AASA Radio- The American Association of School Administrators

In this episode of AASA Radio, educational leaders discuss the lessons they learned from the pandemic and how the experience changed the way they lead their districts. The panel explores the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public schools and shares the successful strategies they've embraced for fostering resilience, innovation, and well-being. The group emphasized the importance of building the right infrastructure and capacity for both students and staff to thrive in an AI-driven world, as well as the role of strategic planning in preparing students for future challenges. The episode concludes with advice for education leaders on integrating technology into their practices effectively. Dr. Gustavo Balderas is President of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and President of AASA. Balderas has been involved in numerous state, regional, and national organizations and committees, including having served on the Oregon State Board of Education as a superintendent liaison, the AASA Executive Committee, the Chiefs for Change Board, and is a co-founder and inaugural president of the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. Dr. Brandi Kelly is a superintendent, author, speaker, and consultant. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Kelly is dedicated to empowering leaders to inspire growth, create positive change, and cultivate environments where success thrives. Dr. Kelly has received numerous accolades for her leadership, including the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award and the Middle School Principal of the Year Award. Dr. Jeremy S. Owoh is Superintendent of Schools at Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. Owoh's mission is to bridge educational disparities through cutting-edge instructional practices. Owoh serves as President of the ISTE+ASCD Board of Directors. Dr. Barbara Sargent is the superintendent of the Hermon School Department in Hermon, Maine. She served as Principal of Village School and Orchard Hills School in Montgomery Township, NJ for six years, earning a NJ Principal of the Year recognition in 2003. As Assistant Superintendent for the Madison School District, Barbara partnered with amazing educators to enrich the district curricula and lead academic initiatives that elevated Madison High School in state rankings.

In the first episode of AASA Radio for 2025, school leaders from across the United States discuss the challenge of leading school districts during divisive times. Hosted by the President of the American Association of School Administrators, the panel shares insights, staying focused on student outcomes, leveraging technology like AI in education, and navigating the current political and social challenges of the moment. They also discuss strategies for balancing competing perspectives and staying resilient in the face of uncertainty. Twitter: @Supt_Balderas | @m_salazarzamora | @DrAlexMarrero | @larawadem | @Jonharper70bd | @BAMRadioNetwork Dr. Gustavo Balderas is President of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and President of AASA.Balderas has been and is involved in numerous state, regional, and national organizations and committees, including having served on the Oregon State Board of Education as a superintendent liaison, the AASA Executive Committee, Chiefs for Change Board, is a co-founder and inaugural president of the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. Dr. Balderas is also a volunteer consulting superintendent for the Educational Research and Development Institute, Suburban School Superintendents, and the Institute for Educational Innovation national organizations. Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora has served as an educator in Texas for over 37 years and as the Superintendent of Schools in Tomball ISD since 2017. She is a trailblazer and is the first female Superintendent of TISD and the first Hispanic Superintendent of Tomball ISD. Zamora was recognized as the 2023 Texas Superintendent of the Year, representing Region 4, as well as a 2024 AASA National Superintendent of the Year Finalist. Dr. Salazar-Zamora not only leads a fast-growth district but one of the highest academic achieving districts in the State of Texas, all while maintaining strong financial management practices. Dr. Alex Marrero has served as the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools since Spring 2021. He oversees Colorado's largest school district, which includes nearly 85,000 students and 14,000 staff across over 200 schools, and has a budget of $1.45 billion. As the son of a Cuban refugee and a Dominican immigrant, Dr. Marrero understands firsthand and advocates for the diverse needs of his students. Under his leadership, the district has achieved its highest-ever graduation rates and seen the implementation of its first-ever equity-based strategic plan. David Law is the superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools, one of the top school districts in Minnesota. Law earned a BA from Hamline University with a major in mathematics and a minor in education. His teaching career includes experiences in California and Minnesota at the middle school and high school levels. In 1998, he began his administrative career. Over the following 12 years, he worked in Mounds View, Anoka-Hennepin, and White Bear Lake school districts as a middle school administrator. Law completed his k-12 principal and superintendent license at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and earned his Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2010, he was named assistant superintendent for White Bear Lake Area Schools. He spent eight years as superintendent for the Anoka-Hennepin School District, the largest school district in Minnesota.

