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 half a mile from my childhood home has given me a unique lens into our community's heartbeat and challenges.

My professional journey began in the South Bay Union ESD, holding roles from playground monitor to superintendent. It was here that I first met Virgel Hammonds, and an understanding of true student-centered leadership was sparked.

Four years ago, I joined Eureka City Schools (ECS) as the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services. When diving into our district data story, I noticed our outcomes weren’t reflecting the potential I knew existed here. Humboldt County has changed a lot over the years, some for the better and some for the worse. That said, the pride and determination to build an exciting and rewarding future for the next generation remain a common bond in Humboldt. I like to say, 'It’s all about hope with a plan!'

First, we worked with Envision Education to create our community’s ideal Portrait of a Graduate. Then, after becoming the superintendent at ECS, we connected with Lindsay Leads for strategic guidance on our transformation to become fully competency-based by 2029. We defined our core values, developed rubrics and guiding principles, and created a Portrait of an Educator.

Our teachers on special assignment (TOSA) approach has been crucial for building buy-in from within. Our TOSAs have become our internal champions, working weekly with Lindsay Leads mentors who've walked this path before and can remind us that perfection can be the enemy of the good and to keep moving forward.

We send district staff to visit the Lindsay Unified School District for site visits twice a year and have sent about 80 team members so far. When you think about levers to spark transformation, there’s nothing that can compare to seeing competency-based learning in action, with students working on similar content tailored to their needs. Having mentors who understand the California context deeply and can share real pitfalls has also been invaluable.

I’m probably most proud of the relationships I’ve built here. Change is hard, and we are committed to going slow to go fast. Burnout is a real barrier in our profession, especially since the pandemic. But our teachers are engaged in our current vision. We're not just preparing students for jobs — we're developing the critical thinking and soft skills they'll need for careers that don't even exist yet. When there's a clear why and path forward, people want to buy in. One staff member told me, ‘We work hard, Gary. But now we're working hard at something that matters, and that’s exciting.’"