A Panel Discussion on School Transformation

Dr. Jim Lloyd, Superintendent of Olmsted Falls City School District, Ohio

Dr. Steve McCammon, President and CEO of the Schlechty Center and Executive Director of the National Superintendents Roundtable

George G. Thompson, former President and current Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Schlechty Center

About the Panel

Dr. Jim Lloyd has served as superintendent of Olmsted Falls School District in Ohio since August 2013, collaborating with staff, parents, and the community to ensure the district's success. Committed to preparing students for a fast-changing, digital, and global future, he champions the district's "Triple A" philosophy, which emphasizes academic, artistic, and athletic development. Dr. Lloyd's leadership focuses on fostering the growth of the whole child and celebrating student achievements in both academic and extracurricular activities. Before becoming superintendent, Dr. Lloyd spent six years as assistant superintendent in Olmsted Falls and nine years as director of pupil services for Westlake City Schools. His career began as a school psychologist in Olmsted Falls. Dr. Lloyd holds psychology and educational leadership degrees and is an adjunct professor at Baldwin-Wallace University.

Dr. Steve McCammon is the president and CEO of the Schlechty Center, where he leads initiatives to inspire continuous innovation in education. Since joining in 2013, he has collaborated with schools, school boards, and educational organizations to promote engagement-focused practices. A former superintendent of the Fife School District in Washington, Steve guided the district to become a leader in the Schlechty Center's Standard-Bearer School District Network. His earlier roles included principal of Fife High School, 1992 Florida Teacher of the Year, and senior associate at the Florida Department of Education, where he supported low-performing schools. Steve worked closely with the Center's founder, Dr. Phillip Schlechty, to expand its impact, particularly in Ohio, realizing Phil's vision for regional school district networks. With deep expertise in fostering learning organizations, Steve remains dedicated to advancing transformative educational practices.

George G. Thompson is the former President and current Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Schlechty Center. Since joining in 1995, he has been pivotal in developing key initiatives like the Superintendents Leadership Network and the Standard-Bearer School District Network, working closely with the Center's founder, Phillip Schlechty. George has contributed significantly to creating frameworks and intellectual resources that advance engagement and transformation in education. Before joining the Schlechty Center, George spent 19 years in Gwinnett County Public Schools, serving as superintendent, administrative assistant to the superintendent, and principal at both elementary and high school levels. Earlier, he worked as a teacher and community school director in Atlanta Public Schools. Currently, George focuses on building strategic alliances to enhance student outcomes and promote transformative leadership.

Podcast Summary

This episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders focuses on transformative leadership in education, with guests from the Schlechty Center—a nonprofit dedicated to creating engagement-focused schools. Dr. Steve McCammon, George Thompson, and Dr. Jim Lloyd discuss their mission to support school leaders by shifting educational institutions from bureaucratic systems to learning organizations. This involves fostering engagement among students and staff, redefining superintendent roles as moral and intellectual leaders, and emphasizing capacity building across all organizational levels.

Dr. Lloyd shares his experience transforming Olmsted Falls City Schools with the Schlechty Center's support. His district shifted from providing opportunities to empowering students to make an impact, supported by a new accountability system aligned with the Schlechty Center's "system capacity standards." These standards are aspirational, focusing on future readiness, maintaining direction, and acting strategically.

George Thompson introduces the "Pillars of Superintendent Leadership," which are reflective tools for superintendents to assess their roles in trust-building, vision-setting, and community engagement. Dr. McCammon and Dr. Lloyd stress the long-term, systemic changes required to sustain this transformation, emphasizing that transformation is distinct from change—it is about creating something fundamentally new.

The discussion highlights the broader impact of transforming school systems, which can lead to the transformation of communities by attracting residents and educators aligned with the vision. The conversation closes by reiterating the importance of courageous leadership and collaboration among boards, superintendents, and educators.

Main Topics Covered

1. The Mission of the Schlechty Center - The Schlechty Center supports school leaders in creating engagement-focused schools by providing tools, frameworks, and reflective conversations to transform educational systems into learning organizations.
2. Superintendent Leadership Pillars - Introduced as reflective and aspirational tools, these pillars guide superintendents in fostering trust, clarifying vision, educating the community, and aligning organizational goals with transformative leadership practices.
3. Transforming Olmsted Falls City Schools - Dr. Lloyd discusses his district's journey from providing opportunities, to inspiring and empowering students through systemic changes aligned with the Schlechty Center's principles.
4. Defining Transformation vs. Change - Transformation is framed as creating something entirely new, akin to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly, while change refers to incremental improvements within the existing structure.
5. Impact on Communities - School system transformation is linked to broader community benefits, such as attracting families and educators who resonate with the vision of empowering students.
6. Systemic Accountability and Leadership - Dr. Lloyd's integration of the Schlechty Center's standards into superintendent evaluations highlights a commitment to aligning leadership practices with transformative goals.
7. Challenges and Rewards of Transformative Leadership - Courage, innovation, and long-term commitment are essential for meaningful systemic transformation, with the ultimate reward being improved student engagement and community growth.

This episode explores how transforming schools into learning organizations is a courageous and impactful journey that benefits students, strengthens the community, and enriches the leadership practices within education.