An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

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 educators can use the Memo for individual learning, to facilitate team discussions, and even as a starting point for school-wide initiatives.
• The ongoing debate surrounding the "Science of Reading." Kim shares his perspective on this controversial topic, advocating for a balanced approach that encompasses phonics, background knowledge, comprehension skills, high-quality literature, and writing.
• The importance of embracing imperfection as a leader. Kim reflects on his own experiences as a school principal, acknowledging his missteps and highlighting the importance of continuous learning and growth.

Listen to the full episode to gain valuable insights from Kim's vast experience in the field of 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 overyondr.com 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."

That's where partners like EdConnective step in. 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals and partners with school districts with a menu of options.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

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 concept of "Buffalo Leadership" 🦬 – facing challenges head-on and together
• ✅ Building a strong, supportive culture for teachers and staff
• ✅ Innovative retention strategies 🌟
• ✅ Enhancing connectedness and belonging in the school community

🎧 Tune in to hear how Cape Girardeau is creating an environment where teachers feel valued and supported through professional development, non-evaluative learning, and some fantastic team-building (cookouts included 🍔🍴)!

Check out the full episode now! #leadership #education #teachers #schoolculture #retention #professionaldevelopment

Howard Benyon

Brice Beck

-----

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 overyondr.com 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."

That's where partners like EdConnective step in. 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals and partners with school districts with a menu of options.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

Jamie Almanzán and I are thrilled to announce today's guest on An Imperfect Leader is Superintendent Deb Smith of Fort Washakie Schools in Fremont District 21 on the Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. A proud member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe and descendant of the NORTHERN ARAPAHO TRIBE INC, Deb has been recognized for her leadership, including being featured in the WYOMING ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS' Women Leaders series in 2023. ✨

In this conversation, we dive into Deb's experiences growing up between two worlds, her role as a trailblazer for Native students, and her efforts to bridge cultural understanding in education. We also discuss how she's working to meet the needs of her community and students—particularly through harvesting the collective wisdom and cultural respect.

Listen in for powerful insights on equity, leadership, and community resilience.

-----

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 overyondr.com 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."

That's where partners like EdConnective step in. 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals and partners with school districts with a menu of options.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

Jamie Almanzán and I are thrilled to announce our guest, Dr. Shelley Berman, a veteran superintendent with over 28 years of experience across Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Oregon. He's also the co-author of The Call to Courage, a timely book co-written with Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent of Ithaca.

In this episode, Shelley delves into the growing ideological divisions and attacks on public education that threaten our democratic foundations. He highlights key themes from his book, addressing how educators and leaders can foster the courage to stand firm in the face of divisiveness, while still championing inclusivity, diversity, and democratic values.

Throughout the conversation, Shelley offers insight into:

• Navigating the pressures from extremist groups targeting public education.
• Cultivating safe, inclusive spaces for all students, irrespective of their background or identity.
• How school leaders can reclaim the narrative in their communities and maintain their moral focus on student success.

Don't miss this compelling discussion about the call to courageous leadership in the most challenging of times!

Plus check out this link to the Rocket PD seminar he and Luvelle Brown are hosting:

The link to The Call to Courage on the publisher's website is (it's also available on Amazon).

-----

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 overyondr.com 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."

That's where partners like EdConnective step in. 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals and partners with school districts with a menu of options.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Jamie Almanzán (of The Equity Collaborative) and I took a journey with Dr. Christina Kishimoto, who shared her remarkable leadership experiences from Connecticut to Arizona to Hawaii to Voice4Equity LLC.

We dove into the unique challenges of leading Hawaii's only statewide school district, covering 10,000+ square miles. Christina shares how navigating leadership across vastly different communities — from high-need urban districts to middle-class suburban schools — shaped her approach to resource allocation, community engagement, and equity.

🔑 Plus, Dr. Kishimoto explains how her upbringing in the Bronx and her passion for empowering women leaders, particularly women of color, led her to found Voice4Equity LLC💡 The conversation is a deep dive into leading with intention and how the diversity of thought, culture, and experience fuels innovative leadership.

-----

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 overyondr.com 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."

That's where partners like EdConnective step in. 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals and partners with school districts with a menu of options.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

Welcome to Season Three of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast. We're beginning this season with something truly special—we have a co-host! Jamie Almanzán, a partner and equity coach at The Equity Collaborative, will be joining me this season. Jamie brings a wealth of experience in equity work and leadership coaching, and I'm thrilled to have him help us dive even deeper into the complex issues facing education leaders today.

Today, we're excited to welcome Dr. Luvelle Brown, Superintendent of Ithaca Public Schools in New York. Dr. Brown has been recognized as one of the nation's top school leaders, and in this episode, he shares his insights on creating a culture of love and belonging in schools, the importance of equity in education, and how to lead with both courage and compassion. Luvelle is the co-author of The Call to Courage: Standing Up and Speaking Out Against the Assaults on Democracy, Educators, and Students in America's Schools

-----

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 overyondr.com 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."

That's where partners like EdConnective step in. 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech understands the critical need for qualified professionals and partners with school districts with a menu of options.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

INTRO: In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, we have a very special guest. The Chief Ruckus Maker of Better Leaders Better Schools, Danny Bauer, is here.

