, and identify recurring themesGoogle Forms: Used to collect survey feedback from staff and familiesKey takeawayPeople support what they help create. A strong strategic direction doesn’t begin with a leader deciding what everyone else should do. It begins with listening carefully, bringing different voices into the process, and giving people a genuine role in shaping the result. For Muskegon Area ISD, that collaborative process produced a mission its staff can rally around: Maximize potential. Discover purpose. ResourcesVisit the Muskegon Area ISD website to explore the organization’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. About the podcastStanding Tall: Voices in Leadership features honest conversations about the experiences, lessons, and choices that shape effective leaders.

    Build a Strategic Plan Your People Actually Own

  4. 22 Jun

    Leadership Lessons From Michigan’s Top Educational Leaders

    What can we learn from the people leading some of Michigan’s most impactful educational organizations? In this special leadership mashup episode of Standing Tall | Voices in Leadership, we’ve compiled some of the most memorable insights from 12 outstanding education leaders from across Michigan. From building trust and navigating change to developing teams and staying mission-focused, these leaders share the lessons that have shaped their careers and strengthened their organizations. Whether you’re a superintendent, principal, teacher, aspiring leader, or someone passionate about making a difference, you’ll find practical wisdom, thoughtful reflection, and powerful reminders about what great leadership looks like in action. Twelve leaders. Countless lessons. One shared commitment to serving students, staff, and communities.

    Leadership Lessons From Michigan’s Top Educational Leaders

  5. 1 Jun

    Top 6 of 2026 | Season 2 Compilation

    Featured Episodes & Draft Picks Pick Guest & Leadership Role Featured Highlight & Episode Link #1 Dr. John VanWagoner (Superintendent, Traverse City Area Public Schools) Innovating Mid-Flight with Dr. John VanWagoner Randy’s top pick emphasizes the necessary rhythm of shifting between active work on the "dance floor" and systemic foresight from the "balcony." #2 Michelle Barry (Director, Ignite Pathways) Upskilling the Future and Closing the Engagement Gap with Michelle Barry Ben highlights a powerful lesson from rural Iowa on leading with vulnerability and treating iteration as your continuous growth curve. #3 Dr. Sean Williams (Superintendent, Eaton RESA) Authentic Leadership: Moving from Knowledge to Wisdom with Dr. Sean Williams Randy highlights why leaders must reject "code-switching" and focus on building high-trust environments rooted in a shared purpose. #4 Janelle Duffey (Principal, Fruitport Schools) School Culture By Design | Janelle Duffey | Fruitport Schools Ben revisits what real culture looks like—moving it off the poster boards and turning it into something palpable that you feel the moment you walk inside. #5 Joshua Smith (Principal, Orchard View Middle School) Lead with Belonging | Creating School Culture Where Every Student Thrives Randy brings back the vital "plate capacity" analogy, challenging administrators to actively take things off an overwhelmed teacher's plate. #6 Paul Klimza (Principal, Reeths-Puffer Elementary) Trauma-Invested Leadership: Moving from Unseen to Empowered Ben closes out the draft with a beautiful reminder of the sheer weight, responsibility, and opportunity found daily in public education. Never miss an episode of School Leadership Insights. Subscribe to Standing Tall: Voices in Leadership on Simplecast or your favorite podcast app!