In this AASA Radio episode, Dave Schuler, the executive director of AASA, focuses on mental health awareness in educational settings. Our distinguished guests include Superintendents Shari Camhi (Baldwin, N.Y.), Tobin Novasio (Hardin, Mont.) as well as Paul Imhoff and Ann Levett discussing initiatives in their respective districts aimed at improving student and staff mental health. Programs range from school mindfulness and wellness centers to parent engagement initiatives and partnerships with mental health organizations. The episode highlights the importance of developing relationships, creating supportive ecosystems, and integrating mental health awareness into the educational framework. Follow on Twitter: @AnnLPGA @tsnovasio@AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd@tsnovasio Dr. Paul Imhoff has been a public educator for over 30 years, earning his Bachelor's and Doctor of Education Degrees from Miami University and his Master's Degree from the University of Dayton. Imhoff was an Ohio superintendent for 16 years, serving the Mariemont Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Upper Arlington Schools in Columbus, Ohio. He was selected as the Ohio Superintendent of the Year in 2018 and was the President of AASA in 2021/2022. Currently, Imhoff serves as the Director of Government Relations for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio's Superintendent Association. In addition, Imhoff is active in the AASA Leadership Network, leading the Mental Health Cohort and the Eastern States Consortium, and is a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard. Dr. M. Ann Levett of AASA is a career educator who has served at every level in education, from teacher to Superintendent to School Board member in K-12 education, and in faculty and administrative positions in higher education. Tobin Novasio is in their first year as superintendent at Hardin Public Schools in south central Montana and 18 years as a superintendent in Montana. President of Montana Rural Education Association, AASA Mental Health Cohort Steering Committee member, Hope Squad National Advisory Board member, Cook Center for Human Connections Advisory Council and participant in inaugural AASA/JED Foundation District Comprehensive Approach cohort. Dr. Shari L. Camhi is the superintendent of Baldwin School District and past president of the National School Superintendent's Association (AASA). She also serves on the National Assessment Governing Board. With more than 30 years' experience in both education and business, Dr. Camhi has received numerous accolades and recognition for her innovative contributions to K-12 instruction, including Education Week's “Leaders to Learn From,” NSPRA's “New Superintendent to Watch,” Education Dive's “Administrators to Watch.” David Schuler is a highly experienced, successful and well-regarded educational leader. He was a superintendent for 22 years prior to taking on the Executive Director role at AASA. He has served in rural, urban and suburban settings, including 17 years as superintendent of High School District 214, Illinois' largest high school system.

It's dawning on the education community that general artificial intelligence will have a major impact on education and the world at large. What are the big questions school leaders will need to ask and answer to ensure their schools and students are ready to thrive in the age of GAI? Follow on Twitter:  @cosn @keithkrueger @JimmyMinichello @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Keith R. Krueger is CEO of the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), nonprofit professional association organization that serves as the voice of K-12 EdTech leaders in North America.  CoSN's mission is empowering educational leaders to leverage technology to realize engaging learning environments. He was selected by Ed Tech magazine for it's 2021 K-12 IT influencers.  In 2016 Technology & Learning selected him as one of the “big 10” most influential people in ed tech, and the Center for Digital Education identified him as a Top 30 Technologist/Transformer/Trailblazer.  In 2008 he was selected by eSchool News as one of ten people who have had a profound impact on educational technology over the last decade.  In 2016 he received a Special Recognition award from the Council of Great City Schools.

Uncertain times require school leaders to cultivate a set of essential qualities and skills, among them, adaptability and flexibility. Our guest shares the mindset and behaviors that enable administrators to strengthen these skills in themselves and their staff. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @AnnLPGA @SCCPSS @AASAHQ @JimmyMinichello @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork. Dr. M. Ann Levett has served as Superintendent of Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools since June 2017. She has enjoyed serving as an educator at all levels, K-12, beginning as a speech and language pathologist through the role of Superintendent. Dr. Levett has also served at the higher education level, including positions as faculty and administrator. She is an avid advocate for children and equity.

