A Walk in Their Kicks: Dr. Aaron Johnson and School Environments That Value All

An Imperfect Leader

In this episode of An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast, we get to sit down with Dr. Aaron Johnson, leader, author, and professor. Here are some takeaways from our conversation:

🗣️ Humanizing Students: It's so crucial to allow students to be themselves, express their opinions, and share what they like and dislike about school.👂

🏫 Relationships are Key: Building strong, authentic relationships with students, teachers, and the community is fundamental.

💔 Challenging the Status Quo: We need to critically examine our own identities, biases, and the historical context of our education systems.

🔄 Seeking Diverse Perspectives: Surround yourself with people who don't think like you.

📚 Literacy as a Tool: Use literacy to connect with students and explore relevant issues.

🧊 The Iceberg Model: Remember that what we see (behaviors) is just the tip of the iceberg.

⚖️ Intentionality: Leaders need to be intentional in their actions and call out inequities.

🙏 Grace over Perfection: Embrace imperfection and be willing to make mistakes. I

🔑 Compromise: Sometimes you need to compromise to move forward.

🚀 Actionable Steps: Dr. Johnson’s book, "A Walk in Their Kicks," offers concrete steps for educators looking to create more just and equitable school environments.

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An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at www.imperfectleader.com.

Music for An Imperfect Leader was written and arranged by Ian Varley.

Sam Falbo created our artwork, a wood-print inspired daruma doll butterfly.