Meet Dr. Peter Stiepleman
Peter Stiepleman, EdD, is an accomplished educator, leader, and author dedicated to empowering schools and educational leaders. As the superintendent of Columbia, Missouri’s fourth-largest public school district, Peter led initiatives that improved attendance, graduation rates, and community satisfaction. He co-founded COMOEd, a program enabling local students of color to become educators debt-free, and launched Early College, helping high school students complete two years of college tuition-free.
Peter is the author of An Imperfect Leader: Human-Centered Leadership in (After) Action, offering practical tools for leaders, and other works focusing on equity and inclusive practices in education. Known for his collaborative approach, Peter has partnered with policymakers and educators to develop innovative solutions for systemic challenges.
Beyond education, Peter serves as a member for organizations like Rainbow City Performing Arts and Housing Resources Bainbridge, and his contributions have earned him honors such as Missouri Superintendent of the Year and the NAACP Distinguished Community Service Award. Through his work, Peter inspires leaders to embrace human-centered approaches and achieve meaningful change. Peter is currently serving as the Elementary Head at Colegio Jorge Washington in Cartagena, Colombia.
Awards & Honors
Over the years, Peter Stiepleman’s dedication to leadership and education has been recognized by esteemed organizations and communities. These awards and honors are a testament to his impact and unwavering commitment to making a difference.
2021
Missouri Superintendent of the Year
Missouri Association of School Administrators
2021
Columbia Values Diversity Award
2021
NAACP Distinguished Community Service Award
2019
District Magna Award
National School Board Association
2018-2020
District Meritorious Budget Award
2015
National Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Award
Peter Stiepleman speaking at an event in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Leadership Services & Training with Peter
Peter Stiepleman brings decades of experience in education and leadership to help organizations foster collaboration, embrace systems thinking, and drive impactful change.
Applying Habits of System Thinking
Harvesting
Collective Wisdom
Building Stronger Partnerships
Facilitating Equity Conversations
A track record of success
Education, Certifications and Board Affiliations
Thought Leader
- Author of An Imperfect Leader: Human-Centered Leadership in (After) Action, the story of a superintendent from his first days to the pandemic. The book is structured to give leaders the tools to become predictably successful leaders.
- Author of Navigating Discussions of Race and Class, which recognizes the challenges associated with introducing and sustaining equity training in a school district.
- Author of Treasured Texts and English Language Learners, which sought to help teachers find ways to help children see positive portrayals of themselves in literature.
- Author of Inconsistency of Program Implementation at One School: Latino English Learners’ Opportunities to Learn English and the Implications for School Leaders, which looked at how a system’s structure creates its behaviors.
Education
- Skidmore College, Bachelor of Arts, Spanish
- University of California-Berkeley (CALPIP), Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, BCLAD
- Mills College, Master of Education
- Mills College, Doctorate in Educational Leadership
Certifications
- Waters Center: Advanced Facilitator Credential
- Transformational Leadership Institute Certification
- AASA National Superintendent Certification
- NCCJ St Louis: Equity Facilitrainer
- Cognitive Coaching Certificate
- Society for Human Resources Management Human Resources (Completed Coursework)
- Adult Mental Health First Aid
Boards and Community Organizations
- Rainbow City Performing Arts, Seattle’s most inclusive sports band
- Board Member, Housing Resources Bainbridge, an organization building affordable housing
- Be the Change Volunteers Board of Directors, an organization building schools globally
- President-Emeritus, Missouri Association of School Administrators, Northeast Region
- Former Advisory Board Member, Heart of Missouri United Way
- Former Board Member, Columbia Housing Authority
Leadership Services & Training with Peter
Services
Discover tools and strategies to enhance your leadership and drive meaningful change
Podcast
Get insights from Dr. Peter Stiepleman on An Imperfect Leader: The Superintendents and Leadership Podcast.
Contact
Get in touch to start transforming your leadership journey today.