Many students and teachers are close enough to see the end of the current school year, but school leaders are already thinking about how to graduate more students next year.  This discussion takes a practical and research-based look at expanding pathways to graduation for all students. Follow on Twitter: @bobbalfanz @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @JimmyMinichello Robert Balfanz is a research professor at the Center for Social Organization of Schools, Johns Hopkins University School of Education, and director of the Everyone Graduates Center. His work focuses on translating research findings into effective school improvement strategies and educational reforms. He publishes, conducts research, and organizes technical assistance efforts on secondary school reform, improving high school graduation and college readiness rates, early warning systems, chronic absenteeism, social-emotional learning, and instructional improvements in high-poverty schools. Currently he is leading a Cross-State High School Redesign Network with five states and 70 high schools, the GRAD Partnership a collaborative effort of non-profits and school districts to scale the use of high quality student success (on-track) systems and the National Partnership for Student Success Support Hub, part of a public-private partnership with the US Department of Education and AmeriCorps to bring additional evidence based student supports (mentors, tutors, success coaches, post-secondary advisors and wrap around supports) into the schools and communities most impacted by the Pandemic. His work was featured in PBS Frontline's The Education of Omarina and been awarded the Alliance For Excellent Education's Everyone a Graduate Award and the National Forum's to Accelerate Middle Grade Reform Joan Lipsitzs Lifetime Achievement award. In 2013 the Obama White House recognized him as a Champion for Change for African American education and he has served as an Education Fellow for the G.W. Bush Institute.

Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger is the President and CEO of the Data Quality Campaign, a nonprofit policy and advocacy organization leading the effort to change the role of data to ensure that data works for everyone navigating their education and workforce journeys. Prior to DQC, Jenn worked at every level of education—from the kindergarten classroom to district leadership in New York and Baltimore, and most recently, at the US Department of Education, first as director of the Policy and Program Studies Services and later as Acting Assistant Secretary for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy. Resource: Polling resource cobranded with AASA: https://dataqualitycampaign.org/resource/data-helps-superintendents-make-decisions/ Recent op-ed by Jenn in The 74, that mentions the poll results: https://www.the74million.org/article/poll-hs-students-need-good-data-to-plan-their-futures-heres-how-to-help/

Today's kids are fundamentally different on many levels. Their self-concept is different, their view of the future is different and what is required to reach and teach them is different. Join us as we explore how some school leaders are adapting to the changing needs of today's students. Follow on Twitter: @greggbehr@AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @JimmyMinichello Gregg Behr, executive director of The Grable Foundation, is a father and children's advocate. For nearly 15 years, he has helped lead Remake Learning—a network of educators, scientists, artists, and makers he founded in Pittsburgh (USA)—to international renown. Remake Learning has turned heads everywhere from Forbes to the World Economic Forum for its efforts to ignite children's curiosity, encourage creativity, and foster justice and belonging in schools, libraries, museums, and more. He is the co-author of When You Wonder, You're Learning: Mister Rogers' Enduring Lessons for Raising Creative, Curious, Caring Kids.

We talked with the Deputy Secretary of Education, who oversees pre-k – 12 policy and programs, about the best ways to engage students in the wake of the pandemic. 'We have the funding; we have the need; we know what works.' Follow on Twitter: @usedgov @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @JimmyMinichello Cindy Marten is the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. Ann educator for over thirty years, she has extensive experience across the education ecosystem including as a teacher, principal, and as superintendent of San Diego Unified School District. In her role as Deputy Secretary, she oversees pre-k – 12 policy and programs and serves as the Department's Chief Operating Officer.

