An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast

Are we leading with our school communities, or imposing leadership upon them? In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with Melanie Vrba, Director of the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Together, we explore what it truly takes to build connection, cultivate student agency, and navigate the messy, human reality of school leadership. Two take aways from our conversation: 1️⃣ Student Agency & Co-Creating School Experiences: School shouldn't be something administrators do to kids, it should be something experienced together. Whether it's a second-grader designing a "Library Treehouse" that inspired the actual blueprint for a new campus building or students training alongside teachers in systems thinking for sustainability, authentic student voice shapes school culture. 2️⃣ Grace, Accountability, and Intention vs. Impact: Even with positive intentions, leaders make missteps. Leadership maturity means owning errors, apologizing for unintended harm, and committing to personal growth. When leaders extend and receive grace, trust and institutional resilience follow. Check out the episode here or wherever you listen to your podcasts! 🐾 P.S. Question for Melanie Vrba: We have to ask... did you ever find out what the fourth-graders officially named the kitten in Ms. Maggie's office? Listeners (and I!) are eagerly waiting for the update! #EducationalLeadership #AnImperfectLeader #StudentVoice #InternationalEducation #SchoolCulture #StudentAgency #GraceAndGrowth #ListeningLeader #K12Leadership ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect -------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

Are we leading with our school communities, or imposing leadership upon them? In this episode of An Imperfect Leader, I sit down with Melanie Vrba, Director of the International School of Tanganyika (IST) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Together, we explore what it truly takes to build connection, cultivate student agency, and navigate the messy, human reality of school leadership. Two take aways from our conversation: 1️⃣ Student Agency & Co-Creating School Experiences: School shouldn't be something administrators do to kids, it should be something experienced together. Whether it's a second-grader designing a "Library Treehouse" that inspired the actual blueprint for a new campus building or students training alongside teachers in systems thinking for sustainability, authentic student voice shapes school culture. 2️⃣ Grace, Accountability, and Intention vs. Impact: Even with positive intentions, leaders make missteps. Leadership maturity means owning errors, apologizing for unintended harm, and committing to personal growth. When leaders extend and receive grace, trust and institutional resilience follow. Check out the episode here or wherever you listen to your podcasts! 🐾 P.S. Question for Melanie Vrba: We have to ask... did you ever find out what the fourth-graders officially named the kitten in Ms. Maggie's office? Listeners (and I!) are eagerly waiting for the update! #EducationalLeadership #AnImperfectLeader #StudentVoice #InternationalEducation #SchoolCulture #StudentAgency #GraceAndGrowth #ListeningLeader #K12Leadership ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect -------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

What an incredible, deep-dive conversation on the An Imperfect Leader podcast! This week, I turned over the mic to Jamie Almanzan who sat down with his long-time mentor and coaching pioneer, Jim Knight, to talk about what it truly takes to lead and support educators. If you've ever felt the tension between wanting to drive change and wanting to support your team with dignity, this episode is a must-listen. Some takeaways from their conversation: 1️⃣ Partnership Over Control: Real coaching and leadership aren't about manipulating or telling teachers what to do. When we treat educators as equal partners with dignity, autonomy, and professional expertise, we create space for meaningful, lasting growth. 2️⃣ Start with Kids, Not Strategies: Instead of picking a strategy and forcing it into the classroom, effective coaching starts by asking, "What change do we want to see in our students?"  3️⃣ Navigating the Valley of Despair: One-off workshops rarely change habits because initial attempts at new practices are almost always clunky. Real change happens when there is follow-up. Having a partner beside you to help guide you out of the "valley of despair" when things don't go as planned.  🎧 Listen to the full episode now to explore how to lead with intention, curiosity, and grace through organizational change! ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect -------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

What an incredible, deep-dive conversation on the An Imperfect Leader podcast! This week, I turned over the mic to Jamie Almanzan who sat down with his long-time mentor and coaching pioneer, Jim Knight, to talk about what it truly takes to lead and support educators. If you've ever felt the tension between wanting to drive change and wanting to support your team with dignity, this episode is a must-listen. Some takeaways from their conversation: 1️⃣ Partnership Over Control: Real coaching and leadership aren't about manipulating or telling teachers what to do. When we treat educators as equal partners with dignity, autonomy, and professional expertise, we create space for meaningful, lasting growth. 2️⃣ Start with Kids, Not Strategies: Instead of picking a strategy and forcing it into the classroom, effective coaching starts by asking, "What change do we want to see in our students?"  3️⃣ Navigating the Valley of Despair: One-off workshops rarely change habits because initial attempts at new practices are almost always clunky. Real change happens when there is follow-up. Having a partner beside you to help guide you out of the "valley of despair" when things don't go as planned.  🎧 Listen to the full episode now to explore how to lead with intention, curiosity, and grace through organizational change! ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect -------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.

What does it truly take to lead an educational community through complex transitions without falling into the trap of linear quick fixes? 🏫✨ In the latest episode of An Imperfect Leader, Emily Sargent-Beasley (President of the American College of Sofia) shares profound insights from her career in international education and her doctoral research at the University of San Diego. Here are some leadership themes to listen for: 1️⃣ Navigating Transitions in Complex Systems: School transitions are deeply bounded by context, inherited conditions, and unseen relational dynamics. Rather than treating transition as a linear "A to B" technical formula, effective leaders recognize schools as complex network systems where quick fixes rarely yield simple outcomes. 2️⃣ Empowering Teacher Agency & Shared Leadership: Real instructional progress happens when leaders trust their educators to drive meaningful change. Leadership isn't about controlling every variable in a crisis. It's about setting up supportive conditions, stepping out of the way, and granting teachers the agency to execute. 3️⃣ Embracing Imperfection & Humility: True professional growth happens at points of tension and uncertainty. Moving away from over-packaged, rigid leadership models opens up space for vulnerability, curiosity, and continuous learning alongside your team. 🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode now to explore how to lead with intention, curiosity, and grace through organizational change! ----- Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/ Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on: Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com -------  An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by IXL. Boost learning with a platform proven to deliver results. IXL gives educators a complete K–12 curriculum and personalized learning plans that adapt to every student. Trusted by over 1 million teachers and 96 of the top 100 school districts, IXL helps schools outperform on state tests, and helps teachers focus on what matters most. IXL: Powerful data. Personalized learning. Real progress.  Discover what IXL can do for your school at IXL.com/imperfect -------    The Mosaic Project, one of our favorite organizations, has over 25 years of experience empowering students to celebrate differences, communicate assertively, and resolve conflicts peacefully at their outdoor school. Their innovative SEL curriculum is now available to An Imperfect Leader listeners at a 10% discount through their new documentary film-based Mosaic Classroom Project!  The Project's ready-to-use lesson plans include film, original music, "gametivities", and real conversations.  We're proud to partner with The Mosaic Project in helping educators build inclusive, peaceful learning communities! Just mention An Imperfect Leader during the onboarding  process to receive the 10% discount.    Learn more about The Mosaic Classroom Project. ------ Think differently. Think in systems.  Reach out to The Waters Center for Systems Thinking to learn more about how systems thinking capacity building can strengthen your team and organization.  Homepage: www.waterscenterst.org Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org ------ An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at imperfectleader.com. Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley. Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.