The Stronger Podcast

The Stronger Podcast host, Mike Montoya, looks ahead to the future of school leadership, unpacking why the next hiring cycles will define whether schools stabilize or continue to struggle with turnover and burnout. In this episode, Mike reflects on what’s coming in 2026 and beyond for K–12 education, with a sharp focus on hiring season and leadership trends. Drawing on years of experience placing...

From community organizer to education equity leader, Michelle Vilchez shares her journey of empowering parents and transforming schools, helping families of color advocate for meaningful educational change while addressing systemic disparities across California. Michelle Vilchez, CEO of Innovate Public Schools, has spent decades amplifying family voices to ensure Black and Brown students access hi...

From reimagining neighborhood schools to coaching leaders through liberation and change, Malka Borrego shares how authenticity, proximity to community, and systems-level leadership can transform education and the people within it. Malka Borrego is a third-generation Angeleno, proud Latina, and longtime public education leader whose work has reshaped educational access in Los Angeles. She is the fo...

From educator to nonprofit leader, Cathy shares her journey of transforming education and community engagement, helping Bexar County’s youth access post-secondary opportunities while empowering women leaders and cultivating meaningful partnerships. Cathy recently joined Up Partnership in San Antonio as a leader of a nonprofit backbone network supporting the Future Ready Plan, a bold initiative aim...

From Watts to leading a national education movement, Sharhonda Bossier shares her journey of championing educational equity and economic mobility for young people of color while redefining leadership with purpose and authenticity. Sharhonda Bossier, CEO of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC), has dedicated her career to uplifting Black and Latino students and supporting talented leaders of color in...

From first-grade helper to transformative education leader, Clarisse Mendoza Davis shares her journey of serving underserved youth and reshaping early childhood and alternative education with compassion, vision, and equity at the core. Clarisse currently leads the See Forever Foundation and Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools as CEO, overseeing programs that serve over 1,000 justice-involved and o...

From Seattle classrooms to federal policy halls, Jessica de Barros shares her journey of championing equity in education, showing how a lifelong commitment to access and opportunity can reshape communities and systems. Jessica, a Seattle native and seasoned educational leader, has devoted her career to dismantling barriers to student success. From her early days working for U.S. Senator Patty Murr...

From charting pathways for thousands of students to reimagining what true opportunity looks like, Daniel Gray shares a blueprint for reshaping how young people discover their futures with clarity and confidence. In this episode, Mike is joined by Daniel Gray, Deputy Chief for College, Career, and Military Readiness at Houston Independent School District. Known for his leadership in scaling college...

From rural classrooms to leading a mission-driven nonprofit, Kat Ling shares her journey of transforming education and leadership, cultivating inclusive communities, and empowering leaders to innovate for youth most on the margins. Kat Ling is the CEO of Moonshot, where she leads a team of ten staff and an alumni network of over 100 education leaders. Known for her expertise in education, leadersh...

From corporate consultant to education changemaker, Helen Chan shares her journey of transforming disillusionment into purpose, using her talent expertise to build joyful, equitable schools where both children and adults can thrive. Helen Chan’s career began in international education after graduating from Brown University, working with the World Bank’s nonprofit partner World Links to bring techn...

From Osaka to Oakland, Rich Harrison’s journey bridges continents and classrooms, revealing how one educator’s global upbringing shaped his vision for more equitable, community-rooted public schools. Born and raised in Japan to parents who met at UC Berkeley, Rich grew up immersed in Japanese culture before moving to the U.S. as a teenager. His early experiences navigating two languages and educat...