As school leaders, we've all heard and talked a lot about self-care and ways to approach it in the wake of the pandemic. In this discussion, we explore a few overlooked practices, including the need to disconnect to reconnect. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @FCSSuper @AASAHQ @AASADan @JimmyMinichello @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Brian Creasman, Ed.D. is currently superintendent of Fleming County Schools in Kentucky and is the 2020 Kentucky Superintendent of the Year. He is a published book author including his recent book, Prioritizing Health and Wellbeing, and he has served as an assistant superintendent, a high school and middle school principal and assistant principal, and an instructional technologist and classroom teacher. He is also a graduate of the AASA national superintendent certification program.

School districts in all 50 states and 36 countries have adopted a new concept — a community-created Portrait of a Graduate. Listen in to learn why school leaders embrace this powerful model and how it unifies educators, teachers, and parents behind a workable plan for educating all students. Follow on Twitter: @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd @BattelleforKids@JimmyMinichello Dr. Karen Garza has led the recent transformation of Battelle for Kids, including the emphasis on realizing the power and promise of 21st-century learning for every student, the increasing adoption of Portraits of a Graduate by school systems across the country, and the additions of EdLeader21 and the Partnership for 21 st Century Learning (P21) into the Battelle for Kids family. Karen has dedicated her life to bettering educational opportunities for all students. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher before embarking on an administrative and advocacy path that included positions as government relations director, curriculum director, deputy superintendent, chief academic officer, and eventually becoming the first female superintendent at both Lubbock Independent School District (30,000+ students) and Fairfax County Public Schools (188,000 students).

The world outside of our school districts is changing more rapidly than the thinking, practices, and culture inside of our classrooms. In this episode, we spotlight a few trends that impact what school leaders will need to successfully navigate tomorrow. Follow on Twitter: @SPNconnet @aesanetwork @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Bill Daggett is the founder of both the Successful Practices Network and the International Center for Leadership in Education. He recently co-chaired the AASA LEARNING 2025: National Commission for Student-Centered, Equity-Focused, Future-Driven Education and is now leading the National Demonstration Network for AASA. Dr. Daggett, who is the author of 26 books, is recognized worldwide for his proven ability to move preK-12 education systems towards more rigorous and relevant skills and knowledge for all students. For 30 years, he has crisscrossed our nation, as well as the industrialized world, to lead school reform efforts to effectively prepare students for their future. While an avid supporter of public education, he also challenges all of us to be more focused on our children's future than on maintaining the schools of our youth. His insights and leadership have caused nearly every major education association in the country, hundreds of school districts, numerous political and business leaders, publishers, and others to seek out his advice and guidance. Dr. Daggett began his career as a teacher, local administrator, and then director with the New York State Education Department. He spends much of his time providing leadership and guidance to the National Dropout Prevention Center and the Career and Technical Education Technical Assistance Center, which are part of the Successful Practices Network.

In this episode, the U.S. Secretary of Education offers an empathetic, specific, and inspiring vision for school leaders and teachers at every level of large school systems and very small ones. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @SecCardona @usedgov @AASAHQ @AASADan @JimmyMinichello @jonHarper70bd@tomwhitby @a_rebora @ascd @larryferlazzo @sparvell @cmurcray@ISTE Dr. Miguel A. Cardona was sworn in as the 12th Secretary of Education on March 2nd, 2021. Secretary Cardona previously served as the Commissioner of Education in Connecticut, a position he held after being appointed by Governor Ned Lamont in August 2019. In this position, he faced the unprecedented challenge of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and led the safe school reopening efforts in Connecticut. To do so, Secretary Cardona and his Department provided school districts with the balance of guidance, local autonomy, and oversight needed to ensure equitable and meaningful educational opportunities for students while also prioritizing public health mitigation measures. Secretary Cardona and the State of Connecticut focused on equity by arranging for student access to technology to support remote learning, helping the state become the first in the nation to provide learning devices to fulfill the identified need for all students. Recognizing the increased importance of providing resources for the social-emotional health of students and staff, Secretary Cardona and his team collaborated with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and other stakeholders to provide free social and emotional learning courses.

