Bold Women Collective Backstory

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Dr. Monica Kelsey-Brown, Superintendent of Waunakee Community School District, for an honest conversation about leadership, confidence, and knowing your value. Coming from a family of educators, Dr. Kelsey-Brown shares how her roots and the mentors who guided her shaped her journey from classroom to district leadership...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Julia Fallon, Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), for a candid conversation about equity, educational technology, and the leadership required to create inclusive learning experiences. Together, they explore how technology can either expand opportunity or widen gaps — de...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Dr. Katrina Lewis of Meteor Education for an inspiring conversation about how education fuels leadership, innovation, and opportunity — especially in the evolving world of educational technology. Dr. Lewis shares how her journey from the classroom to edtech leadership shaped her commitment to advocacy, access, and stud...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, host Jolene Levin sits down with Jennifer Womble, Program Chair of FETC, for a forward-thinking conversation about artificial intelligence, bold leadership, and the future of learning. As AI rapidly reshapes education, Jennifer shares how school and district leaders can move beyond fear and uncertainty to embrace innovation with intention. Togeth...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Neda Anasseri from OTAN (Outreach and Technical Assistance Network) for a powerful conversation about adult education, equity, and leading with purpose. Neda shares how her parents’ journey as immigrants shaped her deep commitment to expanding access and opportunity through education. Witnessing their struggles fueled...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, host Jolene Levin sits down with Dr. Tammy Andreyko, Superintendent of Quaker Valley School District, for an honest conversation about emotional intelligence, authentic leadership, and the strength of sensitivity. Together, they explore how being sensitive doesn’t make a leader weak — it makes them real. Dr. Andreyko reflects on the mentors who s...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Erika Robichaux, educator with Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District, for a heartfelt conversation about teaching as a calling and leading with purpose in the classroom. Erika shares how answering the call to teach has shaped her journey of growth, resilience, and community impact. Together, they explore why...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Linda Gail Walker, Executive Director of Innovation & Impact at Meteor Education and author of Surviving the Storm: Leading Through Post-Traumatic Growth, for a powerful conversation about intentional leadership, resilience, and purposeful change. Together, they explore how making deliberate decisions — especially...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory , hosts Jolene Levin, Dr. Deb Kerr, and Darlene Akers sit down with Susan Jackson-Lee, Founder of Field2Future Consulting , for a thoughtful conversation about mentorship, resilience, and staying the course in leadership. Together, they explore how mentorship shapes strong leaders, why perseverance matters in uncertain seasons, and the powerful tr...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, recorded live at Spring CUE 2025, Jolene Levin sits down with Lindsey Blass, Group Manager of the Global Education Community at Adobe, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, growth, and leading with purpose. Lindsey shares how overcoming personal and professional challenges shaped her journey from the classroom to global education leader...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin and Dr. Deb Kerr sit down with Future Cain, M.Ed., Certified Culture Facilitator and Speaker, for a powerful conversation about women’s wellness, mental health, and sustainable leadership. Future shares her deep commitment to supporting students’ and educators’ well-being — and why women leaders must “fill their own buckets” before p...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin sits down with Traci Bonde, District Administrator at Santa Clara Unified and CUE board member, for a meaningful conversation about building true culture in schools. Together, they explore what it takes to create supportive, inclusive environments where both educators and students can thrive. From prioritizing educator wellness to fo...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, Jolene Levin and Dr. Deb Kerr sit down with Kristi Wilson and Susan Enfield, authors of On Fire, Under Fire, or Fired: Superintendents in the Pandemic, for a compelling conversation about crisis leadership and the human side of superintendency during COVID-19. Drawing from the personal stories featured in their book, Kristi and Susan explore what...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, recorded at the Spring CUE Conference, Jolene Levin sits down with Rae Fearing, M.S., Director of Programs at CUE, for a forward-thinking conversation about educational technology, innovation, and empowering educators to lead change. Together, they explore how technology and bold instructional strategies are reshaping today’s classrooms. Rae shar...

In this episode of Bold Women Collective Backstory, recorded at the AASA National Conference, Jolene Levin sits down with Pam Dempsey, Director of Partnerships at Equalis Group, for an inspiring conversation about courage, education leadership, and creating opportunity through strategic partnerships. Pam shares how her passion for education and empowerment shaped her path into the industry — and h...