    Top 6 of 2026 | Season 2 Compilation

  6. 18 May

    AI For School Leaders with Karle Delo

    Key Discussion Points The Journey from Classroom to Strategy: Karle shares how her decade of experience teaching middle school science and serving as an instructional coach shaped her minimalist, intentional approach to educational technology. She emphasizes that tech shouldn't be used just because it is digital, but rather to enhance existing best practices. Navigating the Tool Landscape: Rather than trying to master hundreds of niche educational apps, Karle advises leaders to focus on core frontier models (like Gemini or ChatGPT) . She explains the concept of "ChatGPT wrappers" (ordering off a menu) versus large language models (cooking for yourself) and introduces the fast-evolving world of autonomous AI agents . Responsible District Implementation: A successful roll-out rejects the "one-and-done" professional development model. Instead, districts should establish high-level guiding principles, transparent data privacy expectations, and empower instructional leaders to design shareable AI workflows ("Gems") that support active district initiatives. Data Privacy & Ethics: Clear boundaries must be set regarding what information can be put into specific systems. School-managed accounts (like Gemini for Education) offer FERPA/COPPA compliance matching standard Google Workspace privacy, whereas consumer-paid tiers (like Claude or personal ChatGPT) must never handle sensitive student data. AI for Organizational Effectiveness: Leaders can use AI as a powerful executive coach. Karle notes how she uses AI note-takers to critique her public speaking pacing and fillers, uses voice mode for outdoor brainstorming sessions, and leverages LLMs to parse the red tape of complex state and federal grants. Resources & Events Mentioned   Student Guide: Available at michiganvirtual.org/ai/students.   Career Exploration Tool: WillRobotsTakeMyJob.com.   Upcoming Event: AI in the Lakeshore featuring keynote speaker Karle Delo on August 5 (Registration via muskegonisd.org) .

    AI For School Leaders with Karle Delo

  7. 4 May

    "It’s Not Complex, but It’s Hard": Helping Students Find Their Purpose

    Paul Kurdziel (referred to as "PK" by his students) is a "Big Red" alumnus and the current Coordinator of Alternative Education and Career Placement at the Muskegon Community Education Center (MCEC). With three decades in the field, Paul has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, becoming a "mentor to many" leaders in the West Michigan area.     Key Discussion Points   The Philosophy of "Neighborliness": Why schools must reimagine themselves as community hubs and "one-stop shops" to support families. Leading with Love: Paul’s core leadership values include honesty, trust, and "unconditional positive regard," a concept inspired by Carl Rogers. Mentorship in Motion: Hearing from former colleagues and leaders like Josh Smith and Willie Burrell on the lasting impact of Paul’s "horizontal leadership". Success in Alternative Ed: Shifting the focus from traditional metrics to helping students articulate their purpose and engage in hands-on career exploration. The Future of Education: Why Paul finds hope in the curiosity of students and the importance of "re-dreaming" the public education model. Resources & Mentions Muskegon Public Schools: Paul’s home district where he has served for 30 years. Muskegon Community Education Center (MCEC): The site of Paul's current work in alternative education. Community Partners: Mentions of West Michigan Works!, Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG), Hackley Community Care, and Kids’ Food Basket.

    "It’s Not Complex, but It’s Hard": Helping Students Find Their Purpose

  8. 20 Apr

    Lead with Belonging | Creating School Culture Where Every Student Thrives

    Key Takeaways The Power of Belonging: Why "belongingness" is the guiding light for every decision at Orchard View. Capacity Management: The "plate" analogy—why leaders must take inventory of what they are asking of their staff before adding more. Restorative Leadership: How modeling restorative circles for staff leads to better conflict resolution with students. The Three Buckets of Influence: Analyzing whether your team views you as a support, an obstacle, or nothing. Slow Down to Speed Up: Why new leaders must cultivate the "soil" of trust before planting seeds of innovation. LINKS:Orchard View Middle School – Muskegon, MI. James Clear – Atomic Habits. Ryan Holiday – The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness Is the Key.

    Lead with Belonging | Creating School Culture Where Every Student Thrives
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About

In a world that’s rapidly changing, great leadership stands out—and stands tall. Hosted by Randy Lindquist, Standing Tall dives deep into the stories of education’s GIANT leaders. Inspired by Isaac Newton’s quote, “If I see further than others, it’s because I stand on the shoulders of giants,” this podcast uncovers the wisdom, grit, and heart that drive exceptional school leaders. Each episode, Randy sits down with inspiring voices in education to dissect their leadership journeys, tease out practical lessons, and explore the challenges they’ve overcome. From bold innovations to everyday resilience, Standing Tall offers real-world insights that any school leader can lean on, learn from, and build upon. When we learn from giants, we all stand a little taller.

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