We begin the new year with a segment on women in leadership and the challenges they still face getting a seat at the table with C-level executives. Our guest has climbed the organizational ladder and offers a glimpse of the personal and professional challenges many women must navigate to stay at the table once they secure a seat. Follow on Twitter: (AASA?) @LaurenLLawson @JimmyMinichello @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Lauren Lawson-Zilai is an external communications executive for Goodwill Industries International, North America's leader in workforce training and development, job placement, and other support services for people looking for employment or career advancement. As spokesperson for Goodwill®, she has been quoted frequently in the media including, the Associated Press, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Forbes, MarketWatch Radio, The New York Times, The NonProfit Times, PEOPLE, PR News and USA TODAY. Lawson-Zilai has spent the majority of her career using marketing and communications to drive social change and impact and elevate the brand awareness of mission-driven nonprofit organizations in both a for-profit and pro bono capacity. Lawson-Zilai invests time to share best practices and lessons learned as a speaker, moderator or panelist at various venues from corporations, professional associations, nonprofit organizations and universities including, Capitol Communicator, IABC, Microsoft, the National Digital Roundtable, PR Summit, PR News, PRSA, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), University of Maryland, George Mason University and George Washington University, to name a few.

Join us for a discussion with the new executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals about a model for reflecting, learning, and preparing for the challenges school leaders see ahead. Follow on Twitter: @NASSP, @RonnNozoe @aesanetwork @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Ronn Nozoe is a lifelong educator and the CEO of NASSP, an organization dedicated to transforming education through school leadership. He has significant experience in policy development at state and federal levels. In his home state of Hawaii, he has served as deputy state superintendent, district superintendent, principal, vice principal and teacher.

Join us for an insightful discussion on the state of the Hispanic school administrator pipeline and what sort of supports, are needed to expand and accelerate the numbers. Follow on Twitter:  @SuptDuran @aesanetwork @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Dr. Francisco Durán is the Superintendent of the Arlington public schools in Arlington, Virginia, and the president of the association of Latino administrators and superintendents (ALAS). He served as the Chief Equity Officer for Fairfax County Public Schools. In Fairfax, Dr. Durán's work as an equity leader was driven by his background and commitment to support all students. He helped develop, initiate and implement the “One Fairfax” policy to close opportunity, access and achievement gaps, a joint social and racial equity policy with Fairfax County. In 2018, Dr. Durán was appointed to the Virginia State Board of Education where he played a key role in the adoption of the new Standards of quality for Virginia. As an educational leader, Dr.Durán has worked passionately to ensure that all students receive a quality education that will equip them with the skills needed for post-secondary education and employment in today's ever-changing world.

These are challenging times for school administrators as we deal with the uncertain road ahead.  In this episode, we talk with an education industry attorney about emerging legal issues that school superintendents will need to understand and navigate effectively to succeed in the new normal. Follow on Twitter:  @HoganLovells @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd Maree Sneed is recognized in the education industry as a lawyer who helps school districts, independent schools, educational institutions, and educational companies solve their most complex problems. For three decades, clients have sought Maree's advice as a result of her experience working in the education system, her legal acumen, her public policy work, and her ability to make connections between the education and legal arenas.

Join us as we discuss managing the complex issues school leaders are facing across the nation. Our guest shares general insights on managing stakeholders with disparate agendas and practical steps taken on issues involving Internet access, social injustice, school nutrition, learning loss, COVID-19, and the reality of budgets. Follow on Twitter: @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @AASADan@jonHarper70bd Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller is the Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), where she works with state education chiefs to ensure all students have the opportunity to graduate from high school prepared for college, careers and life. With a deep understanding of education policy at the state and national levels, Carissa leads CCSSO’s efforts to help states deliver equitable education opportunities to every student. A first-generation college graduate, Carissa was named executive director of CCSSO in 2018.

Join us for a candid and insightful discussion with a co-chair and lead superintendent of AASA’s new cohort of superintendents committed to addressing educational inequity. Our guest believes that the pandemic crisis provides an opportunity we must seize to address the inequities that have plagued our schools for generations. Follow on Twitter: @LuvelleB @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @AASADan Luvelle Brown has served as Superintendent of the Ithaca City School District since January 2011. Dr. Brown was recognized as the New York State Superintendent of the Year in 2017.

