An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

Welcome to An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, a series of conversations with leaders who look back at decisions they made and consider: * What happened? * What got overlooked? * What did they learn about relationships or what new relationships were formed? * What frustrated them? * What could they have done differently? * And in the end, what was something good that came out of their experience – because it is through one's mistakes where the greatest learning takes place. I'm Peter Stiepleman. I'm your host AND I'm an imperfect leader. I spent more than 20 years teaching and leading, first in the Oakland Public Schools in Oakland, CA and then in the Midwest – Missouri, to be exact – where I was a teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent and the superintendent of the 4th largest school district in a state of more than 500 districts. I am constantly striving to learn from my experiences and from the experiences of other leaders. The aim of this podcast is to lift the learning and lift the imperfect leaders up. That way, when you hear the term imperfect, you’ll see strength, strength from the candor needed to recognize imperfection as a real advantage.

Episodes

July 1, 2025 54 mins

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This week, we had an incredibly conversation with Veronica Sopher, an award-winning media-trained public information officer and founder of Veronica Sopher K12 Communications Consulting. With 25+ years of experience counseling school leaders, Veronica shared invaluable wisdom on nav...

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In this week’s episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superi...

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🌟 The Power of Wholehearted Leadership: 4 Key Insights from Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver 🌟

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we have an incredible conversation with Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver, the Executive Director of Mizzou Acade...

This week on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we talk with UCLA's Dr. Laura Chavez Moreno, author of "How Schools Make Race: Teaching Latinx Racialization in America". Dr. Chavez Moreno's work challenges us to think beyond superficial approaches to racial identity in schools.

Here are three key themes and insights from our conversat...

🚀 New episode alert! 🎧 Tune into the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast featuring Jill Molli, Chief Growth Officer for Conscious Discipline. We had a truly insightful conversation about how conscious leadership can drive significant culture shifts in education!

Here are a few key takeaways from our discussion:

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Peter Stiepleman sits down with Nicholas Bradford, Founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Restorative Justice. Nicholas is also the co-author of A Real-World Guide to Restorative Justice in Schools: Practical Philosophy, Useful Tools, and True Stories. He shares how building authentic r...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Peter Stiepleman sits down with Dr. Amy Galloway, former principal, state education leader, and co-founder of Pivot School Improvement Leaders. As a school leader, Amy led one of Tennessee’s most dramatic school turnarounds, moving a neighborhood school in Nashville from the bottom 5% to the top 5% in just four years. She later served ...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Lori Weigel, Principal at New Bridge Strategy, and Jonathan Voss, Former-Partner at Lake Research Partners and Founder of Voss Research and Strategy. Two leaders from opposite ends of the political spectrum who are united by a common mission: to help educational leaders communicate more effectively in deeply divided time...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Peter Stiepleman sits down with Josh Reppun, host and Global Community Director of What School Could Be. Josh, a former history teacher turned educational innovator, shares his journey of challenging traditional education models. Through his work with the What School Could Be initiative, Josh is helping lead the conversation on student-...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Justin Irish, Superintendent of the Anacortes School District in Washington and a former principal at Edmonds School District. Dr. Justin Irish shares how systems thinking, co-design, and meaningful partnerships have helped his district navigate mental health challenges, budget shortfal...

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Lupita Ley Hightower, the 2023 Arizona Superintendent of the Year and the 2024 Voice for Equity Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Dr. Hightower, who recently retired from her role as the superintendent of the Tolleson Elementary School District #17, shares insights from her 28 years in education, discussing the ...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Michelle Caulfield, Superintendent of the Corning-Painted Post Area School District in Corning, New York. Michelle shares how her district is expanding access to opportunities by centering student voice, investing in innovative programs, and building a culture of connection and belonging.

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Moises Morgenstern, co-founder and CEO of Empat Speech, a leading platform that connects schools with experienced speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Moises shares how his company is improving access to speech therapy using technology, addressing the nationwide shortage of SLPs, and supporting schools in providing high-...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Sandy Husk, former interim superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and Dr. Kim Armstrong, the district’s current superintendent. These two remarkable leaders discuss the challenges and opportunities of transitioning leadership, navigating budget constraints, and the importance of fostering strong relationships wit...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I'm joined by Damian McBeath, Principal of the John Wallis Church of England Academy. As an experienced school leader and author, Damian brings a wealth of knowledge on education reform, leadership, and the evolving role of schools in shaping students beyond academics.

During our discussion, Damian and I discussed how scho...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Curtis Cain, Superintendent of the Rockwood School District and 2022's National Superintendent of the Year. With decades of experience in educational leadership, Dr. Cain offers deep insights into navigating the complexities of leading a major school district through unprecedented times.

During our discussion, Dr. Cai...

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, our guest is Lee Loving, Superintendent of the North Santiam School District in Stayton, Oregon! 

In our conversation, Lee shares insightful perspectives on leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. Listen in as we discuss:

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In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, Marcus Chambers shares his insights on leadership, community, and navigating the challenges in education today. Here ar...


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