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 addition to this unique setup, he is also the Lead Superintendent for Cohort and Partner Connections in AASA, The School Superintendents Association.

Some Questions We Ask:

• Can you tell us more about your career as a superintendent for two school districts? (01:30)
• What are the most rewarding aspects of school leadership? (06:19)
• What is your take regarding the 2023 RAND study, and how do you cope with the stress that your role brings? (08:18)
• Has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (12:27)
• Do you think your experiences are similar or different compared to other superintendents across the nation? (15:23)
• What strategies do you incorporate to help the community understand your vision for the district? (19:15)
• What are your thoughts regarding humanizing the role of superintendency? (24:11)
• How can we better support district leaders? (28:51)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Dr. Montgomery’s career (01:53)
• Rewarding aspects of school leadership (06:22)
• Thoughts about the 2023 RAND study and coping with stress (08:31)
• Scrutiny of the superintendency (12:37)
• Similarities and differences regarding superintendents’ experiences (15:40)
• Strategies for uniting the community around a vision for the districts Dr. Montgomery leads (19:29)
• Thoughts on humanizing the superintendency (25:04)
• How K-12 education system supporters can advocate for district leaders (29:03)

Quotes:

“I was a high school science teacher, and I always wanted to know what was happening in the principal’s office when they would close the door. … When I got to the principal’s office, then I was curious about what was happening in the superintendent’s office. And now I make the joke that when I’m in my office, if anybody walks in and closes the door, I’m like, ‘Oh, please don’t!’ [Now] I’ve had my fill of what happens.”

“As a leader, you are a conduit for an incredible amount of stakeholder voices. You need to try to find some cohesiveness and then be responsible for helping lead them in the direction that they have defined.”

“Leadership is the most rewarding and challenging role that people can experience, and it is a privilege to be given this responsibility.”

“We need to have a community that understands that you need great people leading organizations. How we treat our leaders matters—and increases the likelihood when one leader leaves, you are going to find another great leader to follow.”

Stay in touch with Dr. Matthew Montgomery:
LinkedIn
Lake Forest Schools

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
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 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 Assistant Superintendent for five years. She also has a higher education background: She is an Adjunct Professor at Lewis and Clark College in Oregon and was an Adjunct Professor at Concordia University in Chicago. Heidi brings a government perspective as well, having served as an Assistant Superintendent in the Oregon Department of Education.

Some Questions We Ask:

• What is the most rewarding aspect of serving as a superintendent? (01:24)
• What is your opinion about the 2023 RAND Study and how do you cope with stress in the superintendency? (02:06)
• How has scrutiny of the superintendency changed over the years? (03:26)
• What are your strategies for bringing the community together to see your vision as a superintendent? (06:51)
• How do you gauge the engagement level of your community? (10:00)
• Do you think your stress level as a superintendent is representative of others across the nation? (11:30)
• What creative ways have you used storytelling and communication? (13:04)
• What’s your advice to district leaders who are having difficulty building a community? (16:56)
• Why is it important to see superintendents as real people? (20:02)
• How can we better support superintendents in their roles? (21:39)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Rewarding aspects of the superintendency (01:33)
• Dr. Sipe’s opinion on the 2023 RAND study and stress coping mechanisms (02:22)
• Scrutiny of the superintendency (03:31)
• Bringing the community together around one vision (07:01)
• Gauging community engagement levels (10:12)
• Stress level comparisons among superintendents (11:41)
• Creative ways of reaching out to the community (13:17)
• Advice for other district leaders (17:01)
• The importance of humanizing superintendents (20:28)
• Tips for advocating for superintendents (21:50)

Quotes:

“How I do parental involvement: I try to be places. I try to visit. I try to get to know people.”

“We can't ever forget that we are given this incredible opportunity—but also responsibility—to be a partner in raising the next generation of leaders, and if we don't own that and recognize the significance of it, we're failing our communities. No one's going to trust someone to be a partner in raising their kid unless they know that person and they know what they stand for."

Stay in touch with Heidi Sipe:

LinkedIn

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
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. 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 the federal, state, and local levels: in the U.S. Department of Education as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; as Superintendent of Public Instruction in Virginia; and as Superintendent of three Virginia school divisions in Chesterfield County, Goochland County, and Middlesex County. Dr. Lane is also a former school principal and band director.

Some Questions We Ask:

• Tell us more about your career at all levels of K-12 education and now as a leader at PDK? (01:22)
• What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? (05:01)
• What insights from your time in the Department of Education surprised you—and were there any misconceptions about the superintendency that you experienced while working as a policymaker? (08:02)
• What are your thoughts about the 2023 RAND study, and do you have similar perspectives as other superintendents? (12:36)
• What are your strategies for bringing the community together to see your vision? (17:09)
• How have you been able to connect with the whole community to support you along the way in your career? (22:59)
• What is your opinion regarding humanizing the role of superintendents? (28:36)
• What advice would you give to supporters of K-12 education about advocating for district leaders? (33:13)

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• About Dr. James Lane (01:32)
• Rewarding aspect of his expansive career (05:20)
• Insights he gained and misconceptions he encountered (08:21)
• Thoughts about the 2023 RAND study (13:06)
• Strategies for bringing the community together (17:34)
• How he connected with the community (23:13)
• His thoughts on humanizing the role of superintendents (28:51)
• Advice on advocating for K-12 district leaders (33:47)

Quotes:

“For me, the rewarding part of education is working with kids and preparing them for an amazing life and career and job and everything else. And I tried to remember that in every role I've ever been in.”

“The very best school districts I've seen have stability in the board and the superintendent, and then that leads to stability in the principalship, of the teachers, and of expectations around what we do in schools.”

“What your families want for their kids is important. Be willing to change what you want to do in that community based on the feedback of families.”

“The best thing that we can do to improve schools is make sure there's a great teacher in every classroom who's engaging parents and students.”

Stay in touch with Dr. James Lane:

PDK International
Educators Rising
LinkedIn

Stay in touch with Sarah Williamson:
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