The So What Podcast

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Adriana Garza, Executive Director at Northside Independent School District, to explore what it takes to lead and support one of the largest districts in Texas. With over four decades in education, Adriana shares how the role of district leadership has evolved from oversight to active, on-the-grou...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Dr. Todd Cutler, Superintendent of Lake Tahoe Unified School District, to explore what it takes to lead in one of the most unique educational environments in the country. With more than 30 years in education, Dr. Cutler shares how leading a geographically isolated, tourism-driven community like L...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with David Wildy, Chief Technology Officer at Dublin Unified School District, to explore how technology is reshaping the way schools operate, teach, and make decisions. With responsibility for everything from network infrastructure to cybersecurity and instructional technology, David shares how the pa...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Joe Fagnant, Superintendent of RSU 29 and Executive Director of the Southern Aroostook Regional Service Center in Maine, to explore what it truly takes to lead transformation in a rural school system. With nearly three decades of experience in the same community, Joe shares how he has evolved fro...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Dr. Dani Scott, Superintendent of Pecatonica Area School District, to explore what it really takes to lead a small, rural district through today’s biggest challenges. With 30 years in public education and a background as a school psychologist, Dr. Scott brings a deeply human-centered approach to...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Dr. Michele Eller, Superintendent of Sylacauga City Schools, to unpack what it truly takes to turn data into meaningful change. With experience spanning classroom teaching to district leadership, Dr. Eller shares how she transformed her district from fragmented efforts into a cohesive, high-perfo...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Jason Neiffer, Executive Director of Montana Digital Academy, to unpack what it really takes to lead digital learning at scale in a rapidly evolving world. With nearly 30 years in education, Jason shares how Montana Digital Academy serves thousands of students across a geographically vast and rur...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Marie Hanna, Superintendent of Ohio Connections Academy, to explore what it takes to lead a fully online public school in a rapidly changing education landscape. With over four decades in education and nearly two decades in virtual learning, Marie shares how online education has evolved from basi...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Dr. Bobbie Trevino, Superintendent of Zapata County ISD, to explore what it really takes to drive change in a rural, high-need district. A proud graduate of the district she now leads, Dr. Trevino brings a deeply personal commitment to her work, balancing data-driven leadership with a relentless...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Rhett Ladner, Superintendent of Hancock County School District in Mississippi. With more than three decades in education—as a teacher, coach, principal, and now superintendent, Rhett brings a deeply human-centered approach to leadership, rooted in the belief that every student and educator must b...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Dana Addis, Superintendent of Hudson City Schools in Ohio, to explore how districts can go beyond academics to shape well-rounded, purpose-driven students. With over 30 years in education, from teacher and coach to superintendent, Dana shares how his journey shaped a leadership philosophy rooted...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Kodey Hughes, Superintendent of Juab School District in Utah, to explore what it really means to build a system around students, not the system itself. Serving a rural district of approximately 2,800 students, Kodey brings a deeply personal perspective to leadership. As a former special education...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Todd Cordrey, Superintendent of Eaton School District RE-2 in Colorado. With a unique background transitioning from finance and real estate into education, Todd brings a systems-driven mindset to school leadership, one that challenges traditional approaches and prioritizes intentional, repeatable...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi sits down with Desiree Kiesel, Director of Teaching and Learning at North Marion School District in Oregon. Serving a rural district of about 1,600 students located between Portland and Salem, Desiree works at the center of what Shweta calls the “messy middle” of education—where strategy, systems, and classroom practice intersect. Shweta a...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Christina Gibson, Superintendent of Eastpointe Community Schools in Michigan. Christina has spent more than a decade serving the Eastpointe community and now leads the district through one of its most complex periods of transformation, balancing curriculum reform, financial recovery, facilities i...

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Stoney Winston, Superintendent of Fruitland School District #373 in Idaho. Serving a rural district on the Oregon border, Stoney brings decades of experience working in Idaho schools and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for students through clear strategy and data-informed leadership. Shwe...

In the first episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Dr. Fred Rundle, Superintendent of Mercer Island School District in Washington. Dr. Rundle leads a district of six schools serving approximately 4,000 students and brings deep experience from across teaching, learning, and district leadership. Shweta and Fred explore what it takes to lead th...