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 in his district’s implementation of the Next Education Workforce. He is also an influencer, researcher, and educator. Dr. Mahlerwein is hyper-motivated to change the conditions that influence the environments in which educators and students operate daily.

Some Questions We Ask:

• Please tell us about your career and your current role. (01:13)
• What are the most rewarding aspects of serving in school leadership? (02:29)
• How are you able to cope with the stress of your career? (06:47)
• How has scrutiny of your position changed in the last few years? (09:52)
• How are you able to communicate with diverse groups to support your district’s goals, help them come together constructively despite disagreements, and truly create a sense of community? (11:54)
• How do you think your experiences compare to those of school administrators in your state, locality, or country? (15:30)
• Can you tell us more about your leadership style in education trades? (20:49)
• Why do you think the community needs to perceive you as a genuine person tackling difficult problems and giving K-12 children the finest education possible? (23:06)
• What advice would you give advocates for supporting their district leaders? (25:45)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Dr. Mahlerwein’s career in district leadership and his role in Mesa Public Schools (01:26)
• Aspects of serving in school leadership (02:36)
• Strategies for coping with stress (06:50)
• Changes in scrutiny of his position (10:05)
• Ways to bring the community together to support district goals (12:09)
• Similar experiences among school administrators(15:56)
• Dr. Mahlerwein’s leadership style in education trades (20:56)
• The importance of community acknowledgement of superintendents as real people (23:15)
• How advocates can support district leaders (25:57)

Quotes:

“I believe happy teachers and happy administrators produce happy students—and happy students learn.”

“We really started talking about the concept of earning your title every day. When you've been bestowed with an opportunity as a governing board [member] or superintendent, and you have to be the model. You have to work harder. As you move up through the ranks as leaders, the responsibility becomes greater.”

“Once you build a psychologically safe team, there's nothing they can't do, because they're going to talk about all the most difficult things together with respect and dignity.”

“If we want to be thought of as humans, it's our responsibility to communicate and lead in a way that people can see. You can't just expect to hand people a belief about you that you haven't worked hard to earn.”

Stay in touch with Randy Mahlerwein:
Email: rmahlerwein@mpsaz.org

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
Free Case Study Guide
SWPR GROUP Website
LinkedIn

Stay in touch with Chad Bolser:
LinkedIn

About "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:
Transformational Leadership Secret website
Purchase the print or ebook

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. Prior to joining Highline in 2012, she had held the positions of Chief Academic Officer and Interim Superintendent at Seattle Public Schools.

Some Questions We Ask:

• Please tell us more about your roles as a superintendent, the districts you oversaw, and your current activities? (1:23)
• Describe how you have gone about building The Network of Distinguished Educators and its work and achievements? (1:56)
• What was your greatest source of fulfillment as a superintendent? (4:11)
• Can you tell us more about your upcoming book? (5:39)
• How did you handle different stressors throughout your career as a superintendent? (9:21)
• What are your observations with regards to the changes in the role of superintendents over the years? (11:50)
• How much do your experiences reflect those of other superintendents across the nation—and do you think you all have had similar experiences in relation to the stressors? (13:26)
• What is the key to bringing people to see your vision as a leader and cultivating communal support? (15:36)
• How have you been able to engage with educators, families, and communities through storytelling and communication? (17:56)
• How can parents and members of the community help our country's school districts more effectively? (20:04)
• Would it be beneficial if community people and parents could comprehend superintendents by placing themselves in their position? (23:09)
• How do you cultivate quality board members? (25:02)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Dr. Susan Enfield’s life as a superintendent (1:30)
• Her role in building The Network of Distinguished Educators (2:05)
• Dr. Enfield’s greatest sources of fulfillment as a superintendent (4:15)
• All about her upcoming book (5:56)
• How she handled stressors while in the role of a superintendent (9:28)
• Changes in the role of superintendents throughout the years (12:00)
• Ways in which her own experiences were similar to other superintendents (13:40)
• Key factors in uniting people behind her vision as a leader (15:51)
• Her engagement with educators, families, and communities (18:11)
• How of parents and members of the community can help school districts (20:18)
• Effectively understanding superintendents (23:49)
• Cultivating quality board members (25:37)

Quotes:

“I think we are in a time where we have to find language and causes that bring all of us together around the right things and have conversations around that.”

“The work of serving children is a gift on any day, and you endure those hard days on the job for the sake of the work."

“Leadership is not about self-aggrandizement. Leadership is not about personal, individual accomplishments. Leadership is about service above self.”

Stay in touch with Dr. Susan Enfield:
The Net

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
Free Case Study Guide
SWPR GROUP Website
LinkedIn

Stay in touch with Chad Bolser:
LinkedIn

About "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:
Transformational Leadership Secret website
Purchase the print or ebook

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 role of the superintendent. 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.

Episodes will run every other Thursday on Spotify, iTunes or whatever platform you listen to.

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
Free Case Study Guide
SWPR GROUP Website
LinkedIn

Stay in touch with Chad Bolser:
LinkedIn

About "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:
Transformational Leadership Secret website
Purchase the print or ebook

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
Free Case Study Guide
SWPR GROUP Website
LinkedIn

Stay in touch with Chad Bolser:
LinkedIn

About "The Secret to Transformational Leadership," which Sarah co-authored with Dr. Quintin Shepherd:
Transformational Leadership Secret website
Purchase the print or ebook