You might be asking yourself what makes a Ruckus Maker. I assure you, I ask Danny that in the episode. Let me set the stage a little bit about why today is exciting. Danny describes himself as:

• An UNORTHODOX leadership coach and who loves to ask "Why follow the rules when you can make them up?"
• He hosts a podcast that ranks in the TOP 0.5% of all shows worldwide with over 2 million downloads.
• And he is a best-selling author of Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader.
• And Build Leadership Momentum: How to Create the Perfect Principal Entry Plan is now available!
• He has mentored thousands of school leaders through his Better Leaders Better Schools blog, books, podcasts, and powerful coaching experiences.

And he believes with all his might: "When YOU get better, Everyone wins."

BIO (from LinkedIN):

IMAGINE the QUALITY of a school where the Principal and AP does NOT have access to high quality coaching and mentorship on a weekly basis … If you're anything like me, you don't have to imagine because that was or is your current reality. Which is why I started the BLBS podcast in 2015. My lived experience as an admin went something like this … District "leadership" meetings didn't build my capacity. Once a month, principals were gathered so we could be read announcements. If we were lucky, we might discuss the THREE PILLARS in education …💯 Improve student achievement (yup, that's important)🚌 Increase attendance (of course … it's good to have kids attend school)🥊 Decrease discipline (safety is important) But that didn't work for me. These pillars of education were NOT the reason I became an educator and they certainly weren't the issues I was interested in as a leader. I had different questions like …🤔 How do you craft a meaningful vision that actually guides the work of a school?🗣 (I personally HATE hard conversations, so...) How does a leader learn to handle crucial conversations effectively?❓And what could I do to create a more equitable experience for ALL students — especially black and brown ones? So I started exploring those topics on my podcast with the goal of making myself better. Little did I know, that the message would resonate with so many other "Ruckus Makers" in education. What started as a project to improve my leadership skills ... has now turned into a mission to connect, grow, and mentor every school leader who wants to level up. Maybe that's YOU or a colleague in your district or network. If that's true, I have good news for you because ...

I believe that Everyone wins when YOU get better.

-----

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 overyondr.com 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech 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.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

Intro: Hartford, Connecticut was the location of my very first hockey game. The Hartford Whalers vs the NY Rangers. And what a scene it was. During the second period, there was an obvious offense because both benches cleared and both teams were absolutely brawling! I find myself in Hartford at least once a year and so every year, I revisit, in my mind, that very violent episode in my life. But now, after talking with my guest, Dr. Torres-Rodriguez, I have a delightful replacement memory and for that, I am grateful.

My mentor, Dr. Linda Henke, the creator of the human-centered school transformation model I speak so much about wrote:

The shift away from the heroic leader who goes it alone, to the transformational leader who attends to the field is perhaps the most fundamental change in the work of school leadership.

She continues by asking readers to rethink the metaphor of a leader as hero and consider, instead, a different metaphor --- someone like a midwife or a gardener or a minister. Someone who tends to the needs of others.

My guest this week cares so deeply for her district because her district is so personal to her - she graduated from the district and then returned to lead it.

She leverages the voices of her entire system, inside and outside the organization, including the voices of her children. She considers the technical skills, the emotional intelligence, and a lens focused on equity in order to make sound decisions.

And she uses all of this knowledge and skill in recounting her after action review – the recommendation to her board to consolidate or close schools in her school district. Thanks for tuning in!

BIO: Dr. Torres-Rodriguez was named the 2022 National Superintendent of the Year by the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS), received the 2019 Award for Educational Leadership from the Connecticut Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (CALAS) as well as the 2019 Prospanica National Brillante Award for Educational Excellence.

Dr. Torres-Rodriguez is a member of the Governor's Workforce Council and serves on the Hartford Promise Board. She also co-chairs the Mayor's Cabinet for Young Children in Hartford.

-----

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 overyondr.com 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech 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.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

Hello, Imperfect Leaders!

INTRO: 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?

My guest this week Is Dr. Jennifer Cheatham and she 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!). In Part 2, during her After Action Review, Jennifer 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, Dr. Jennifer Cheatham 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 this article by Jennifer: Can Superintendents' Evaluation Lead to Their Own Growth? 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!

-----

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 overyondr.com 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech 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.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.

INTRO:

In this episode, Matt Robbins is my guest. Matt is the Superintendent of the Daviess County Public Schools in Daviess County, Kentucky. What's different about Matt is that he didn't follow a traditional route to the superintendency. His background is in finance. In this episode, we talk a little about how his past experiences help him in his current job. In Part 2, in his After Action Review, he describes a situation all superintendents should be prepared to deal with. What happens when you adopt new routing software for your bus system and it crashes? What happens when the crash occurs RIGHT before the school year begins and you have to postpone the start of school? A really good episode!

BIO: Matt Robbins serves as Superintendent of the Daviess County Public Schools, a district with nearly 12,000 students and 2,000 staff members in 12 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools.

Matt serves as the team leader for the finance & operations training program for KASA's NextGen new KY superintendent program and has done this for six years now.

Matt is also President of Kentucky's Council for Better Education that ensures equity and adequacy of funding for Kentucky's public schools. As a part of this work, Matt has most recently led Kentucky public schools districts in a lawsuit that involves funding private schools in Kentucky. That case is now on appeal before the Kentucky Supreme Court.

-----

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 overyondr.com 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 EdConnective.com.

------

Imperfect Leaders! Are you facing challenges filling open Speech-Language Pathologist positions within your district? Empat Speech 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.

--------

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 www.human-centeredleaders.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.