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 shortfalls, and equity conversations.
We discuss his strategic approach to transparent budgeting, the importance of shared decision-making, and the lessons he learned through vulnerability and community engagement. From establishing mental health supports across schools to leading the redesign of the highly capable program during the pandemic, Dr. Justin Irish demonstrates the power of authentic, human-centered leadership.
If you’re a school leader, educator, or someone passionate about empowering communities through education, don’t miss this thoughtful and inspiring conversation with Dr. Justin Irish.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
-
Strategic Partnerships for Student Wellness – Dr. Justin Irish explains how his district built cross-sector collaborations with hospitals and foundations to support students' mental health.
-
Building Systems of Predictable Support – How a tiered model (MTSS) helps identify and meet students’ academic and emotional needs.
-
Transparent and Inclusive Budget Planning – Lessons from implementing zero-based budgeting and community-led advisory councils to navigate financial constraints.
-
Redesigning the Highly Capable Program – Why listening, pausing, and co-designing with stakeholders helped reshape a controversial decision into a shared solution.
-
The Value of Vulnerable Leadership – Dr. Justin Irish reflects on the importance of acknowledging mistakes and leading with humility to build trust and connection.
Listen to the full episode to hear how Dr. Justin Irish is making a lasting impact on education and building stronger, more connected school communities.
Listening Links:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26Y4nEEwL9mLzrxUh17NWf
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-imperfect-leader-the-superintendents/id1644897856
Podcast Site: https://imperfectleader.com/podcasts/
Follow Our Guest Dr. Justin Irish on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com