S10 E06: Why should school leaders "slow the game down"?

In this episode of The School Leadership Show, I sit down with Dr. L. Oliver Robinson to discuss his two decades of leadership at Shenendehowa. Dr. Robinson shares his unique path from economics into the superintendency, explaining why he remains a lifelong learner within the craft of school administration.

We get into his approach to building resilient systems by institutionalizing change and his perspective on the K-12 journey as a 13-year odyssey. We also talk about prioritizing dialogue over debate, the importance of "slowing the game down" as a leader, and why public schools are vital to our democracy. Finally, he shares an unexpected insight from retirement about moving beyond the clock to embrace the significance of the moment.

If you have questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes, including great non-education books with lessons for school leaders you can email me at Dr.mike.doughty@gmail.com.

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Chapters:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

00:40 Superintendent of the Year

01:33 Career Origin Story

05:00 Leading Without the Traditional Path

06:38 How Schooling Has Changed

10:28 Competency Based Learning

13:58 Evolving Programs Through Dialogue

15:26 Advice to New Leaders

20:53 Public Education Worries and Hope

24:57 Retirement Surprises and Farewell