Brighter Together

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Teddy Clevenger, the superintendent of Bartlett ISD in Texas, to discuss his innovative approach to overcoming challenges faced by rural schools. Dr. Clevenger shares insights on the importance of building strong relationships, fostering a supportive community, and prioritizing servant leadership. He introduces the "Grow Your Own" program,...

How do you lead when your district covers 100 miles and your staff drives 40 minutes just to get to school? In this grounded and energizing episode, Nathan Wescott, Director of Special Services at Lincoln County School District #2, shares how he builds trust, retains staff, and builds systems that support both the brain and the heart. From early childhood to SEL, from mentorship to bus routes, Nat...

What if your morning drop-off didn’t feel like a panic attack in slow motion? In this hope-filled episode, Shayna Stuempfig, LCSW and Berkeley-based therapist, walks us through the SPACE model—a parent-led approach to reducing childhood anxiety without forcing kids into therapy. She shares how schools and caregivers can work together to reduce accommodations that feed anxiety, and instead use love...

What happens when we stop blaming families and start transforming systems? Patty Garcia, Assistant Director at ESC Region 14 and host of the Sped Talk podcast, brings a refreshing, no-excuses voice to this episode of Brighter Together. Drawing from her background as a teacher, coach, and SPED administrator, Patty breaks down how Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) must be rooted in compassion—n...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Martin DuBois, the superintendent of Reading Community Schools in Michigan. Martin shares his insights on the vital role of community support in education and discusses the challenges and triumphs he faces in special education. He emphasizes the importance of helping even one student, as it can have a generational impact. We explore current ini...

How do you build a culture people want to stay in? In this joy-filled and fiercely intentional episode, Dr. Jeanetta Cooper, Principal of Horizon Science Academy Twin Cities, opens up about how she built a staff culture that retains over 80% of teachers year after year—without burning them out. Her approach? Greet your staff every morning. Greet your students at the door. Send them off at the end...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Dr. Brett Geithman, the superintendent of Larkspur-Corta Madera Elementary School District. Together, we explore the ambitious vision that will shape the district through 2036. Dr. Geithman shares insights into their strategic planning process, emphasizing the importance of empowering staff through dedicated professional development. He discuss...

In a small Texas town surrounded by cotton fields, Superintendent Mandy Traylor is rewriting what it means to prepare students for the real world. From launching a self-defense program that empowers teen girls to bust zip ties and build confidence, to orchestrating “Adulting 101” classes that teach everything from interview etiquette to basic car maintenance, Mandy isn’t waiting on policy reform....

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Veronica Lake, the Executive Director of Student Services at Kentwood Public Schools. We delve into the transformative journey of creating a restorative environment within the district, where the focus is not just on restorative practices, but on embodying them. Veronica shares insights on the importance of understanding and meeting the diverse...

Is your school actually honoring the "individual" in the IEP? In this bold and deeply honest episode of Brighter Together, Dr. Patrick Gaffney, Director of Special Education at Clayton Valley Charter High School, invites us into a program where innovation meets integrity. From co-teaching models that started with failure to an 18–22 transition program born from one student's plea to stay, this con...

When was the last time a school made leadership feel real for students? At Oak Valley Union Elementary, Superintendent Heather Pilgrim isn't just running a district—she's cultivating a culture. In this episode of Brighter Together, we go beyond the buzzwords of "hands-on learning" and dive into a rural California school that's walking the walk. From a fully integrated in-school 4-H program (yes, w...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Chase Christensen, the superintendent and principal of Sheridan County School District Number 3 in Claremont, Wyoming. Chase shares his inspiring journey of transforming a rural school into a thriving culture powerhouse through innovative programs like The Amazing Shake and a unique house system designed to foster community among students. We d...

For Superintendent Daniel Barton, real leadership isn’t about titles or strategy binders—it’s about walking the halls, listening with intent, and serving the people you lead. In this candid and powerful conversation, Daniel unpacks how Goodrich ISD—a small Texas district—is building staff retention, culture, and student success by prioritizing relationship over rhetoric. From restructuring schedul...

What happens when SELPA directors decide to stop working in isolation and start building something together? In this collaborative and energizing episode, Karla Rahiman and Janet Queneau share how seven districts came together to host a Disability Resource & Transition Fair that reached families across an entire region. But this isn’t just a fair—it’s a movement. From vendor partnerships to family...

Dr. Anne Crylen believes in more than just inclusion—she believes in intentional infrastructure that makes it work. In this heart-forward episode, Anne shares how her team built a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) that puts collaboration, emotional safety, and staff wellbeing at the center of student success. You’ll hear how they shifted from reactive to proactive services, from isolation to...

For students in La Mesa ISD, walking across the graduation stage isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning. In this powerful episode, Superintendent David Ritchey shares how he and his team launched a P-TECH program that’s doing more than offering college credit—it’s changing lives. With industry certifications, associate degrees, and a mindset of self-worth, La Mesa’s students are being equipped to...

What happens when school stops working for thousands of students? In Barian Springs, Michigan, the answer wasn't to push them out—it was to build a system that pulls them in. Assistant Superintendent Steven Spenner shares how a rural district turned virtual innovation into a lifeline for learners who were falling behind or falling apart. From statewide hybrid hubs to dual enrollment and trades, St...

When a beloved Target store shut down in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, Superintendent Jeff Drake saw something no one else did: a blank slate for early childhood education. In this episode of Brighter Together, Jeff shares how his team turned a cavernous retail shell into Lincoln School—a vibrant preschool and kindergarten hub designed around student needs, family support, and community partnerships. F...

When’s the last time your IEP team talked about livestock? In this unforgettable episode of Brighter Together, Michele Jackson—Director of Special Services at Northwest School District—shares how a local ag barn became a sanctuary of inclusion, belonging, and growth for students often left behind by traditional school structures. From belt buckles and pig shows to the daily work of community build...

Change is hard—but clarity makes it possible. In this episode of Brighter Together, Dawn Spears, Director of Instructional and Special Education Support at Airport Community Schools, reveals how her district tackled a massive writing curriculum overhaul by doing what few districts do: giving teachers real voice, transparent plans, and room to lead. From the roots of stewardship and support to buil...

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Shane Ogden, the superintendent of Park County School District Number 16 in Wyoming, to discuss a transformative shift in education. Shane shares how embracing change has revolutionized their approach to behavior plans and education as a whole. He emphasizes the importance of fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills i...

In this enlightening episode of Brighter Together, host Janet Courtney engages with Richard Wright, the superintendent of Louise ISD, as they explore why many special education models fall short and what truly benefits students. Richard emphasizes the importance of approaching change incrementally, likening it to "eating an elephant—one bite at a time." He shares successful strategies that have tr...

What happens when doing your job means going against what you know is right? In this episode of Brighter Together, Dr. Chris Hodges unpacks his dissertation research on moral injury in school leadership—a concept more commonly found in military and healthcare fields, now showing up in K–12 education. From being forced to enforce policies they don't believe in, to feeling betrayed by peers or syste...

In this moving episode of Brighter Together, Mitch Cumings—Chief Strategy Officer of Berrien Springs Public Schools—shares how relationship-driven alternative education models are rewriting the future for thousands of Michigan students. From overcoming generational poverty to designing student-centered programs that reach across urban and rural communities, Mitch walks us through how his team buil...

In this energizing episode of Brighter Together, Dr. Kelly Coffin, Superintendent of Farmington Public Schools, takes us inside a school system that’s doing more than meeting expectations—they’re transforming them. From authentic learning and collaborative teaching models to meaningful transition programs that serve students with IEPs up to age 26, Dr. Coffin shares what it looks like to rethink K...