The Ruckus Report Quick take: A veteran superintendent reveals how shifting from a mastery mindset to an unfinished mindset can transform school leadership and create environments where innovation thrives, student voice matters, and continuous growth is celebrated.

Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Michael Lubelfeld serves as Superintendent of North Shore District 112 in suburban Chicago, leading 9 elementary schools with 4,000 students. A passionate educator since 1992, Mike was awarded the 2021 Administrator and Supervision Distinguished Alumni Award from Loyola University Chicago. He's co-authored four books, including his latest "The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself."

Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨 In this episode, Dr. Lubelfeld challenges traditional education paradigms:

Key Insight #1: The Power of Coaching Fundamentals

What's broken: Complex leadership initiatives that overlook basic human connection
The shift: Regular, structured coaching conversations focused on growth and support
Impact: Principals create better conditions for teacher growth, leading to improved student outcomes

Key Insight #2: Embracing the Unfinished Mindset

What's broken: The pressure to achieve mastery and have everything figured out
The shift: Viewing leadership as a continuous journey of growth and evolution
Impact: Creates a culture where innovation thrives and continuous improvement is celebrated

Key Insight #3: Leveraging Student Voice

What's broken: Top-down decision making that excludes student perspectives
The shift: Actively incorporating student input in strategic planning and facility design
Impact: More engaged students and better-designed learning environments that meet real needs

Quotable Ruckus "I'm never going to be done doing it. I'm going to learn more from the next principal than she or he learned from me because I'm learning from them and we're growing together." – Dr. Mike Lubelfeld

Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

Tomorrow: Schedule a one-on-one coaching conversation with a teacher or principal focused on their aspirations and goals
This Month: Create a student advisory panel to provide input on one major school initiative
This Semester: Develop a structured feedback system that celebrates growth and learning

Connect & Continue

Do you Subscribe to the Ruckus Maker Newsletter? Do School Different 3x a Week. Join for FREE here.

Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with:

Class Composer: Want to know why Ruckus Makers love Class Composer? Because it turns the dreaded end-of-year class placement meetings into a streamlined, data-driven process. Your teachers will save hours of time while ensuring that nothing is overlooked, including student separations. 🔍 Learn more here..

Quest Food Management Services: Creating joyful learning environments starts in the cafeteria. Quest brings 40 years of expertise in crafting scratch-made meals that nurture both body and community spirit through innovative student engagement programs. 🔍 Learn more: www.questfms.com

ODP Business Solutions: Most schools botch STEAM implementation because they're missing 3 critical elements. Here's the wild part: it's not about fancy tech or massive budgets. ODP Business Solutions® has researched many successful programs to identify what actually works (and what's just burning cash). 🔍 Learn the blueprint: here

Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?

The Catholic Conversation

11/15/24 - Ryan Hanning on Family, Education and Formation

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts