Episode 387

full
Published on:

10th Apr 2025

Authentic Leadership and Mental Health - Demonstrating Support for Students and the Community

Summary: Join C.T. and guest Dr. Kimberly Headrick, Superintendent of Medical Lake School District in Washington, as they explore the district's innovative approaches to supporting students and the community. This insightful conversation delves into Medical Lake's interconnected systems framework, which addresses the whole child through mental health services, social-emotional learning, and physical wellness. Dr. Headrick shares her journey as a lifelong member of the community and how her authentic leadership has fostered meaningful partnerships, transformed the district's approach to education, and established a community wellness center that serves students, families, and staff.

Key Takeaways:

  • Authentic Leadership: Dr. Headrick emphasizes the importance of authentic leadership and how it influences her leadership style.
  • Community-Grown Leader: Dr. Headrick's deep roots in the Medical Lake School District (growing up there, family of educators) significantly shape her commitment and understanding of the community's needs.
  • "Every Student, Every Day": The district's motto reflects a commitment to identifying and addressing the unique needs of each student.
  • Interconnected Systems Framework: Recognizing that academics are just one part of a child's well-being, the district uses a holistic framework addressing safety, belonging, social-emotional learning, and physical health.
  • Mental Health Emphasis: The district has made a conscious effort to expand mental health supports for students, families, and staff, especially since before Covid.
  • Mental Health Internship Program: The district partners with local universities to provide mental health internships, supervised by a district-employed therapist, offering crucial support in school buildings.
  • Wellness Center: A repurposed building serves as a wellness center, offering resources to students, families, and the community, including a hub for social worker interns.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction

1:04 Community and District Overview

4:24 "Every Student, Every Day" Motto

9:09 Interconnected Systems Framework

14:58 Mental Health Internship Program

20:43 Community Wellness Center

25:00 Community Partnerships

30:00 Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

35:00 Evolution of Education


Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Dr. Kimberly Headrick: linkedin.com/in/kimberly-headrick-48b70048

Music Credit: Shake it Up - Fesliyanstudios.com - David Renda



Join us at Engaging Leadership to learn and connect with a community of leaders in education just like you. This is the space where top people leaders share actionable insights and practical playbooks in fostering a high-performing workplace of the future.

Sign up as a member today for community updates on the latest leadership resources and exclusive event invites: www.engagingleadershipshow.com/subscribe

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Principal Office Hours

About the Podcast

Principal Office Hours
Real principals. Real talk. No hall passes required.
Finally—a podcast that proves school principals have personalities (and killer insights, too). Every week, join us for candid conversations with K-12 principals who are navigating the beautiful chaos of educational leadership without losing their minds or sense of humor.

Each 40-minute episode features real principals sharing what actually works in school leadership—from handling helicopter parents and budget nightmares to building school culture that doesn't make everyone roll their eyes. Consider this your professional development that doesn't feel like professional development.

Our guests aren't afraid to share their epic fails alongside their victories. They'll tell you about the initiative that spectacularly bombed during assembly, right before revealing how they turned their school's reading scores around. It's educational leadership with the BS filter turned off.

Whether you're currently wearing the principal badge, aspiring to the big chair, or teaching while secretly taking notes on what you'd do differently, Principal Office Hours delivers actionable strategies you can implement faster than a student being sent to detention.

Subscribe now and join the faculty lounge conversation that's too real for the school board meeting. New episodes drop every week. Warning: May cause spontaneous leadership growth and occasional inappropriate laughter during staff meetings.

About your hosts

CheeTung Leong

Profile picture for CheeTung Leong

Jim Kanichirayil

Profile picture for Jim Kanichirayil
Your friendly neighborhood talent strategy nerd is the producer and co-host for The HR Impact Show. He's spent his career in sales and has been typically in startup b2b HRTech and TA-Tech organizations.

He's built high-performance sales teams throughout his career and is passionate about all things employee life cycle and especially employee retention and turnover.