episode 6 - Derek Pierce
This week we feature the exceptionally good leadership of Derek Pierce.
Derek has been the founding and was the only leader in 19 years of Casco Bay High School before stepping down last summer. One of his long-time collaborators, Susan McCray, said of Derek, “The greatest gift of Derek Pierce is that he believes in the possibility and potential of every human to be great, to do tremendous things, and to transform.”
In the time I’ve known Derek, he has been an exceptional leader in how he holds a vision with heart, smarts, and humor. Derek is known for his human-centered leadership, for going after what is most important and doing it with a signature blend of ambition in service of kids, care for his crew, and a humble humor that greases the skids of the hard work of leadership.
In his career, Derek was a teacher in Los Angeles and Maine, a founding dean and leader at Poland Regional High School — a part of the Coalition of Essential Schools, a progressive education movement. The bulk of Derek’s career was a two-decade-long run as the founding leader of Casco Bay High School for Expeditionary Learning. Derek is also the winner of the prestigious Silverberg Leadership Award from EL Education, an award granted to only some of the most powerful school leaders in the world. He’s also been a screenwriter in LA.
Derek holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University in Political Science, his EdM from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, and a principal certification from the University of Southern Maine.
But most importantly, Derek is an exceptionally good leader in how he has taken his many many talents and skills and focused them on solving social problems, particularly for students facing racial and economic injustices. He is a good human, and I am absolutely delighted to have him as a guest. This conversation is undoubtedly full of gems and learning for all those on their own path in leadership for social good. And with that, dive in!
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Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6cLecPJkRCWNNje2qYE4Tu?si=mFDb3KSDRaeddeCgK2vmEw