I have an idea for you! Ask your students (or employees) to identify the country in Africa that speaks Spanish. If you get some quizzical faces, that is because when we celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, we often celebrate and share what we know from much more of a U.S. based experience. But there is a fascinating story behind that question. I encourage you to not only learn the name of that country, but find out how a language from so far away came to be the official language for the people in that nation in west central Africa. By the way, happy Hispanic Heritage month! The time period between mid September and mid October is when we celebrate the culture, history and stories of people from twenty-one different countries. If you don’t know why Hispanic Heritage is celebrated from mid month to mid month, there is another great trivia question!
In this edition of Under the Flamboyan I bring to you my conversation with Dr. Concie Pedroza, Superintendent of Tukwila Public Schools in Washington. In her third year as school superintendent, Concie reflects on her leadership, what Hispanic Heritage month means to her as the daughter of two migrant workers, and the rich and diverse stories of her students. I appreciate the hopefulness that Dr. Pedroza brings to others through her leadership.
I invite you to take advantage of other offerings in this newsletter including Tiana’s Wellness Corner – let’s keep ourselves moving and healthy! Also, don’t miss out on the Call-for-Proposals that is now open for our annual When Women Lead education summit in June 2026. We are receiving outstanding submissions, including a proposal for a four-state superintendent perspective on policy leadership. We will be prioritizing collaborative proposals, which aligns with our focus on powerful networks for equity and inclusivity.
I am so excited to announce that on October 16th our conference registration portal will open for the When Women Lead conference to be held on June 18-20, 2026 on the waterfront in Vancouver, Washington!
By the way, do you have a need for high quality, short-term support to accomplish a major strategic change initiative or to build up your internal leadership capacity to lead boldly and effectively? Voice4Equity has a team of former superintendents with deep experiences in public education that want to see you succeed. Tap into our expertise!
I will close by shouting out our first year women Superintendents, non profit Executive Directors, and those of you leading in new leadership seats! As Dr. Pedroza reminds us in her interview, there is no reason to ever lead alone. In friendship, reach out to us. You are amazing!
With Love,
Christina and the Voice4Equity Network
