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.
I would really appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It helps a lot. And if you found this episode helpful, please share it with your colleagues.
If you are interested in sponsoring the podcast, feel free to contact me directly at Dr.mike.doughty@gmail.com.
Stay connected with me here:
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
