Heading north to Vermont for today’s #100DistrictConverations post, with Amy Minor, Superintendent of Colchester School District. I love how well Amy knows the history and evolution of her district’s professional learning practices and strategies as the former high school principal in her district. Thank you Megan Benay for making conversation #17 possible! “I’m incredibly proud…

I’m thrilled that I got to catch up with Rebekah Kim as conversation #16 for this series. Rebekah is the Associate Superintendent of Teaching & Learning in the Kent School District, a 25,000 student district just outside of Seattle, WA where she leads a team of 20 teaching and learning specialists across several departments. I…

If we are lucky in our professional journey, people will enter our lives at different stages and profoundly impact how we see and experience our role and work. Mark Comesañas has been one of those people for me. Mark is the Executive Director of My Brother’s Keeper Newark, where he is collaborating across numerous Newark…

Conversation #14 was an awesome exploration of the intersection between district process and stakeholder voice. Too often, as leaders, we are left trading one for the other. When we worry about moving quickly, then less stakeholder voice seems prudent, and if we want to make sure everyone is heard, then we fear progress and process…

#100DistrictConversations rolls on! I’m closing out the week with conversation #13 featuring Jeffrey Kitching. Jeff is a former Superintendent in Connecticut and he recently retired as Executive Director of EdAdvance, a non-profit in western CT that helps schools and communities by providing educational and community services including professional development for teachers. During our conversation, Jeff…

Conversation #12 was with the retired Superintendent of Old Saybrook Schools in Connecticut, Jan Perruccio. Jan left her Superintendent position after winning Connecticut Superintendent of the year honors in 2023. I really enjoyed Jan’s perspective. The final paragraph of this post is one of my favorite insights thus far! “When I’m making a professional learning…

Today through Friday I’m posting individual reflections from a group call with three current and former Connecticut Superintendents. Grateful to Throughline Learning‘s newest board member Paula Talty for making these fantastic connections. Conversation #11 was with Maureen Brummett who is the proud Superintendent of Newington Public Schools. Not only is Maureen the current Superintendent, but…

I loved the opportunity to reconnect with Dr. Barbara Mullen. We’ve known each other since her time in Providence, and I have always respected the deep intentionality she has for the instructional core and her selection of professional learning partners. This was conversation #10 and it just so happened to coincide with the illegal announcement…

Excited to feature Andrea Castañeda, Superintendent of the Salem-Keizer School District, in today’s installment of #100DistrictConversations. Andrea is not only a valued member of my Kinfolk 39 cohort at the Pahara Institute, but also a dear friend who I’m hoping returns to Rhode Island some day soon! For those familiar with Andrea, her insights are…

Conversation #8 with RoseMary Clairmont contains powerful lessons in process around embedding identities, home culture, and local values into professional learning for educators. RoseMary has built a sticky and sustainable process for engaging diverse sets of schools and educators in professional learning experiences that build more culturally relevant and engaging learning experiences for students and…