In this episode, Bob sits down with Dr. Quennel Cooper, assistant superintendent for St. Louis Park Schools. Dr. Cooper began his career as an assistant superintendent six months ago and shares his journey in navigating and supporting building leaders. He talks about his role as an educational leader, the challenges he faces, and the lessons he has learned in his career. He also talks about the importance of communication and self-care in the education field, and how he aims to support and empower his team of principals. He shares his thoughts on the differences between leading in the elementary and secondary levels and his reflections on the first six months on the job.

Bob speaks with Nate Manaen, assistant superintendent for Eastern Carver County Schools about cultivating a collaborative culture for learning. They discuss the importance of time and space, the need for leaders to be skilled in various areas, and the importance of involving district leaders in the process. Cultivating collective ownership for school improvement implies the school district establishes a framework to support leaders in cultivating ownership. Time is the most crucial resource in this process; creating an organized structure of time offers teachers and leaders the space to carefully identify the root causes of student needs, research proven evidence practices, and design units of study for professional learning. To create better collective ownership for school improvement, leaders must start by developing trust and a strong relationship with their school team. Additionally, they should focus on problem-solving and creating a safe space for vulnerability.

In this episode, Bob talks with Andy Beaton, assistant superintendent for ISD 622. Andy shares how he implemented a weapons detection system in his district. He talks about the incident that prompted him to explore this option, as well as the challenges and considerations involved in implementing such a system. He also highlights the importance of communication and buy-in from leadership and staff in successfully implementing the system. Andy goes into detail about the implementation of a weapons detection system in a high school and explains the process of setting up the system and the steps taken to make it run smoothly. He talks about the need for leaders to believe in the importance of such a system, the need for conversations with the community, and the willingness to take risks. He also encourages others to visit their schools and see the system in action.

In this episode, Bob talks with Dr. Robb Virgin, Assistant Superintendent for Eden Prairie Public Schools, about their "Future Ready LeadershipFramework." This approach to leadership, which focuses on inclusion, adaptiveness, and daily action, was created in response to the ambitious goals set by the district's strategic plan and academic vision. The framework is designed to be durable, applicable to all levels of leadership, and rooted in service to students and The district started a leadership development program to prepare for future leadership. They started by identifying core values and mapping out the existing leadership structure. Then, they created simulations to practice leadership skills and self-assessments to identify areas for growth. Dr. Virgin speaks to challenges and successes and how to make it personal, identify core values, and focus on authenticity and community in the process The framework focuses on three areas: instructional leadership, system leadership, and human-centered leadership. Virgin emphasizes the importance of Coherence, Actionability, and Personalization in making the framework effective and usable for staff. He also shares a useful tool for promoting continuous learning and grounding ideas in the framework.

On this Episode, Bob speaks with Felicia Thames, assistant superintendent for Eden Prairie Public Schools, focusing on elementary programming. Felicia talks about the importance of the human element in leadership and how it is crucial to create a safe space for conversations and discussions within the organization. believes in inclusion, belonging and value within an organization, and she focuses on making space for people to feel included and valued. As an assistant superintendent, she wants to know how leaders like to be led and what motivates them. When creating goals for the organization, she brings in different voices and perspectives to make sure everyone is included and interdependent on each other's strengths. Felicia discusses her team’s method of creating space and providing opportunities for leaders to practice and model the behavior with their teams.

In this episode, Bob speaks with Dave Haveman, the executive director of special services for Northeast Metro Independent School District 916. He shares his experience and strategies for successful leadership in special education, emphasizing the importance of knowing yourself, building a strong team, and ensuring compliance before focusing on best practices. He also discusses the importance of communication and trust in establishing a successful working relationship with district leaders. In his role with the intermediate district, Dave is a leader of a group that focuses on special services in multiple districts, talks about the importance of having emotional intelligence when working with colleagues and understanding their reactions to changes. He speaks to the significance of knowing your team and delegating responsibilities to different members based on their strengths. Dave shares how solid first leaders learn, teach, and model leadership for their employees, and some ways to benchmark and evaluate your leadership strategies. He also offers advice on starting discussions and creating norms for staffing and due process in your district.

In this episode, Bob speaks with Dr. Bryan Bass, the assistant superintendent in Osseo Public Schools. They discuss the importance of continuous improvement in schools and how it is operationalized through alignment of strategic goals, moving adults, and outcome metrics. Dr. Bass also talks about the significance of humanizing the work and creating space for leaders to effectively carry out their roles. He walks through the identified key strategic priorities and structured tools to communicate and align their efforts. Their process involves having leaders share their experiences and examples with others, with the goal of creating a consistent, coherent, and connected approach. Dr. Bass discusses the role of Continuous Improvement, the importance of having a clear understanding of the district's mission and vision, and making sure it aligns with your own personal mission. Dr. Bass emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals and metrics for improvement and regularly checking in on progress. He also stresses the need for self-care and balancing work and personal life to be effective in his role.

In this Episode, Bob talks with Tim Wald, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations for White Bear Lake Area Schools in Minnesota. Tim talks about how his team moved from planning to implementation with regard to both facilities and programming in White Bear Lake area schools. He talks about the decision- making process when balancing between facilities and maintenance, and his experience leading a successful referendum for the district's facilities and programming changes. Communication and public involvement were key factors in the success of the project, which was faced with challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Tim discusses the challenges, successes, and lessons learned from the project, including the importance of community engagement, strategic planning, and leveraging best value in contracting processes.

Bob spends time with Dr. Kristine Flesher, superintendent of Orono Public Schools, learning about her experience of implementing a five-phase strategic planning process. The process includes a pre-planning phase, stakeholder input, core team planning, implementation, and process monitoring. Dr. Flesher describes the phases in detail and shares “Aha” moments. She further shares the importance of communication, including all voices, and finding the right facilitator for the community. Dr. Flesher also talks about the need for data points beyond academic measures, such as measuring connectedness and belonging.

In this episode, Bob talks with Dr. Michael Thomas, superintendent of Prior Lake Savage Area Schools, about strategic planning as a tool to bring a community together. Dr. Thomas discusses the importance of leading with your "why" in strategic planning, being data-informed, and empowering the community to take ownership of the plan. He also emphasizes the need for multiple stakeholders and perspectives to be involved in the process. Dr. Thomas shares the background work he did to involve the community, build a guiding coalition, and create a timeline for the process. He also talks about the role of communication, using a website and direct mailers to keep the community updated on the progress.