"I really believe that as a leader. . . to be able to inspire, we have to have the belief that we can achieve whatever it is we set our minds to. If we have that belief, then the people around us will have that belief . . . …
"So we made a commitment several days ago, that our kids are going to have the same access and opportunity that other kids throughout the world are having, because they are going to be behind in knowing and realizing and acc…
"In that school system, Luis, I was the superintendent and the entire central office. It was me, the principal of the prek - 8 schools, and we had 3 administrative assistants. And we were the administration, together with t…
"I was willing to take the risk because of what I believe education should be for kids, and really begin to ask questions, and frame questions in a way that our school board and our community tried to understand what we were…
"I think I stepped in a few things early on. I said some things that my intent was good, but it was perceived differently. And perception is that person's reality. So I really had to think about who I was and how I was lead…
"If I'm going to make a difference in the lives of young people, especially poor children, and children of color, then I'm going to have to be the Superintendent to put those systems in place and make sure that I remove tho…
"Education is the civil rights issue of our time. There is no more important agenda to making sure that we continue to enjoy the economic prosperity and the national security we've enjoyed for over two centuries than being …
"For us, the message that we're trying to get out... is that we have the potential to positively impact every single child every day. And what we want to do as an organization is to be a little bit better tomorrow than we a…
"I don't know that I ever expected the political nature of this job... at Leyden we serve 7 different communities... I have to get to know 7 mayors, 7 police chiefs, 7 fire chiefs, 2 state senators, 4 state representatives..…
"We have not suspended a student in the last 5 years. Now that's just the framework and the belief system. There's a lot of strategy within that belief system, but it really empowers the whole team and the students to know …
Steve Holmes, Superintendent of the Sunnyside Unified School District, in Tucson, Arizona. Steve serves as the top administrator in Southern Arizona’s second largest school district. Steve is a champion for equity, and has…
"You absolutely have to be the lead person, you are the educator. So when you move from the classroom to the boardroom... or the classroom to the big room, in an educational setting or an administrative office, your role is…
"...it's continuing the great work, finding areas to improve, and understanding that it's not about you, as the Superintendent, it's about the students and what's best for them..." - Angelica Ramsey, Ed.D.
"...be yourself. Don't try to be anything else, anyone else, be yourself, stand by what you believe in, and walk away if you have to." - Lilly DeBlieux, Ph.D.
"I'm not interested in systems improvement, I'm interested in systems change. We need to change the system so that all kids are being served." - Richard Carranza
Welcome to the premiere episode of District Leader, a podcast dedicated to highlighting district leaders in public education from across the country with inspiring stories of their journeys, the successes and challenges they…
