Leadership, Innovation, and Humanity in Education

Welcome to another edition of the Build Momentum for Education blog, where we explore thought leadership in education. Our podcast serves as a platform for candid conversations with influential leaders, focusing on how their work impacts school systems and communities. I'm Sarah Williamson, founder of SWPR Group, and alongside my co-host, Chad Bolser, Chancellor at Ivy Tech Community College, we’re thrilled to bring you insights into the human side of district leadership.

This season, we’re diving into a crucial topic: humanizing the role of superintendents and district leaders. These individuals often face immense challenges while carrying the responsibility of shaping our children’s futures. Through in-depth discussions, we aim to illuminate their humanity, their vision, and their tireless efforts to drive innovation and excellence in K-12 education.

Leadership at Scale: Meet Dr. Randy Mahlerwein

In our latest episode, we were joined by Dr. Randy Mahlerwein, Assistant Superintendent at Mesa Public Schools, the largest school district in Arizona. With decades of experience spanning roles from junior high math teacher to district leader, Dr. Mahlerwein shared how his leadership philosophy is reshaping public education.

From the outset, his journey was marked by a commitment to creating meaningful change. Starting as a teacher, Dr. Mahlerwein quickly rose through the ranks to assistant principal, principal, and eventually assistant superintendent. Today, he leads over 26,000 students in Mesa.

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Driving Innovation Through Partnerships

One of the hallmarks of Dr. Mahlerwein’s career has been his ability to forge partnerships that spark innovation. He described his collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU) as a transformative effort to redesign public education. Together, they’ve launched initiatives like an exclusive Mesa-only master’s and doctorate program to cultivate leadership within the district.

This partnership underscores Dr. Mahlerwein’s belief in the power of happy, fulfilled educators. He explained, “Happy teachers create happy students, and happy students learn.” By investing in teacher and leader development, he’s building an environment where educators thrive—and students succeed.

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Confronting Stress with Purpose

The stress of district leadership is undeniable, but Dr. Mahlerwein views it as an inherent part of meaningful work. Drawing from his own experiences, he emphasized that caring deeply about the job and its impact is both a source of stress and motivation.

He shared strategies for managing this pressure, including staying physically active, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and embracing a mindset of continuous learning. Above all, he focuses on the why behind every decision. “If you're doing anything worth doing, there’s going to be opposition,” he noted. “The key is to lead with integrity and communicate the purpose behind your actions.”

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Rebuilding Trust Through Communication

In a time when public trust in schools has waned, Dr. Mahlerwein emphasized the need for transparency and clear communication. He believes that understanding and explaining the why behind decisions is critical to regaining trust.

“Every parent has a school experience,” he explained. “Our challenge is to show them how schools can evolve to meet today’s needs.” His approach includes one-on-one conversations, authentic leadership, and creating opportunities for parents and community members to feel connected to the district’s vision.

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A Team-First Approach to Leadership

For Dr. Mahlerwein, leadership is not about individual heroics but about fostering collaboration. He champions a distributed leadership model, particularly in high schools, where principals form instructional leadership teams with experts in various disciplines. This structure allows principals to focus on overall campus leadership while empowering teams to drive academic success.

“When leaders feel supported and connected, they excel,” he shared. This philosophy has already yielded significant results, including improved student engagement, higher algebra and English pass rates, and reduced failure rates across the district.

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Humanizing Leadership in Education

When asked about the importance of humanizing the superintendent role, Dr. Mahlerwein offered a simple but profound insight: “If we want to be seen as human, we have to lead in a way that shows it.” For him, authenticity, humility, and vulnerability are essential to building trust and credibility.

He also stressed the need for community connection, noting that leaders must earn trust through consistent communication, transparent decision-making, and a genuine commitment to serving others.

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Advocating for Education Leaders

Dr. Mahlerwein’s parting advice for supporting district leaders was clear: build networks and foster collaboration. “Leadership can be lonely,” he acknowledged. “Connecting with like-minded individuals and sharing experiences can make all the difference.”

At Mesa, he’s witnessed firsthand how creating psychologically safe teams transforms not only leadership but the entire school environment. Whether it’s implementing innovative teaching models or navigating challenges like weapon detection systems, his team-centered approach ensures that every decision is rooted in shared purpose and mutual respect.

Stay tuned for more insightful stories from leaders like Dr. Mahlerwein on the Build Momentum for Education podcast. Don’t forget to share this blog and the episode with your network. Together, we can amplify these powerful narratives and inspire positive change in education.