The Importance of a Little Help From Your Friends
Dr. Russell Strickland 17:10
And I think a lot of folks that that had this love for education that brings you into a doctoral program somewhere deep down, they do like teaching whether whether they’ve ever done it professionally or vocationally. We all teach all the time, as parents as community members, whatever it might be, you’re always sharing your your expertise, your knowledge. But one of the things that I found as well, when I was an adjunct faculty member, before I started Dissertation Done was, as you go up in level, which students you’re teaching, it seems like the the, the ratio of knuckleheads in the population goes down a bit. So I actually really enjoyed moving from teaching undergrads, grad to masters students to finally doctoral students. And there were still some knuckleheads in the doctoral program, but but I found that there’s maybe there was a weed out process or something, I don’t know that they weren’t as prevalent when you got to those higher levels. But that were that was certainly happy to learn and find out about was that I can, if I focus on these doctoral level students, I get students that are a little bit more serious and a little bit more committed. And not just telling me you better give me an A, because the last Professor gave me an A to.
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 18:23
Sure, sure.
Dr. Russell Strickland 18:25
So right now, so you identify that you’re teaching, also overseeing you know, your superintendent, right? How, how did that come to be? I’m guessing that didn’t happen the same week you got your doctoral degree did it?
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 18:39
Well, I’ll tell you, I’d say this kind of funny in Illinois, prior to 2005. So to December 31 2004. In Illinois, any administrator who earned a doctoral degree in Ed.D. would automatically be entitled for a superintendent license. Now, that changed January 1 2005. So my passion is curriculum and instruction, teaching and learning. So my doctorates in teaching and curriculum instruction. So I’m a principal, I graduate, May of 2005. Because the birth of my daughter delayed me about six months, I think appropriately. So then I radically enough because I was Professor ring one, one semester a year at nationalist University. I could teach a course and then take an equal number of semester hours for free in the ED specialist program to get my Superintendent license. So I actually ended up getting a fourth degree. I have an educational specialist degree, which I got out of order, after my doctoral degree got it for free for teaching sort of a work program. And in 2009, I earned my Superintendent license with the head specialist. So I was a principal and an assistant superintendent with my doctorate. I got my Superintendent license and 2009 and as luck would have it through coaching and mentoring of great leaders with whom I worked and with whom I studied from, I became a superintendent in 2010. Wow. So and I haven’t looked back, it’s I’m in my 11th year as a school superintendent, third district, in my third year was three years, five years. And I’m currently in three in year three.
Dr. Russell Strickland 20:23
Awesome. So you mentioned that you’ve worked with a number of different districts have you found? What have you found is the same and what have you found as different as you’ve kind of moved around in a similar position, and different districts in the area?
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 20:38
Teachers are some of the hardest working and most passionate, loving, caring people on the face of the planet number one, that’s an easy one, and it’s beautiful, and you can see it everywhere. Publicly elected school boards can be an amazing concept. They also can be traced back to be a concept that perpetuates some of the ills in society and it unintentionally and a strong and honorable board Superintendent relationship can help a community just soar. Right, when things get askew or awry, it certainly can stifle growth and opportunity for children.