The pandemic is forcing school leaders to reexamine and rethink virtually every aspect of their school systems. Joining us is one of the superintendents on the AASA COVID Recovery Task Force. He shares what issues are surfacing, what surprises he’s encountered and how his schools are adapting. Follow on Twitter: @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @AASADan A dedicated lifelong educator, Dr. Jack R. Smith has been a classroom teacher, principal, curriculum director, and a local superintendent of schools. He was appointed interim state superintendent of schools and treasurer of the Maryland State Board of Education on September 14, 2015. Dr. Smith joined the Maryland State Department of Education as the chief academic officer for the Office of Teaching and Learning in August 2013. As the chief academic officer, he worked closely with local school systems, parents, businesses, teacher associations, institutes of higher education, and government agencies at the state and national level to ensure high-quality teaching and learning took place in Maryland public schools. Dr. Smith's steadfast goal has always been to provide all students, regardless of their learning needs, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, with options and choices upon graduation.

Join us for a timely discussion on setting new expectations for principals regarding supervising teaching and learning in a COVID-19 world. What is required in the “new normal” as schools reopen in a completely different environment? Follow on Twitter: @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @AASADan Nicholas Pelzer is the Senior Program Officer and joined The Wallace Foundation in 2014. As a senior program officer in the Education Leadership unit, Pelzer works with school districts, technical assistance providers and stakeholders across the country to strengthen their efforts to attract, train, evaluate and support school leaders in urban areas. Before joining Wallace, he served as director of public service leadership and strategic initiatives at National Urban Fellows, where he worked to support long-term strategies and innovative approaches to ensuring diverse leadership in the public sector.

Join us as we talk about a new program to fill the school administrator pipeline with exceptional and well-trained candidates to step into the role of the principalship. The program is jointly hosted by the AASA and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Follow on Twitter: AASAHQ @AASADan @JimmyMinichello @efranksnaesp @NAESP @bamradionetwork Dr. L. Earl Franks, CAE is the Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) in Alexandria, Virginia, serving 28,000 K-8 principals and 35 million students in the United States of America and other affiliates worldwide., a veteran association executive with more than three decades of K-12 education experience, serves as the seventh executive director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals. Prior to serving as executive director for the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools (CLAS), he served as a leader on the CLAS Board of Directors. Franks served as a principal from 1999-2008 at a pre-K-12 school serving 1,000+ students. He is the host of NAESP Radio.

Rural school districts face unique challenges based on various economic and demographic changes that continue to squeeze school budgets.  In this episode, we look at how one rural school system is using creative strategies to support and expand high-quality education in rural public schools. Follow us on Twitter: @suptDgibson David W. Gibson is a 22-year educator. 14 years in administration 5 as superintendent.  3rd year as superintendent of Paintsville Independent schools, which is a distinguished school system in Kentucky.  Chair of Kentucky Valley Education Cooperative. Dr. Jeff Hawkins is the Executive Director at the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative serving twenty-three school districts in eastern Kentucky. Through his leadership, KVEC has been recognized as one of the highest performing educational service agencies in the country and has been awarded three significant USDE awards within the last five years: an Investing in Innovation Award, a Project Prevent Award and a coveted Race to the Top – District Award that led to the development of the Appalachian Renaissance Initiative.

I this episode we talk about an enlightening new study on the importance and impact of creating a principal pipeline. Follow: @AASAHQ @AASADan @wallacefdn Jody Spiro, Wallace's director of education leadership, began working at the foundation as a senior program officer in 2002. Her career as a senior educator and manager of education programs has spanned the private, public, nonprofit and international sectors. Her areas of specialization include leadership, facilitating active learning and systemic change processes. She is the author of Leading Change Step-by-Step: Tactics, Tools, and Tales and High-Payoff Strategies: How Education Leaders Get Results.

Join us as we talk with AASA Superintendent of the year as we reexamine and rethink what it means to help students become ready for college, career, and life. Follow: @AASAHQ @AASADan @Dschuler1970 @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Dr. David R. Schuler is the superintendent of High School District 214 in northwest suburban Chicago and the 2018 National Superintendent of the Year. During his time as AASA president, he helped introduce Redefining Ready!, a multimetric approach to measuring students' postsecondary potential.

