Continuing the Conversation with Retired Associate Superintendent Mike Fowler

In Part Two of the Leading with Heart series on the Teach BIG Podcast, Randi Whitney continues her emotional and eye-opening conversation with retired Associate Superintendent Mike Fowler, digging even deeper into the shifting landscape of school leadership—and what it truly means to lead with both courage and compassion.

This episode explores the evolution of discipline, teacher autonomy, parental involvement, and student connection from the 1980s and 1990s to the present day. Mike reflects on how relationships once built face-to-face have now been filtered through screens and systems, and how the pressures of modern education have reshaped not only policy, but people.

“In those days, we didn’t need a handbook to know what was right—we had relationships.” – Mike Fowler

You’ll hear candid reflections on the hardest decisions he ever made, the moments he never forgot, and the surprising ways education has both advanced and regressed. From hallway conversations that changed a child’s life to district policies that changed the trajectory of a community, this is a rich and reflective episode for anyone invested in the heartbeat of our schools.

“Leadership doesn’t come from a position. It comes from how you make people feel.”

This is more than educational commentary—it’s a call to re-center human connection at the core of every classroom and campus. Whether you’re leading a school or raising a student, this episode will stir your heart and sharpen your vision.

📣 Listen to Part Two of the Teach BIG Podcast: Leading with Heart on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, or at www.teachbig.com.

Let the lessons of the past help you lead into the future—with heart.

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