Superintendents Unplugged

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Lamar Goree, the newly appointed superintendent of Duncanville ISD and a nationally recognized transformative leader in education. Dr. Goree shares his journey from leading Caddo Parish Public Schools in Louisiana—where he implemented groundbreaking initiatives that improved graduation rates, academic excellence,...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Erika Mitchell, Chair of the Atlanta Public Schools (APS) Board of Education, for an in-depth discussion on leadership, equity, and the challenges of serving a dynamic urban school district. Mitchell, who has served on the APS Board since 2018, shares candid reflections on her journey, the highs and lows of board serv...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged , host and Strategos Partner Addison Davis sits down with veteran educator Melindo Persi, President of MAP Educational Consultants, to discuss his remarkable 69-year career in education. From his early days as a teacher to his swift rise to superintendent after just seven years in the classroom, Persi shares an extraordinary journey shaped by leadership...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with Jeff Patterson, the visionary CEO and founder of Gaggle, a leading provider of student safety solutions. Patterson shares the inspiring journey of launching Gaggle in 1998 as a secure student email provider and how it evolved into a critical tool for monitoring and preventing self-harm, cyberbullying, violence, and oth...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Marty Pollio, the outgoing Superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) in Kentucky. Dr. Pollio, a dedicated educator with over 26 years of service to JCPS, reflects on his transformative journey in education. Appointed Superintendent in 2018, he shares his efforts to reshape the district, from enhanci...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, Addison Davis interviews Dr. Mark Shanoff, the newly appointed Superintendent of the School District of Osceola County. Dr. Shanoff brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as Chief Information Officer in Orange County Public Schools and Chief Operating Officer in Volusia County Schools. His multifaceted background gives him a unique per...

In this episode of Superintendent Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Francisco Durán, Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, for an insightful discussion on leadership, equity, and the evolving landscape of education. With over 31 years of experience in public education, Dr. Durán shares his journey from Philadelphia to Arlington, detailing his passion for student success and t...

In this episode of Superintendent Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Demetrus Liggins, Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools, for a candid and inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, and the future of education. Dr. Liggins, who has dedicated his career to breaking barriers and creating opportunities for students, shares his journey from an aspiring English pr...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, In-depth with Davis, your host Addison Davis dives into an enlightening conversation with Jeremy Calles, the forward-thinking superintendent of Tolleson Union High School District. Having transitioned from the role of CFO to superintendent in July 2023, Jeremy brings a unique perspective and innovative approach to tackling the challenges of educational...

In Superintendents Unplugged hosted by Strategos Partner Addison Davis, we dive deep into the transformative work happening in Park City School District with Superintendent Dr. Jill Gildea. Known for her innovative leadership and commitment to fostering a thriving culture for students and staff, Dr. Gildea shares her visionary approach to education and her efforts to prepare learners for a dynamic...

In Superintendents Unplugged, host and Strategos Partner Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Peter Finch, Superintendent of the West Valley School District in Washington State, to discuss innovative approaches to educational leadership, early learning, and workforce development. Dr. Finch shares insights into his district’s commitment to fostering a growth mindset and continuous improvement—principle...

In this episode of Superintendent Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Lori Gonzalez, Superintendent of Lamont Elementary School District, to discuss how she’s transforming education through community engagement, student empowerment, and holistic support. With over two decades of experience as a teacher, administrator, and district leader, Dr. Gonzalez shares her journey in fostering...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis, a former superintendent and current Strategos Partner, discusses the intersection of education and innovation with Jennifer Ferrari, CEO and President of the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI). Jennifer shares her journey from classroom teacher to district leader and now CEO, providing a behind-the-scenes look at ho...

In this episode of Superintendent Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Baninder Goomer , Chief Academic Officer of Edison Township Public Schools, to discuss the evolving landscape of education, leadership, and student engagement. Goomer, whose journey into education was shaped by a lineage of passionate educators, shares her unique perspective on fostering academic excellence while navig...

In this episode of Superintendent Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Scott Menzel, Superintendent of Scottsdale Unified School District 48, to discuss leadership, educational equity, and navigating the evolving challenges of public education. Dr. Menzel, a 22-year veteran in district leadership, shares his journey from Michigan to Arizona and how his nontraditional path into educati...

In this episode of Superintendent Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with one of the most influential figures in K-12 education, Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Broadcasting from the Council of the Great City Schools annual conference, Davis and Carvalho engage in a thought-provoking discussion on transformational leadership, system-wide in...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis interviews Dr. Justin Henry, Superintendent of Goddard Public Schools in Kansas. Dr. Henry, who has led the district since 2011, shares his experience overseeing one of the state’s fastest-growing school districts, now serving over 6,200 students. With a focus on community engagement and strong school-board relationships, he highligh...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged , host and Strategos Partner Addison Davis sits down with David Law, the superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools in Minnesota and the incoming president of AASA, The School Superintendents Association. With over 11 years of experience as a superintendent in Minnesota, Law has become a respected leader in educational innovation, equity, and community...

In this inspiring episode of Superintendents Unplugged , host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Gladys I. Cruz, District Superintendent of Questar III BOCES, to explore the transformative power of educational leadership and innovation. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Cruz has been at the forefront of pioneering initiatives that reshape how students engage with learning. Dr. Cruz shares insigh...

In this episode of "Superintendents Unplugged" , hosts Addison Davis and Todd Dallas Lamb sit down with Martha K. Group , Superintendent of the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (VVS) Central School District in New York. With 26 years in the district—13 as Chief Academic Officer and 13 as Superintendent—Group shares her insights on fostering a thriving educational environment through consistent leadership, i...

In this episode, Davis chats with the remarkable Erin Kane, Superintendent of Douglas County School District in Colorado. Kane, who transitioned from a career in data science to educational leadership through an unexpected journey of passion and perseverance, discusses how she transformed her district. You'll hear about her success in starting a high-achieving charter school, her strategic priorit...

For our first episode of 2025, we are privileged to have Dr. Caprice Young from Navigator Schools as our guest. Dr. Young's remarkable career spans from her roots in a foster home and careers in finance and technology to influential roles on the Los Angeles school board and in charter school leadership. She will share her insights on creating effective early childhood education programs, the uniqu...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged: In-Depth with Davis, host Addison Davis engages in an insightful discussion with Ryan Gupta, Superintendent of Fairfield Public Schools in New Jersey. With over 28 years of experience as an educator and leader, Gupta brings a unique perspective to the challenges and opportunities of modern educational leadership. The conversation explores Gupta’s innov...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Don Haddad, Superintendent of St. Vrain Valley Schools, to explore the strategic vision and leadership practices defining his 16-year tenure. With nearly four decades in education, Dr. Haddad shares how his unwavering commitment to public education and a strong sense of purpose has sustained his career through evol...

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis welcomes Dr. Jane Stavem, Superintendent of Sioux Falls School District, to discuss her career journey and her approach to innovative district leadership. Dr. Stavem, who has led the Sioux Falls School District since 2020, shares insights into her 30+ years in education, touching on her diverse experiences from teaching in Saint Paul...