Gun violence, intolerance and hate are on the rise in schools around the country. Our guest leads a program to tackles these issues with aim of creating a healthier climate in schools. Follow: @AASAHQ @AASADan @JonahEdelman @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders

More than nine million students attend rural schools. Rural students, parents, communities, and superintendents have unique needs. Join us for a critical discussion on why rural education demands our attention. Follow: @AASAHQ @AASADan @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Robert Mahaffey Director, Rural Programs, AASA—The School Superintendents Association and Executive Director Rural School and Community Trust, a national nonprofit organization addressing the crucial relationship between good schools and thriving communities.

It's generally agreed that the system of teacher evaluation is broken. The question is how do we develop a new system which provides a valid means for evaluating teachers, allows for and supports improvement and includes a quick, but fair mechanism for removing teachers who don't perform. In this segment we discuss an AASA./AFT joint initiative to design a framework for creating an effective system.

The current administration and U.S Secretary of Education usher in a new era in education priorities. Join our panel of national education leaders as we discuss education priorities and who will set them. Follow: @Eduflack @NASSP @AASAHQ @AASADan @NAEYC @RhianNAEYC @NASSPexec @JohnMusso @ASBOIntl @NAESP @Connelly_NAESP @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Daniel (Dan) Domenech is executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. JoAnne Bartoletti is the Executive Director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Gail Connelly is Executive Director of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). John D. Musso is Executive Director of the Association of School Business Officials International. Rhian Evans Allvin is the CEO of National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Patrick Riccards is chief communications and strategy officer for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and former local school board chairman.

Join us as we check in with a member of the first cohort of the Urban Superintendents Academy. The Academy is designed to meet the special challenges inner-city district leaders face. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @DrJessHuizenga @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Dr. Jessica Huizenga serves as the Receiver/Superintendent of the Southbridge Public Schools, recently taken over by the state. As Receiver, she retains the full authority of the Superintendent and School Committee. She has been in Education for 19 years, and has served as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent in both Urban and Suburban districts across the nation.

Join us as we discuss the superintendent's role in building systems that offer continuous, job-embedded professional learning opportunities. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @Ddance_BCPS@bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Dr. Dallas Dance oversees the instruction of more than 110,000 students and leads and manages a $1.76 billion budget, more than 21,000 employees, and 175 schools, centers, and programs. He also has served on President Obama's Advisory commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.

Our guest says poverty is not a learning disability. Join us as we discuss the 700 innovative partnerships his district has formed to prevent barriers to student learning and transform education in the community. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @SuptVPS @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Dr. Steven Webb has served as superintendent of Vancouver Public Schools since 2008. As Washington State Superintendent of the year, Webb was named one of four finalists for the 2016 National Superintendent of the Year.

Our guest tells us that happiness is more important to teaching and learning than we realized. Join us as we discuss five habits that support happiness and drive teaching and learning. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @shawnachor @bamradionetwork Shawn Achor is considered a leading expert on the connection between happiness and success in business and education. He spent 12 years at Harvard, winning over a dozen distinguished teaching awards His research has made the cover of Harvard Business Review and his TED talk is one of the most popular ever, with over 12 million views. He is the author of New York Times best-selling books, The Happiness Advantage and Before Happiness,and the popular parable The Orange Frog.

Our guest is the AASA 2016 Superintendent of the Year. Join us as we discuss the five qualities of a model school leader. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @ttucker1914 @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Thomas S. Tucker, Ph.D. Superintendent, Princeton City School District and AASA 2016 National Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Tucker has been a trailblazer and mentor in the field of education, has received a myriad of awards and is active in many organizations. In 2006, he became the first and is the only African-American to hold an upper-level administrative post in the Hilliard City School District when he was named director of Secondary Curriculum.

