Dr. Kelvin Adams – Superintendent Leadership

 

Dr. Kelvin Adams, Superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, doesn’t have a magic formula for success, or why his leadership role within the St. Louis public school system has lasted for nearly fourteen years. If honesty, sincerity, and providing people with the correct information are magic, he’s happy to reveal those secrets.

“At the end of the day, it’s always about keeping kids first and making them the priority,” Adams said. He joined Dustin Odham to talk about his journey and reveal some best practices for superintendent leadership.

Dr. Adams recognizes at its core, being a superintendent is akin to being a business leader. In his line of work, that business is education. And while there can be a lot of noise coming from many sides, it’s crucial to filter that out to ensure the best education for the kids is always top of mind.

One sage bit of wisdom Dr. Adams offered when it comes to communication. “I never put anything in emails that I could not say to people in their face. People will hide behind that little button called send. And you can’t hide behind it.” Emails can be translated differently by many people in many ways. Talking directly to people helps navigate concerns precisely and quickly.

Leadership roles kept finding him throughout Dr. Adams’ career, even while he continually denied his abilities. It took him a while to recognize within himself the leader others saw. “I think it is about mentorship,” Dr. Adams said. “We must identify people and encourage them. And we must find the right people with the right hearts to do this.”

Dr. Adams believes in servant leadership, where to be a great leader, one must have served in the role they will someday lead. Superintendents are leaders who serve, and in this case, they serve the community.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Staying Competitive in a Changing Parcel Landscape
Staying Competitive in a Changing Parcel Landscape
November 20, 2024

In the latest episode of On Time in Full, host Gabrielle Bejarano welcomes Satyen Pathak, a Senior Account Executive at Designed Conveyor Systems (DCS), to discuss trends shaping the parcel market and strategies for companies to remain competitive. With over 20 years of industry experience, Pathak shares his insights into the evolving needs within supply…

Read More
blue collar
Building Efficient and Engaged Blue-Collar Workforces Begins with Leadership Rooted in Personal Development
November 20, 2024

According to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute, over 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could remain unfilled by 2030 due to a lack of skilled talent. This workforce shortage reveals a critical gap in leadership within blue-collar industries. Without strong leadership to develop teams and foster growth, businesses face inefficiencies, low morale, and…

Read More
Paying it Forward: Empowering Career Migration Journeys | Sinead Carbery and Gillian Williams | EP05
Paying it Forward: Empowering Career Migration Journeys
November 20, 2024

On the latest episode of Care Anywhere: The Global Health Workforce Podcast, host Lea Sims sits down with Sinead Carberry, President of International Staffing Solutions, and Gillian Williams, MSN, BS, RN, Senior Director of Clinical Operations, both from AMN Healthcare. The episode delves into the complexities of global career mobility for healthcare professionals, with…

Read More
Healthcare access
Improving Healthcare Access Through Nontraditional Benefits and Discount Plans
November 19, 2024

Healthcare costs are rising steadily, while insurance benefits struggle to offer sufficient coverage, driving demand for practical solutions like nontraditional benefits and discount plans. As premiums rise and coverage limits remain stagnant, many individuals and employers seek alternative ways to manage costs and improve healthcare access. With chronic conditions on the rise, the stakes…

Read More