Educational Leadership: A Conversation with Dr. Jim Mahoney

In this special guest episode of 16:1, we're joined by Dr. Jim Mahoney to discuss insights on educational leadership, including:

• key qualities of effective educational leadership
• the challenges facing administrators today (and how institutions of higher education can prepare leaders to meet these challenges)
• engaging community stakeholders in constructive dialogue, and
• the unique challenges of the contemporary school funding landscape, particularly for rural schools.

Introducing Jim:

A long-time educator and entrepreneur, Jim Mahoney has dedicated his life to bettering educational opportunities for all students, serving as a superintendent, principal, and teacher, as well as an adjunct professor at several Ohio universities.

In 2001, he joined Battelle for Kids as the organization’s first executive director. Under Jim’s 15 years of leadership, Battelle for Kids grew into a national not-for-profit that expanded across the globe to advance educational equity and opportunity for all students.

Today, Jim serves as the founder of RedBrick Hill, a leadership consulting organization, as well as the Strengths Center, comprised of former educators and strengths-based leadership experts who are passionate about creating positives cultures, both in schools and organizations. In addition to writing several articles and co-authoring books, Jim is the author of the book, To Lead is to Teach: Stories and Strategies from the Classroom to the Boardroom. Jim has made presentations throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, and China and has been recognized on numerous occasions for his leadership in education.

Sources & Resources:

Jim Mahoney

Battelle For Kids

Atomic Habits by James Clear

The Power of Vulnerability by Brené Brown

Dr. Robert Quinn 

State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report by Gallup

The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness By Robert Waldinger, M.D., Marc Schulz, Ph.D