Dr. Russell Strickland 21:23
Absolutely, we have seen in boards in our general area, I won’t say which ones in particular, but school boards in our general area, we have seen that happen when things that I think are not keeping the children’s interest in the interest of education, at heart necessarily, when that that element makes it into the board, it does really slow things down. It’s an unfortunate case for that for the children. And being able to maintain those relationships I trust is something that is one of the key things that you have to do in your position. Because not only are you overseeing the education of these children, but you’re also making sure that people are letting you do that. Yes, and and supporting you in doing that as they as they certainly should. So let’s talk a little bit about what’s next because I know you told me there’s something exciting that’s, that’s, that’s just happening now as luck would have it. And I as an entrepreneur at heart, I find this really exciting. So tell everybody what, what’s going on now for you or what’s coming up for you? Okay,
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 22:37
well, I will tell you, um, there is a new educational consulting firm called ELS or Education Leadership Solutions, www.edls.info. if anybody’s interested out there. And of the three managing partners are three colleagues. Two of them have been mentors professionally of mine for many years. And there are three retired superintendents who’ve done a great deal of work in leadership all across the state of Illinois. They’ve created this firm, and they’ve asked me, which is absolutely humbling, and it makes me very proud and several of my other colleagues around the state of Illinois, to join as associates in the firm that is focusing on strategic planning, support, executive searches, selection, for superintendents, central office principals, for add mentoring, and coaching and for evaluation of sort of a round robin 360 degree approach. So my school board is supportive of me dipping my toes into this, they understand I’m, I’m at the point in my career where I’m not ready for it. But I’m seeing the next phases and a couple of years. And I still have many good years left in me, as do my teams. But I’m starting to plant some seeds for posts full time Superintendent work, and this is certainly in my interest area. So ELS, Education Leadership Solutions. www.edls.info That info is definitely just happening just announced. And I’m real proud and humbled to be part of it. And thank you for asking, oh, Dr. Strickland,
Dr. Russell Strickland 24:18
you’re welcome. No, that’s that’s exciting. I will tell you that if, if you enjoy teaching, I think when you move into the realm of consulting, it gets to be even a little bit more exciting because you are. You’re now teaching. You’re teaching something that you have experienced in something that you love you have a passion for. And you’re also teaching folks that are really hungry to learn. Because your students and no matter how good the students are, no matter how good the class is. They don’t necessarily have a burning need for what you’re teaching right at that time. Yeah, when you go in as consultant you’re They’re because hey, they really want to learn from you. So, obviously consulting offers many opportunities. But I find that a significant part of that is teaching that that’s something I really enjoy. I know a consultant, I read all of his material years ago, he was a prolific author. I mean, he’s 20, 30 books that he’s published or something of that sort. But he, he, the way he described consulting is that Listen, I’ll write a book and people will pay $10 to buy my book, and then they’ll pay me $10,000 to read it to them. And, and in the sense that that notion of teaching, live and in person and in situ, you know, in the situation is very important, very valuable, folks that I wish you all the luck in the world on that. Thank you. Well, today we’ve had with us, Dr. Mike Lubelfeld, I have been so honored to have you on today. This episode, once again, has been brought to you by Dissertation Done so if you are a doctoral student, like, you know, Dr. Lubelfeld fell mentioned and need need some support. Maybe you don’t have a cohort group in in your particular university, and you need a support mechanism. There’s a lot of ways that you can do that. But if you’d like to talk to us and see if you might be a good fit for the sport we offer, reach out to us at www.dissertationdone.com/done. If you have completed your dissertation or otherwise, you’re out there living your unconventional life, you’ve got a book and you and you want to get it out into the world, perhaps our Expand Your Authority Program would be a great fit for you. Reach out to me and we’ll talk about that www.dissertationdone.com/book And Dr. Mike give us your new website once again. www.edls.info
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 26:48
www.edls.info. Okay,
Dr. Russell Strickland 26:51
so www.edls.info, definitely check them out, reach out if you’ve got a you know, an executive search that you’re that you’re undergoing. What else should should they reach out to you to talk about?
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 27:03
Well, I have published two books, and a third one is in publication. So if you’re interested in The Unlearning Leader: Leading for Tomorrow’s Schools Today and Student Voice: From Invisible to Invaluable, both available in Amazon or Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. And on the bookshelves probably in about six or seven months unfinished. School Leaders’ Framework for Growth and Development will be coming out as well.
Dr. Russell Strickland 27:32
We will get all of those into the show notes so that you guys can can find those. We’ll link to the ones that are available. So you guys can go out and and have a look. Thank you so much for mentioning that, Dr. Mike.
Dr. Mike Lubelfeld 27:44
Thank you so much for having me. This has been an absolute pleasure. I wish you and all your folks the absolute best. Thank you.
Dr. Russell Strickland 27:49
Thank you again we It was an honor to have you here today. And best of luck to you and your school system. Let’s hope everybody stay safe and well. And and we can work throughout the year together. Thank you once again, Dr. Mike.
Outro 28:08
This has been An Unconventional Life. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe now to keep getting inspirational stories of unconventional lives as soon as they’re released. Until then go out and live your best unconventional life.
