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Build Momentum for Education - K-12 Superintendent Series
Welcome to Season 5 of the Build Momentum for Education podcast hosted by Sarah Williamson, the CEO of SWPR Group, an agency that supports public relations, communications strategies, and thought leadership support for school districts, education companies and startups, and Dr. Chad Bolser, Chancellor of Ivy Tech. This season, they explore a particularly unique perspective in thought leadership in K-12 education: humanizing the role of the superintendent.
Throughout the many conversations we continue to have with superintendents, a clear theme has emerged about the need to bring more humanity to the role of the superintendency. In this special podcast series, we interview current and former superintendents and researchers to pursue the core question: how can we better see superintendents as real people navigating complex challenges to provide the best possible education for our K-12 students? We dig deeper into how this important work can help build community, invite collaboration and increase widespread engagement.
Our lineup includes Dr. Susan Enfield of The Network of Distinguished Educators, Dr. Rainey Briggs of the Baraboo School District in Wisconsin, Dr. Randy Mahlerwein of Mesa Public Schools in Arizona, Dr. Adam Clark from Mt. Diablo Unified School District in California and Rachel S. White, the Associate Professor of Educational Leadership & Policy at the University of Texas at Austin (and many others) as part of the “Superintendent Series: Humanizing the Role of the Superintendent.”
Tune in for new episodes every other Thursday, available on Spotify, iTunes, or your preferred listening platformt as we explore humanizing the role of the superintendent in K-12 education.
Watch for episodes every other Thursday on Spotify, iTunes, or whatever platform you listen. We look forward to exploring thought leadership in education on this season of Build Momentum!
Episodes
115 episodes
S05E15 - Balancing Two Districts and One Mission: A Journey Through Leadership and Change | Dr. Matthew Montgomery, Superintendent
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Matthew Montgomery, the current superintendent of two school districts, Lake Forest Community High School District 115 and Lake Forest Elementary District 67, for almost four years. In add...
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S05E14 - Leading with Heart: A Superintendent’s Story of Building Trust and Leading with Transparency | Heidi Sipe, Superintendent, Umatilla School District
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Heidi Sipe, Superintendent of Umatilla School District in Oregon, a role she has held for a remarkable 17 years. Heidi previously served as the district’s Federal Programs Director and Assista...
S05E13 - From the Classroom to the Whitehouse | Dr. James Lane, CEO, PDK International
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. James Lane, Chief Executive Officer of PDK International, a nonprofit that supports those who work in public education, and its community-based movement Educators Rising. He has served at ...
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S05E12 - Leading with Vision and Vulnerability: What Schools Really Need | Dr. Buddy Berry, Eminence Independent Schools
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Buddy Berry, the superintendent of Eminence Independent Schools in Kentucky. He founded the innovative model “School on FIRE” (Framework of Innovation for Reinventing Education). He was re...
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S05E11 - A Lesson in Humble Leadership | Dr. Matthew Hicks, Northeastern Wayne Schools Indiana
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Matthew Hicks, Superintendent of Northeastern Wayne Schools in Indiana. He is also currently a lecturer at Purdue University and a dissertation chair at Indiana Wesleyan University. Earlie...
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S05E10 - The Superintendent Lab | Dr. Rachel White, University of Texas at Austin
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Rachel White, Founder and Lead Researcher at The Superintendent Lab, a hub for data, research, insights, and innovation on the public school district superintendency. She is currently the ...
S05E09 - Using Storytelling to Foster Trust and Community Support | Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, Ypsilanti Community Schools
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Alena Zachery-Ross, Superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools in Michigan. She has decades of experience at public K-12 and charter schools of all sizes, including serving as Superinte...
S05E08 - The Superintendency: One Of The Most Challenging, Yet Rewarding, Careers | Dan Cox
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Dan Cox, the Superintendent of Schools in Rochester Community Unit School District 3A in Rochester, Illinois. In his 16-year education career in the state, he led the Staunton Community Un...
S05E07 - Being a Transformative Leader in the Face of Complex Challenges | Dr. Quintin Shepherd, Pflugerville ISD
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Quintin Shepherd. Quintin has 19 years’ experience as a superintendent and currently holds that leadership role at Pflugerville Independent School District in Texas. He has a demonstrated ...
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S05E06 - Leading with Joy | Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent, Eastern Hancock Schools
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent of Eastern Hancock Schools in Indiana since 2021. Previously he was an administrator for 13 years at Western Wayne Schools, another rural Indiana district....
