Julian Fitzgerald

The District Dialogue

Education EN ↓ 5 episodes

Welcome to the District Dialogue podcast, where we explore how educators, technologists, and youth advocates are opening new doors in STEM, digital media, and esports. Each episode, we dive into conversations with the people reimagining career and technical education—leaders who are turning interest into impact and helping underserved students turn passion into future-ready careers.

Author

Julian Fitzgerald

Episodes

How Hands-On Learning Transforms Students | Chris Wood, SFUSD 03.02.2026 46:47

In this episode of District Dialogue, host Julian Fitzgerald sits down with Chris Wood, Career Technical Instructor for San Francisco Unified School District. A former residential remodeler turned educator, Chris has spent years building a construction trades pathway at John O’Connell High School that connects carpentry skills with real-world projects, union jobs, and community impact. From tiny h...

AI, Cybersecurity & Equity: A CTO’s Playbook for Modern Schools 16.01.2026 55:17

In this episode of District Dialogue, host Julian Fitzgerald sits down with David Wildy, Chief Technology Officer for Dublin Unified School District in California. With experience spanning higher education and K–12, David shares how districts can keep learning first while navigating 1:1 devices, AI adoption, cybersecurity, and equitable tech access. From managing phishing threats to empowering te...

Redefining Success: Career, College, and Community at Dover Area School District 11.11.2025 46:28

In this episode, host Julian Fitzgerald sits down with Emily Miller, the newly appointed Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania. With a unique background spanning corporate America, classroom teaching, and now CTE leadership, Emily shares her passion for creating real-world pathways to success for students of all ambitions. From the urgent de...

Building Opportunity: How CTE Connects Students, Industry, and Community in East Texas 04.11.2025 1:03:20

In this episode of District Dialogue, host Julian Fitzgerald connects with Shawn Lucena, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Nacogdoches Independent School District in Texas. Shawn shares his unconventional path into education, complete with setbacks, resilience, and rediscovering his calling in a school library, and how those lived experiences now fuel his leadership in building c...

Breaking the Mold: How CTE Is Rewiring the Future of Education 29.10.2025 51:45

In the first episode of District Dialogue , host Julian Fitzgerald sits down with Kali Beach, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Pitt County Schools in North Carolina. With roots in agricultural education and a career built on bridging students to real-world opportunities, Kali brings a refreshingly candid and future-focused perspective to what modern career education should look...