SSDA Soundwave Podcast

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon speaks with Kirk Koennecke , superintendent of the Indian Hill Exempted School District in Ohio and the 2023 National Superintendent of the Year. Kirk shares his approach to reimagining public education through mission-driven leadership, community engagement, and a culture rooted in excellence. He reflects on his district’s work to create a...

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon speaks with Lindsay K. Moore, Partner at Kingsley Bogard , a leading California education law firm serving small and rural districts. Lindsay breaks down the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor , a case centered on whether parents may opt their children out of classroom instruction that conflicts with their sincerely hel...

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon sits down with Nichelle Henderson , educator, mentor, community college trustee, and candidate for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. With nearly three decades in California classrooms and teacher preparation, Nichelle talks about the need to rethink how the state approaches student success, teacher support, and statewid...

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon talks with Michael Riemenschneider and Shin Green from EastShore Consulting about what small and rural districts need to know as they prepare for Proposition 2. Michael and Shin break down the basics of general obligation bonds, how tax bases and voter approval interact, and why market conditions and interest rates matter so much when distr...

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon talks with Richard Barrera, longtime trustee for San Diego Unified and candidate for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Richard reflects on his years in education and community leadership and shares his vision for addressing the deep disparities facing small and rural districts. The discussion explores facilities inequit...

On this episode of the SSDA Soundwave, host Yuri Calderon sits down with Josh Newman, former State Senator, past Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and current candidate for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Their conversation explores the challenges small and rural districts face in a system that often treats them the same as large urban schools, despite vastly differen...

Welcome to the SSDA Soundwave Podcast! In this second episode, we highlight key stories and updates from SSDA’s October 2025 newsletter. Tune in to hear what’s happening across California’s small and rural school districts, including updates from SSDA, member spotlights, and more. Listen now and stay connected!

In this debut episode, SSDA Executive Director Yuri Calderon and SSDA Senior Communications Specialist Gwen Bell break down the September Newsletter , sharing key legislative updates, stories from small and rural schools, and the valuable resources SSDA provides.