It was a pleasure to sit down in person with Superintendent Anna Nolin at the ASU+GSV Summit last month. We’ve known and collaborated with Anna for years, from her time in Natick Public Schools to her work now leading Newton Public Schools, a member district in our first PEA²K cohort – a partnership between Throughline…

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has been stigmatized for a long time but it’s starting to get its due and for good reason! Traditional high school has a lot to learn from the authenticity of CTE programs and career pathway curriculum. I loved getting Patrick Dunphy‘s perspective as Director of CTE for Sewanhaka Central H.S….

I have interviewed a couple of leaders who have worked their way through the ranks from classroom teacher to superintendent. Their context, empathy, and expectations are a superpower! Karen Barber, Superintendent of Santa Rosa County Public Schools in Florida is that leader. So many gems in conversation #90! “I’ve spent 29 years in this district…

There are very few district leaders who feel as comfortable pioneering a new and compelling idea or co-designing with partners through messy, nascent work – all while holding the highest bar possible for her staff, students and families. Stephanie Downey Toledo is that Superintendent. I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Stephanie for 9 years…

We are nearing the culmination of #100DistrictConversations, and it has been fun reaching out to long-time friends in district positions for this final push. Conversation #88 with thought partner, Dave Quinn, Assistant Superintendent of the Sandwich Public School System in Massachusetts explores his thoughtful process for pacing educator professional learning so that it is student-centered…

I first met Katya Denisova, PhD three years ago at a RPPL (Research Partnership for Professional Learning) convening in Washington, DC. When she mentioned she runs all professional learning (PL) internally across Baltimore City Public Schools, my jaw dropped. Just thinking about staff parking and seating for PL days makes me want to curl up…

Conversation #85 was my first in-person #100DistrictConversations interview at the recent National Conference on Education from AASA hosted in Nashville. I loved getting to sit down for an extended chat with Superintendent Chuck Perry from Broken Arrow Public Schools in Oklahoma. Chuck is a hometown hero who grew up and spent his own K-12 experience…

Conversation #84 with Superintendent Heath Rocha of Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District in California surfaced something I keep coming back to. Research-driven practices only reach their potential when supported by strong cycles of continuous improvement. As Heath scales this work across all departments, implementation gaps are the real obstacle, not vision or will. He…

One of the things I have enjoyed about #100DistrictConversations is seeing the different starting points from which district leaders begin their innovation and change efforts. Neil Gupta is the Superintendent of Oakwood City Schools, a small, high-performing district in Ohio. As a former curriculum director who does not need to focus on turnaround efforts, Neil…

Conversation #81 takes us to Michigan for a lesson in innovation iteration. When the resource carpet is pulled out from under you, how do you stay focused and passionate about the work? Chris Timmis is the current Superintendent of Dexter Community School District. “After 8+ years with Summit Learning, we are now building our own…

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the context and constraints elevated during conversation #80 with Clayton Holland, Superintendent of Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) in Southcentral Alaska. Imagine 42 schools spread across 17 communities in a geographic area the size of West Virginia. Several schools are only accessible by plane or snowmobile….

I love connecting with rural Superintendents through #100DistrictConversations. Their innovations often emphasize community and culture-building over scale. Check out conversation #79 with Dr. Tiffany Rehbein, Superintendent of Anaconda Public Schools in Montana. “I’m energized by the opportunity to reimagine professional learning in our district. Coming from a principal background, I have seen firsthand how the…

Each of my #100DistrictConversations has been inspiring and informative, but conversation #78 with Dr. Lorraine Mora Perez, Superintendent of Santa Ana Unified School District in California changed my thinking about capacity-building and the future. “Coming out of COVID 3 years ago, we knew we needed to fundamentally rethink our approach to professional learning. We were…

Thank you Virgel Hammonds for introducing me to Gary Storts, Superintendent of Eureka City Schools. During conversation #77, Gary shares how powerful it has been to return home to the district where he grew up in rural CA. “I’ve been blessed to spend my entire career serving the area that helped raise me. Living just…

It’s 2026 and we have 25 more conversations to go before we hit our goal of #100Districtconversations. Today, I’m excited to share conversation #76 with Nicole Toepfer, Administrator for Professional Learning for Sun Prairie Area School District, in Wisconsin. Nicole’s work is anchored on an impressive set of instructional frameworks that are paced well for…

Every rural superintendent in my #100DistrictConversations stresses the importance of engaging families in change. Conversation #75 with Christopher Harris, Superintendent of Warren County School District in Georgia, shows how thoughtful community engagement and a deep focus on social emotional learning practices can transform early reading outcomes. “Five years ago, our third grade reading proficiency was…

I have been following Brandee Lapisky‘s work for years with admiration and appreciation. She is the Director of The Compass School in Rhode Island, a statewide charter built around a vision, “to teach environmental sustainability and social responsibility through a project-based curriculum.” In conversation #74 below, I am excited to amplify the impressive academic growth…