Facility planning and passing a facility bond can be among the most complex (and stressful!) challenges a superintendent faces. On this episode of An Imperfect Leader, I talk with Ben Thompson, K-12 Director at McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture and host of the Idea Exchange: The Future of K-12 Education podcast. We explore how the spaces we design for learning can drive stronger student outcomes and strengthen community trust.
Here are three takeaways I thought would be interesting for school leaders:
Design Drives Outcomes: Ben reminds us there’s a direct link between the decisions we make about a space and the educational and social outcomes we want to achieve.
Collaboration Comes First: High-quality school design depends on meaningful engagement with the people who will use the space every day. That includes curriculum leads, maintenance teams, guidance counselors, and students. ives.
Process Protects the Future: In his “Imperfect Leadership in After Action” review, Ben shares how skipping engagement or speaking for others can undermine community buy-in.
Most superintendents don’t come from a facilities or architecture background. We depend on experts to guide us, and this conversation is exactly that guide. Ben offers a blueprint for designing authentic engagement so communities hear directly from the leaders who shaped the decisions.
🎧 If you’re planning a renovation or thinking about a bond, this episode is for you.
#K12Architecture #SuperintendentLeadership #SchoolDesign #ImperfectLeader
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Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/ Website: https://imperfectleader.com/
YouTube (video of conversation):
https://www.youtube.com/@animperfectleaderleadershi5144/featured
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animperfectleader/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@animperfectleader
Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on:
Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com
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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
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An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by Yondr.
Schools around the world are seeing the damaging effects of phones on student engagement, social development, and mental health.
Yondr has developed a unique product and program to allow schools to become phone-free, from arrival to dismissal.
Learn why 1 Million Students use Yondr every day.
MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS. MAXIMIZE LEARNING POTENTIAL.
Go to overyondr.com to learn more.
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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.
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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: http://www.waterscenterst.org
Thinking Tools Studio: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org
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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.