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Episode 26: Leading with Purpose — Dr. Josh Wilken’s Journey from Classroom to Central Office!
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From a small-town graduate with a class of 32 students to leading innovative educational programs across multiple school districts, Dr. Josh Wilken's journey reveals how diverse experiences shape exceptional educational leaders.
Dr. Wilken takes us through his remarkable evolution from teaching English learners across seven buildings while coaching multiple sports to becoming a transformative elementary principal. His student teaching experience in Houston—a deliberate step outside his Nebraska comfort zone—fundamentally shaped his approach to supporting diverse student needs and prepared him for increasingly complex leadership roles.
What stands out about Wilken's leadership philosophy is its deeply collaborative nature. "It takes a village to make a building run efficiently," he explains, describing how he learned to harness the collective expertise of teachers, specialists, families, and colleagues to create truly effective educational environments. This approach proved invaluable as he expanded his impact to district-level roles, where he revitalized English learner programming and built the comprehensive "Blueprint" career and technical education initiative encompassing 18 different pathways—an impressive achievement for a Class B school district.
Now serving as a professional learning consultant with Educational Service Unit 3, Wilken shares crucial insights about effective professional development: "We know how valuable an educator's time is... we want to make sure that we're giving the educator something valuable that they can take back to their classroom and implement right away." His emphasis on coaching and sustainable implementation speaks to the practical challenges educators face when trying to improve their practice.
For those considering educational leadership, his advice is refreshingly straightforward: "Be great at your job... see that there's an opportunity to lead right where you are." This mindset has guided his own career transitions, including his upcoming move to financial advising where he'll continue applying the relationship-building skills developed through decades in education.
Ready to be inspired? Listen now to discover how maintaining your educational "fire" can create an impact that "will last for generations."
Email Dr. Josh Wilken at: [email protected]
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Chapters
1. Episode 26: Leading with Purpose — Dr. Josh Wilken’s Journey from Classroom to Central Office! (00:00:00)
2. Meeting Dr. Josh Wilken (00:01:57)
3. Path to Education (00:03:30)
4. Teaching English Learners & Coaching (00:05:12)
5. Student Teaching in Houston (00:07:37)
6. Journey to School Leadership (00:12:58)
7. Building District Leadership Experience (00:18:08)
8. Blueprint Program & Career Education (00:23:39)
9. ESU3 Consulting Role (00:25:29)
10. Advice for Future Leaders (00:29:27)
11. Next Career Chapter (00:32:51)
12. Final Message to Educators (00:36:18)
29 episodes
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