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We Call It "Saginawesome” | Dr. Collier on Leading With Purpose, Pride, and Passion
In this special episode of Little Wins, recorded live at ASU+GSV 2025, host Karen Borchert sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent of Saginaw ISD in Michigan, to unpack what it really means to lead with service, clarity, and trust.
Dr. Collier shares how he built what he calls his “Saginawesome” team, a group of diverse thinkers united by a shared purpose. He dives into the systems that make his leadership work: from clarity as a cultural value, to humble curiosity as a leadership superpower. With sharp reflections and zero ego, Dr. Collier reminds us that the best leadership isn’t loud, it’s deeply human.
Whether you’re leading a district, a building, or a team of one, this episode is packed with takeaways that will shift how you think about impact.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- “Saginawesome” Team Culture: Hiring divergent thinkers and building deep trust among leaders to create a dynamic, high-functioning team.
- Clarity Is Kindness: Embracing transparency and clear expectations to reduce friction and strengthen relationships.
- Service Is the Strategy: Saginaw ISD staff see themselves as a customer service organization, not just an educational system.
- Borrow, Build, Share: Dr. Collier practices “admire and acquire,” learning from others and freely sharing what works in return.
- Lead with Listening: Whether in staff meetings or strategic planning, asking powerful questions takes priority over having the right answers.
Timestamps:
05:12 Intangibles of Servant Leadership
07:20 Humbled by National Thought Leaders
10:01 "Embrace and Support Others"
15:25 Pragmatic Insights for Educational Leaders
16:16 Adapting Education for Future Needs
Connect with Dr. Jeffrey Collier
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-collier-ed-d-0192b6236
Website: https://www.sisd.cc/o/saginaw-isd/
Follow Us
Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert
Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca
Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/
Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library
🧵 About the Podcast:
Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.
View all episodes
By Alpaca
In this special episode of Little Wins, recorded live at ASU+GSV 2025, host Karen Borchert sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Collier, Superintendent of Saginaw ISD in Michigan, to unpack what it really means to lead with service, clarity, and trust.
Dr. Collier shares how he built what he calls his “Saginawesome” team, a group of diverse thinkers united by a shared purpose. He dives into the systems that make his leadership work: from clarity as a cultural value, to humble curiosity as a leadership superpower. With sharp reflections and zero ego, Dr. Collier reminds us that the best leadership isn’t loud, it’s deeply human.
Whether you’re leading a district, a building, or a team of one, this episode is packed with takeaways that will shift how you think about impact.
💡 Little Wins in This Episode:
- “Saginawesome” Team Culture: Hiring divergent thinkers and building deep trust among leaders to create a dynamic, high-functioning team.
- Clarity Is Kindness: Embracing transparency and clear expectations to reduce friction and strengthen relationships.
- Service Is the Strategy: Saginaw ISD staff see themselves as a customer service organization, not just an educational system.
- Borrow, Build, Share: Dr. Collier practices “admire and acquire,” learning from others and freely sharing what works in return.
- Lead with Listening: Whether in staff meetings or strategic planning, asking powerful questions takes priority over having the right answers.
Timestamps:
05:12 Intangibles of Servant Leadership
07:20 Humbled by National Thought Leaders
10:01 "Embrace and Support Others"
15:25 Pragmatic Insights for Educational Leaders
16:16 Adapting Education for Future Needs
Connect with Dr. Jeffrey Collier
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-collier-ed-d-0192b6236
Website: https://www.sisd.cc/o/saginaw-isd/
Follow Us
Karen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenborchert
Alpaca LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/get-alpaca
Alpaca Website: https://www.getalpaca.com/
Alpaca Resources Library: https://www.getalpaca.com/resources-library
🧵 About the Podcast:
Little Wins is the podcast that digs into the small, deliberate actions school leaders are taking to build strong, human-centered cultures.
Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Alpaca for more conversations on building powerful school cultures.