S05E05 - Mastering the Five Steps of Happiness as a Superintendent | Dr. Rainey Briggs, Superintendent, Baraboo School District
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Rainey Briggs, the superintendent of the Baraboo School District in Baraboo, Wisconsin.. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the 48 Most Influential Black Leaders in Wisconsin. Dr. Briggs...
S05E04 - Galvanizing Community Around a Shared Vision | Dr. Sandy Husk, Superintendent Emeritus
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Sandy Husk. During her remarkable 48-year career, she has served at every level, from classroom teacher and school counselor to superintendent to interim CEO and executive director f...
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S05E03 - Leading with Authenticity | Dr. Adam Clark, Mt. Diablo Unified School District
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Adam Clark, Superintendent of Mount Diablo Unified School District in California. He was named as a 2022 Superintendent to Watch by the National School Public Relations Association. Previo...
S05E02 - The Power of Teams and Leading with Psychological Safety | Dr. Randy Mahlerwein
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined Dr. Randy Mahlerwein, an Assistant Superintendent in Mesa Public Schools in Arizona. He has been a public educator and leader for the past 24 years and a key contributor for the past four years i...
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S05E01 - Humanizing the Superintendent Series: Engaging in Healthy Debate | Dr. Susan Enfield
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Dr. Susan Enfield, the former superintendent of the Washoe County School District in Nevada. She also spent 10 years as the superintendent of Highline Public Schools in Burien, Washington. Pri...
Season 5 Trailer: Superintendent Series!
Hello Build Momentum for Education listeners, we're so excited to kick off Season 5 of the Build Momentum for Education Podcast. This season, we're exploring a particularly unique perspective in K-12, thought leadership, humanizing the ...
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S04E15 - Workforce Development in Washington State | Marina Parr & Stephanie Davidsmeyer | REPLAY
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Marina Parr, Director for Workforce System Advancement at Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and Stephanie Davidsmeyer, a Director of Communications for the Washi...
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S04E14 - Rural Innovation Series | Jessica Morrison, Executive Director, The Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative | REPLAY
In this replay episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Jessica Morrison, the Executive Director of Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative, one of the partners in the newly established Career Launch Southwest initiative, which serves as ...
S04E13 - Rural Innovation Series | Aaron Black, Superintendent, Randolph Eastern School Corporation | REPLAY
In this replay episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Aaron Black. He is currently the Superintendent at Randolph Eastern School Corporation in Union City, Indiana, and is spearheading the Rural Alliance Zone 32. Aaron was named a semifina...
S04E12 Rural Innovation Series | Lauren Marie Hall Riggens, Senior Manager, Empower Schools | REPLAY
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Lauren Marie Hall Riggins, a senior manager at Empower Schools, a national nonprofit that partners with communities and educators to reimagine local education systems. Lauren is currently the ...
S04E11 - Rural Innovation Series | Mike Gonzalez, Executive Director, Rural Schools Innovation Zone | REPLAY
In this replay episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Michael Gonzalez, executive director of the Rural Schools Innovation Zone out of Premont,Texas. He was also a former principal at Premont Collegiate High School. This is the first episo...
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S04E10 - Sturm Collaboration Campus | Jill Garber, Danny Winsor, and Dr. Stephanie Fujii CSU, Arapahoe Community College & Douglas County School District
In this episode we have a special group with us from the Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock, Colorado: Jill Garber, the Director of the CSU Collaboration Campuses; Dr. Stephanie Fuji, the President of Arapahoe Community College; and Dann...
S04E09 - Durable Skills & The Future of Work | Tim Taylor, Co-Founder & President, America Succeeds
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Tim Taylor, who is a co-founder and the president of America Succeeds, a nonprofit organization committed to engaging business leaders in modernizing the education system. He also served as th...
S04E08 - Workforce Development in Washington State | Marina Parr & Stephanie Davidsmeyer
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Marina Parr, Director for Workforce System Advancement at Washington’s Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and Stephanie Davidsmeyer, a Director of Communications for the Washi...
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S04E07 - The Big Blur | Joel Vargas, Vice President, Jobs for the Future
In this episode of Build Momentum, we are joined by Joel Vargas of Jobs for the Future, a nonprofit that focuses on strategies to transform education and workforce systems. Vargas is vice president of JFF’s Education practice, which suppo...
