Leadership Lessons From Michigan’s Top Educational Leaders

Leadership Lessons From Michigan’s Top Educational Leaders

What can we learn from the people leading some of Michigan’s most impactful educational organizations? In this special leadership mashup episode of Standing Tall | Voices in Leadership, we’ve compiled some of the most memorable insights from 12 outstanding education leaders from across Michigan. From building trust and navigating change to developing teams and staying mission-focused, these leaders share the lessons that have shaped their careers and strengthened their organizations. Whether you’re a superintendent, principal, teacher, aspiring leader, or someone passionate about making a difference, you’ll find practical wisdom, thoughtful reflection, and powerful reminders about what great leadership looks like in action. Twelve leaders. Countless lessons. One shared commitment to serving students, staff, and communities.

Top 6 of 2026 | Season 2 Compilation

Featured Episodes & Draft Picks Pick Guest & Leadership Role Featured Highlight & Episode Link #1 Dr. John VanWagoner (Superintendent, Traverse City Area Public Schools) Innovating Mid-Flight with Dr. John VanWagoner [https://standing-tall-voices-in-leadership-e5248452.simplecast.com/episodes/innovating-mid-flight-with-dr-john-vanwagoner-kNBpvYFe] Randy’s top pick emphasizes the necessary rhythm of shifting between active work on the "dance floor" and systemic foresight from the "balcony." #2 Michelle Barry (Director, Ignite Pathways) Upskilling the Future and Closing the Engagement Gap with Michelle Barry [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/standing-tall-voices-in-leadership/id1781732287] Ben highlights a powerful lesson from rural Iowa on leading with vulnerability and treating iteration as your continuous growth curve. #3 Dr. Sean Williams (Superintendent, Eaton RESA) Authentic Leadership: Moving from Knowledge to Wisdom with Dr. Sean Williams [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/standing-tall-voices-in-leadership/id1781732287] Randy highlights why leaders must reject "code-switching" and focus on building high-trust environments rooted in a shared purpose. #4 Janelle Duffey (Principal, Fruitport Schools) School Culture By Design | Janelle Duffey | Fruitport Schools [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/standing-tall-voices-in-leadership/id1781732287] Ben revisits what real culture looks like—moving it off the poster boards and turning it into something palpable that you feel the moment you walk inside. #5 Joshua Smith (Principal, Orchard View Middle School) Lead with Belonging | Creating School Culture Where Every Student Thrives [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/standing-tall-voices-in-leadership/id1781732287] Randy brings back the vital "plate capacity" analogy, challenging administrators to actively take things off an overwhelmed teacher's plate. #6 Paul Klimza (Principal, Reeths-Puffer Elementary) Trauma-Invested Leadership: Moving from Unseen to Empowered [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/standing-tall-voices-in-leadership/id1781732287] Ben closes out the draft with a beautiful reminder of the sheer weight, responsibility, and opportunity found daily in public education. Never miss an episode of School Leadership Insights. Subscribe to Standing Tall: Voices in Leadership on Simplecast or your favorite podcast app!

AI For School Leaders with Karle Delo

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS The Journey from Classroom to Strategy: Karle shares how her decade of experience teaching middle school science and serving as an instructional coach shaped her minimalist, intentional approach to educational technology. She emphasizes that tech shouldn't be used just because it is digital, but rather to enhance existing best practices. Navigating the Tool Landscape: Rather than trying to master hundreds of niche educational apps, Karle advises leaders to focus on core frontier models (like Gemini or ChatGPT) . She explains the concept of "ChatGPT wrappers" (ordering off a menu) versus large language models (cooking for yourself) and introduces the fast-evolving world of autonomous AI agents . Responsible District Implementation: A successful roll-out rejects the "one-and-done" professional development model. Instead, districts should establish high-level guiding principles, transparent data privacy expectations, and empower instructional leaders to design shareable AI workflows ("Gems") that support active district initiatives. Data Privacy & Ethics: Clear boundaries must be set regarding what information can be put into specific systems. School-managed accounts (like Gemini for Education) offer FERPA/COPPA compliance matching standard Google Workspace privacy, whereas consumer-paid tiers (like Claude or personal ChatGPT) must never handle sensitive student data. AI for Organizational Effectiveness: Leaders can use AI as a powerful executive coach. Karle notes how she uses AI note-takers to critique her public speaking pacing and fillers, uses voice mode for outdoor brainstorming sessions, and leverages LLMs to parse the red tape of complex state and federal grants. RESOURCES & EVENTS MENTIONED   Student Guide: Available at michiganvirtual.org/ai/students [https://michiganvirtual.org/ai/students].   Career Exploration Tool: WillRobotsTakeMyJob.com [https://willrobotstakemyjob.com/].   Upcoming Event: AI in the Lakeshore featuring keynote speaker Karle Delo on August 5 (Registration via muskegonisd.org [https://www.muskegonisd.org/]) .

"It’s Not Complex, but It’s Hard": Helping Students Find Their Purpose

Paul Kurdziel (referred to as "PK" by his students) is a "Big Red" alumnus and the current Coordinator of Alternative Education and Career Placement at the Muskegon Community Education Center (MCEC). With three decades in the field, Paul has served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, becoming a "mentor to many" leaders in the West Michigan area.     KEY DISCUSSION POINTS   The Philosophy of "Neighborliness": Why schools must reimagine themselves as community hubs and "one-stop shops" to support families. Leading with Love: Paul’s core leadership values include honesty, trust, and "unconditional positive regard," a concept inspired by Carl Rogers. Mentorship in Motion: Hearing from former colleagues and leaders like Josh Smith and Willie Burrell on the lasting impact of Paul’s "horizontal leadership". Success in Alternative Ed: Shifting the focus from traditional metrics to helping students articulate their purpose and engage in hands-on career exploration. The Future of Education: Why Paul finds hope in the curiosity of students and the importance of "re-dreaming" the public education model. RESOURCES & MENTIONS Muskegon Public Schools: Paul’s home district where he has served for 30 years. Muskegon Community Education Center (MCEC): The site of Paul's current work in alternative education. Community Partners: Mentions of West Michigan Works! [https://www.westmiworks.org/], Jobs for Michigan's Graduates (JMG) [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://youthsolutions.com/jmg], Hackley Community Care [https://www.hackleycommunitycare.org/], and Kids’ Food Basket [https://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/].

Lead with Belonging | Creating School Culture Where Every Student Thrives

KEY TAKEAWAYS The Power of Belonging: Why "belongingness" is the guiding light for every decision at Orchard View. Capacity Management: The "plate" analogy—why leaders must take inventory of what they are asking of their staff before adding more. Restorative Leadership: How modeling restorative circles for staff leads to better conflict resolution with students. The Three Buckets of Influence: Analyzing whether your team views you as a support, an obstacle, or nothing. Slow Down to Speed Up: Why new leaders must cultivate the "soil" of trust before planting seeds of innovation. LINKS: Orchard View Middle School – Muskegon, MI [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.ovschools.org/]. James Clear – Atomic Habits [https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits]. Ryan Holiday – The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and Stillness Is the Key [https://ryanholiday.net/].