Leaders Learning From Leaders

In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, host Steve Barkley speaks with Dr. Elida MacArthur, Superintendent of the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District in East San Jose, California.  A leader who has served the same district for more than two decades, beginning as a kindergarten dual language immersion teacher, Dr. MacArthur offers a portrait of community-centered leadership grounded...

In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, host Steve Barkley speaks with Dr. Samuel Lee, superintendent of the Bensalem Township School District in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Dr. Lee, who has served in the role since 2015, reflects on more than a decade of district leadership, the relationships that sustain it, and the evolving demands facing public education today. Dr. Lee begins by desc...

Executive Summary In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, host Steve Barkley speaks with Dr. Nneka J. McGee, a leading voice at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and K–12 education. Dr. McGee shares her journey into AI, beginning with early exposure to computer science and culminating in her doctoral research on the role of AI in future-ready teaching and learning. She hig...

Podcast Summary In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, host Steve Barkley speaks with Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, superintendent of the Reading School District and former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education. Dr. Mumin reflects on his leadership journey, the challenges of leading an urban district, and his philosophy of empowering educators to believe in their influence on student success. Dr....

Podcast Summary In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, Dr. Cory Strasser, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Rapid City Area Schools in South Dakota, shares insights on leadership, organizational excellence, and creating opportunities for students in a diverse community. Rapid City Area Schools, South Dakota’s second-largest district, serves 12,000 students across 22 s...

About Dr. Patrick Keeley Dr. Patrick Keeley is a purpose-driven educational leader with over 20 years of experience focused on school culture, student voice, and whole-child support. He currently serves as superintendent of Mountain Empire Unified School District, following his tenure as principal of Mountain Empire High School—his alma mater—where he led major improvements in climate, culture, an...

About Dr. Brian Graham Dr. Brian Graham is in his ninth year as superintendent of the Grand Island Central School District, leading efforts to integrate emerging technologies and foster innovation in education. Prior to this role, he served as assistant superintendent of Pupil Personnel Services in the West Seneca Central School District. His career in educational leadership spans more than a deca...

About Dr. Deborah Wortham Dr. Deborah L. Wortham is a nationally recognized educator, author, and speaker with a distinguished career in educational leadership. A Chicago native, she has served as superintendent in multiple school districts, including Roosevelt Union Free School District, where she led the transition from state takeover to good standing. She was also the first African American fem...

About Superintendent Aníbal Soler, Jr. Anibal Soler, Jr. is a seasoned education leader with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools since May 1, 2024. He has a strong track record in urban districts, having previously led Schenectady and Batavia City School Districts. In Schenectady, he implemented a transformative community schools initiative, e...

Dr. Jim Lloyd, Superintendent of Olmsted Falls City School District, Ohio Dr. Steve McCammon, President and CEO of the Schlechty Center and Executive Director of the National Superintendents Roundtable George G. Thompson, former President and current Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Schlechty Center About the Panel Dr. Jim Lloyd has served as superintendent of Olmsted Falls School Distric...

About Dr. Edwin M. Quezada Dr. Edwin M. Quezada has dedicated nearly 35 years to education, holding roles from teacher to superintendent. He is currently the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders. As the former superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools, Dr. Quezada led the district to become New York's highest performing district among the Big Five (New York City, Yonkers...

About Dr. Wesley Smith Dr. Smith is superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. His 25 years in California public education include 17 years as a site or district leader and eight years as an educator and student advocate at the state and federal levels. Dr. Smith served as the executive director of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), which is the largest um...

Dr. Morris is proud to serve as Superintendent of the Olean City School District. She joined the district in July of 2022. A passionate advocate for providing high-quality education for all children, Dr. Morris has spent more than 30 years in education, dedicating her life to ensuring each child graduates from high school ready for college or a career. While pursuing that goal, she worked in varyi...

About Dr. Darren J. Brown-Hall Dr. Darren J. Brown-Hall was appointed Superintendent of the Williamsville Central School District effective July 1, 2021. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff for the Buffalo Public Schools. He has previously served as the Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, and for a short period of time as Interim Superintendent for the Buffalo Public Schools. D...

About Dr. Gennaro Piraino, Jr. Dr. Gennaro R. Piraino, Jr., is the Superintendent of Schools for the Franklin Regional School District. He leads with a strong commitment to academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. He finds great fulfillment in his role, particularly in collaborating with stakeholders and community partners to provide exceptional educational opportunities beyond the traditional...

About Dr. George Fiore   Dr. George F. Fiore is a veteran educational leader with over 25 years of experience. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Chester County Intermediate Unit in Downingtown, PA, a position he has held since 2019.  Dr. Fiore's diverse career includes roles as a teacher, dean of students, principal, district superintendent, and the founding headmaster of the hi...

About Dr. Sherri Smith Dr. Sherri Smith is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA). Before her time at PASA, she served as Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). Prior to providing leadership at the state level, Dr. Smith led the Lower Dauphin School District for 14 years as superinte...

About Dr. Gladys Cruz Dr. Gladys I. Cruz is the 2023 President of The School Superintendents Association (AASA) while maintaining a dual leadership role as the District Superintendent (DS) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Questar III Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).  As the District Superintendent, Dr. Cruz represents the NYS Commissioner of Education and is responsible f...

About Dr. Charles Dedrick Dr. Charles Dedrick, currently serving as the Executive Director at the New York State Council of School Superintendents (NYSCOSS), possesses a wealth of experience in education leadership. With over seven years in his current role, Chuck oversees the NYSCOSS’ operations, governance, and policy matters. He offers professional guidance, regional presentations, and fosters...

About Dr. Luvelle Brown Dr. Luvelle Brown is a highly accomplished educator with a diverse background in various educational roles. He currently serves as the Superintendent of the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) in Ithaca, New York, where he has overseen remarkable achievements during his tenure. Recognized as the 2017 New York State Superintendent of the Year, Luvelle Brown has received numer...

In this podcast episode, Steve Barkley interviews Dr. Jason Andrews, the superintendent of Windsor Central School District in New York State. He shares the importance of collaboration, high expectations, and support within the district. The conversation covers several key topics: Andrews describes the transformation of Windsor Central School District, including improvements in graduation rates, pe...

Kevin McGowan, Ed. D., is the Superintendent of the Brighton Central School District, a suburban district in Monroe County, New York. In addition to being highly ranked in New York State (NYS) and nationally, Brighton schools have been recognized as "Schools to Watch," Blue Ribbon award winners, and as a 2018 US News and World Report Gold Medal school. Throughout his work in each position, Dr. McG...