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In this episode, Dr. Paul “Paulie” Gavoni sits down with Mike Caldwell, founder of LinkedLeaders, a national platform dedicated to accelerating the growth and effectiveness of K–12 school leaders. With a shared passion for bringing out the best in people through leadership and behavioral science, Paulie and Mike explore what it really takes to build schools where leadership is intentional, scalable, and deeply human.

They unpack the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and professional support systems that truly equip leaders to thrive—not just survive—in today’s complex educational landscape. Mike shares lessons from his work with charter schools and district leaders, emphasizing that leadership development isn’t a luxury—it’s the lever for sustainable change.

Through stories from the field, Paulie and Mike connect the dots between values, systems, and performance. They dig into how leaders can multiply their impact by investing in others, building communities of practice, and aligning actions with purpose. The conversation highlights how effective leadership ripples outward—from the superintendent’s office to the classroom, and ultimately to the students themselves.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Leadership growth happens through mentorship, modeling, and deliberate practice, not chance.
• Schools flourish when leaders create reinforcement-rich environments that build trust and accountability.
• Effective leaders see themselves as part of a system—their behavior sets the tone for everyone else’s performance.
• Collaboration and connection aren’t soft skills—they’re the foundation of sustainable school improvement.
• Empowering school leaders means empowering students, families, and communities.

💬 About the Guest

Mike Caldwell is the founder of Link Leaders, a national organization connecting K–12 education leaders to expertise, tools, and community. Previously the Director of Bluum, Mike has mentored and coached school leaders across Idaho to design innovative models, strengthen leadership capacity, and scale high-quality practices that improve student outcomes.

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