Equity Conversations: Resistance and Resilience with Graig Meyer and Jamie Almanzán

An Imperfect Leader

INTRO: Earlier this year, I read The Delicate Handling of Equity Work in Conservative Communities, and was thrilled when the authors agreed to be guests on the podcast. In the two years since I left the superintendency, I have found myself talking with superintendents who have faced (or are facing) this same dilemma. They recognize the importance of the children in their district learning about systems of oppression, but sometimes their communities see any topic of equity as an assault on their "traditions" (or, in one example from their article, they say superintendents are bringing Critical Race Theory to their community when they talk about equity). As you can see, I have really been looking forward to talking with my guests today, the leaders of The Equity Collaborative, Graig Meyer and Jamie Almanzán

In the first part, we talk about their article and in second part, the After-Action Review, I want you to imagine you have been asked to give the beginning of the year kickoff to 1000 teachers who may have been told they’re the obstacle to equitable practices. Not only that, you learn that contract negotiations have not been going well and the teachers have threatened to walk out of the kickoff!

And let me apologize in advance, I clearly forgot to turn on my mic, so I sound as if I am down a well, but Graig and Jamie sound AMAZING – you’ll hear more from them than me!

BIO: Jamie Almanzán is a facilitator, teacher, curriculum developer and leadership coach currently working as an Equity Leadership Coach and the owner of The Equity Collaborative in Oakland, California. Prior to leading The Equity Collaborative, he held the position of Senior Coach at the National Equity Project.

Graig Meyer is a social worker, educator, and youth development specialist working as an Equity Leadership Coach and partner in The Equity Collaborative. He has 16 years of experience leading equity work in public schools.

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An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast is supported by ILAA, LLC, a firm dedicated to supporting aspiring, new, and established leaders. For more information, please find them at www.human-centeredleaders.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.

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AN IMPERFECT LEADER IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

My book, An Imperfect Leader: Leadership in (After) Action is available at Amazon.com. If there is no hyperlink to follow, please go to Amazon.com or peterstiepleman.com to order a copy.