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…

Being a new Superintendent is never easy, but conversation #73 with Marcus Ware, of Chicopee Public Schools shows how a vision and plan can set the bar for quality implementation. “When I became Superintendent, one question became my driving focus: How do we create truly safe, supportive environments where every student and staff member can…

As we roll into the Thanksgiving holiday, I have such deep gratitude for the busy district and charter leaders working tirelessly during challenging times to keep students in school, learning and growing. I hope you get some good rest and rejuvenation this week! Thank you Kadion Phillips, Director of Informational Technology at Shrewsbury Public Schools,…

Our #100DistrictConversations have been far-reaching in terms of regional, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity. Conversation #71 with Superintendents Michelle Osterhoudt (Margaretville Central School) and Stacy Ward (Roxbury Central School) highlights unique ways that rural leaders are choosing sharing resources and collaborating to improve the quality of education for their constituents. Thank you AASA for featuring these…