Serving as a Lead Learner: Powerful Reflections by America's Superintendents

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Serving as a Lead Learner: Powerful Reflections by America's Superintendents explores leadership in education, offering genuine insights from superintendents across the nation. At a time when school districts face historic turnover, especially among leaders from underrepresented communities, this book lifts up the voices of those who have navigated immense challenges and change.

A lead learner is a leader who embraces vulnerability, empathy, and continuous growth. Drawing inspiration from over 150 conversations on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, this book highlights the risks leaders take, the lessons they learn, and the strength found in imperfection. Each chapter delves into key areas of educational leadership, from strategic planning and stakeholder engagement to navigating crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

A central theme of the book is the After-Action Review (AAR), a structured reflection process widely used in the military and healthcare but rarely in school leadership. Superintendents make high-stakes decisions daily, yet rarely have the time or training to reflect on what worked, what was overlooked, and what could be done differently. Through the AAR, leaders in this book unpack some of their more pivotal moments, offering insights for current and aspiring school leaders.

By weaving together research, leadership theory, and real-world experiences, Serving as a Lead Learner provides a framework for human-centered school transformation. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with purpose, navigate complexity, and embrace imperfection as a powerful asset in education. Ultimately, this book is an invitation to rethink leadership, not as a quest for perfection, but as a commitment to continuous learning, self-reflection, and meaningful change.

Author Bio

Dr. Peter Stiepleman, the 2021 Missouri Superintendent of the Year, lives and works in the Pacific Northwest. He serves as an advisor to aspiring, new, and experienced superintendents and hosts An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, a weekly podcast where he talks to current and former superintendents from across the nation. To learn more, please visit: www.imperfectleader.com