How do education leaders create systems to achieve predictable success? What are the essential leadership principles that the best educational leaders know to make a difference in learning every day? And most important: what lessons can people use to live life with passion and purpose to make a difference in the world and the students and communities that depend on these educators?

If there is a secret formula to answer these questions, it’s held in the Collier County, Florida, school district, comprised of over 48,000 students. Their recipe includes 5 conditions that support excellence in teaching, including a shared vision, instructional materials, professional learning, empowered leaders, and effective use of data. And their former head chef of these essential leadership principles is Dr. Kamela Patton. Dr. Patton received the honor of Florida’s 2022 Superintendent of the Year from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. She was also a national finalist for 2022 Superintendent of the Year and 2021 Collier County Citizen of the Year.

On the Change Starts Here Podcast, host Dustin Odham seeks out the educational innovators who demonstrate transformational leadership and inspire others to do the same. Odham spoke with Dr. Patton on Change Starts Here to learn more about her twelve years as Collier County Superintendent and her philosophy on leadership principles.