With nearly 30 years of experience in education, Superintendent Herrera has made the transition from the classroom to administration, a change that was inspired by her predecessor and the work they accomplished. Herrera’s main goal is to advocate for excellence and equity in education.
Enjoy the conversation with Dr. Kishimoto and Superintendent Herrera below.
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The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Kishimoto
Welcome to The Stories We Must Tell. I’m Dr. Christina Kishimoto, and today I’m joined by Superintendent Gisselle Herrera from the Tolleson Elementary School District in Arizona. Welcome!
Superintendent Herrera
Thank you, Dr. Kishimoto. It’s an honor to be here, and I truly appreciate the opportunity.
Dr. Kishimoto
I’m so excited to sit down with you! I know how busy you are, and there’s so much amazing work happening at Tolleson Elementary. But first, let’s talk about your recent transition into the superintendency. You’ve been with the district for 17 years, so you’re an internal hire. How’s the transition been?
Superintendent Herrera
Thank you! Yes, I’ve been with the Tolleson Elementary School District for 17 years, and it’s been a joy. We’re a medium-sized district with four schools and 2,800 students. I’ve loved every role I’ve had here, and now in my new role as superintendent, it’s been a smooth transition. I had the privilege of working closely with our former superintendent, Dr. Hightower, to develop a transition plan. I was able to shadow her and learn the systems, which made the shift much easier. We spent months collaborating, so when I officially took over in December, I felt well-prepared. I’m grateful for this unique opportunity.
Dr. Kishimoto
Your transition plan sounds amazing! Having that much lead time and working with the outgoing superintendent is ideal, but not always the reality. Now that you’re in the superintendency, what’s the biggest shift for you day-to-day?
Superintendent Herrera
That’s a great question. It’s hard to describe, but it’s similar to when I transitioned from the classroom to leadership. I thought I knew everything, but then you start seeing things from a new perspective. The intensity of the role hit me especially after January 1st. It’s a big responsibility, but it’s also an incredible honor to serve the community. The shift has been both challenging and rewarding.
Dr. Kishimoto
Absolutely. Leading a public school system is much more complex than it often appears. You’ve clearly thought a lot about your priorities for the next year or two. Can you share one or two that are most important to you?
Superintendent Herrera
One of my first actions was to review our five-year strategic plan, which I helped develop. We’re halfway through it, so I took a moment to reassess and ask questions. We have four priority goals, ensuring high-quality education for students, supporting students’ social and emotional well-being, recruiting, supporting, and developing staff, and engaging families.
While we’ve made great strides, I wanted to pause, gather feedback through surveys, and have one-on-one conversations with staff and board members. We’ll refine our strategies based on that input, but the core goals will remain the same.
Dr. Kishimoto
You recently attended a technology and innovation conference in Phoenix. As an elementary district, how are you thinking about appropriate innovations and engagement for your students, especially before they move to secondary school?
Superintendent Herrera
We’re fortunate to be a one-to-one district, providing technology for students from early grades through eighth grade. However, we’re always looking to improve. We’ve been planning for next year and are focused on enhancing STEM education across all schools. We’ve recently changed job descriptions to clarify expectations for STEM teachers, and we’re looking into partnerships with other districts to learn from their successes. We want to make sure we build on what’s working and tailor it to fit our district’s needs.
Dr. Kishimoto
That sounds fantastic. Arizona is full of colleagues doing great work in the STEM space, and it’s exciting to see you all moving forward together. Beyond Arizona, how are you thinking about networking and collaboration with colleagues in other states? How do you manage time to engage with those innovation spaces?
Superintendent Herrera
Collaboration is essential. I lead through collaboration, ensuring we gather diverse perspectives to avoid blind spots. Networks are more important than ever, especially since the pandemic, when we learned that we couldn’t survive without supporting one another. We’re learning from each other—whether it’s about technology, teaching methods, or innovations like AI. While every state and district has its unique challenges, we can always learn from others. People are so generous with their knowledge, and I believe these networks will continue to be vital as we adapt to new technologies and practices.
Dr. Kishimoto
The potential of AI is certainly a hot topic right now. It’s invigorating to think about how it can improve teaching, learning, and efficiency. But with all the uncertainty in federal policies, how are you and the board staying flexible and planning for changes?
Superintendent Herrera
We stay grounded in our district’s mission to ensure every child gets what they need, with equity at the forefront. Our board supports this mission, and we continue to apply the Kids at Hope philosophy—specifically the belief that all children are capable of success, no exceptions. Despite the noise and uncertainty, we remain focused on that. We’re having tough conversations, especially around budgeting and potential policy shifts. We’ll keep working with our staff and networks to stay informed and adaptable as federal policies evolve.
Dr. Kishimoto
It’s definitely a challenging time, but it’s inspiring to hear about your leadership and vision for the future. Thank you for your dedication to providing quality education for all students. Your work is so important, and we’re lucky to have leaders like you in the field.
Superintendent Herrera
Thank you, Dr. Kishimoto. I truly appreciate your kind words.