The use of social media in schools is growing exponentially. Is this segment, we talk best practices with two AASA members who are at the leading edge of this growing trend. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @npolyak @mikelubelfeld @bamradionetwork #suptchat #satchat #edchat #suptchat #LeadExcellence #edleaders Mike Lubelfeld currently serves as the superintendent of schools in the Deerfield, IL Public Schools (District 109). He is the co-moderator of #suptchat – the monthly superintendent educational chat on Twittter. Dr. Nick Polyak is the proud Superintendent of Leyden Community High School District in suburban Chicago. The district serves six communities, 3,500 students, and strives to always do "What's Best for the Kids."

In an era where the focus and math and reading scores is consuming many school administrators, our guest makes a compelling case for why music classes are too important to ignore. Follow: @aasadan @AASAHQ @bamradionetwork #supchat #satchat #edchat #leadexcelence Dr. Kristi Sandvik, Superintendent of Buckeye Elementary School District, came to Arizona from Oregon. She is passionate about student learning and closing the achievement gap for all students. She was recently named Superintendent of the Year and sits on the AASA Governing Board and the MSAN Board.

The road to launching digital technologies in school districts is riddled with stories of missteps, misfires and outright failures. By contrast, our guest has led one of the most successful school transitions to digital technology in the nation. In this segment, he tells us why patience is a virtue when going digital. Follow: @aasadan @bamradionetwork #supchat #satchat #edchat Terry Grier is superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, the nation's seventh largest school system and an acknowledged leader in digital conversion. Dr. Grier was named a Leader To Learn From by Education Week for HISDs PowerUp initiative which provides laptops to high school students for anytime/anywhere learning. PowerUp has also established a districtwide digital platform, known as the HUB, that is transforming teaching and learning, and is moving HISD away from the use of textbooks in favor of digital curricula.

Our guest is the AASA superintendent of the year and a strong voice for children and public education. One of his core objectives is to give students experiences that surpass their expectations of what's possible. In this episode he shares how he approaches that challenge. Follow: @aasadan @bamradionetwork #supchat #satchat #edchat With a proven track record in leading school reform and building positive community and school relationships, Superintendent Philip D. Lanoue has led the Clarke County School District in Athens, Georgia since July 2009. He is the 2015 National Superintendent of the Year, as well as the 2015 Georgia Superintendent of the Year.

When budgets shrink, professional development for staff is typically the first line item to be cut. Our guest argues that savvy superintendents make a commitment to fund professional development no matter how tight the budget. Learn how... Follow: @Supt_Avossa @aasadan @bamradionetwork #supchat #satchat #edchat Robert Avossa, Ed.D., is Superintendent of the 96,000-student Fulton County School System, Georgia’s fourth largest school district. Dr. Avossa came to Fulton in June 2011, and in this short time, his leadership has led to unprecedented growth in the district’s graduation rate and an increased focus on college and career readiness.

In the segment we discuss recent developments in the administration's campaign to provide high quality Internet access to all students. Follow: @aasadan @bamradionetwork Dr. Brian Talbott is the Executive Director Emeritus of the Association of Educational Service Agencies (AESA).1n 1997 Dr. Talbott was appointed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) Board. He currently serves as the USAC Board Chair, which oversees the Rural Health Care Program, High Cost &Low Income Program and the Schools and Libraries Program,(the E-Rate Program).

How might Republicans control of the House and Senate impact education budgets and policy? In this segment we take a look at what superintendents can expect. Follow: @aasadan @bamradionetwork Jack Jennings (John F. Jennings), founded the Center on Education Policy in January 1995 and was its CEO and President until he retired in 2012. According to a poll of national leaders conducted by Education Week, that Center was one of the ten most influential organizations affecting school policy in the United States.

In this segment we interview AASA's National Superintendent of the Year whose tough decisions have created a noteworthy model for public school excellence. Follow: @aasadan @miamisup @bamradionetwork Alberto Carvalho became Superintendent of the nation's fourth largest school system in September 2008. He is a nationally recognized expert on school reform and finance who successfully transformed his district's business operations and financial systems with the implementation of a streamlined Strategic Framework focused on a singular goal of student achievement.