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Ready or not, the start of the new school year is just around the corner. As educators and administrators prepare to start the new year off strong, top former and current female district leaders share their go-to sources for advice, inspiration, and continued learning.
Here’s a roundup of their top recommendations:
If you want to feel inspired…
“I’m obsessed right now with a podcast called Founders. It’s a gentleman who studies all of these hyper successful folks–from Jay-Z to Estee Lauder to Elon Musk–and chronicles their life and their habits to make them successful entrepreneurs. The moment that we’re in right now in education, it is a startup mode in terms of really thinking about the evolution of the system. So I spend a lot of time in places that probably aren’t education but to influence and push my thinking.”
—Kyla Johnson-Trammell, Superintendent Oakland Unified School District
“Obviously there’s lots of publications, articles, books that are out there. But when I’m looking for resources for support, for inspiration, I seek it out from the people I know and love and respect. They really help keep me going.”
—Susan Enfield, Former Superintendent Washoe County School District
If you want to enhance your leadership…
“Most recently I have dug into Elena Aguilar’s work with an all-inclusive membership. You can attend all of her workshops for a year to become a better coach, to become more reflective, a better listener. It gives me that kind of ‘filling my cup,’ ‘me time.’”
–Shanie Keelean, Deputy Superintendent, Rush-Henrietta Central School District
“I’ve been really interested in Amy Edminson’s work. I’ve just read her book called The Fearless Organization, which is about how creating psychological safety can create the right conditions for innovation. I love her model because it’s about distributing your leadership. Her work has been very instrumental to me in thinking about moving away from a very top-down to a shared leadership style.”
–Kathleen Skaels, Superintendent, North Colonie Central School District
“One of the books I read this year that has changed my life … is Multipliers. In education, we know when you’re at the top, it is very lonely, and we can’t do this work alone. Whether we’re looking to enhance reading for all students, including students with special needs, the reality is we cannot do it alone. So what we have to do is multiply that leadership, see the strength in people, and encourage and empower them to do the work that they know how to do best. When everyone is doing their best work and being authentic and walking in their power, it’s going to blossom.”
–Nerlande Anselme, Assistant Superintendent, Rush-Henrietta Central School District
If you want to expand your personal network…
“I absolutely would start with Women Leading Ed. The network is so large and just has done an incredible job of connecting women. I also think the Forum for Educational Leadership is an incredible place to start. It really just provides systems and support in a way that the network lives for you and that’s the goal.”
–Margaret Crespo, Former Superintendent, Laramie County School District
These interviews were conducted at the 2024 Women Leading Ed Summit as part of the Visionary Voices video series. It has been edited for clarity and brevity.
