May 2025 | DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO
With a career spanning classrooms to commissioner’s offices, Dr. Brenda Cassellius is a nationally recognized education leader committed to equity, student voice, and transformative change. From her early years as a teacher and principal to her leadership as Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education and superintendent in Boston and now Milwaukee, Dr. Cassellius has consistently championed underserved communities. A visionary grounded in lived experience, she brings heart, courage, and deep policy expertise to the work of uplifting students and families.
Enjoy the conversation with Dr. Kishimoto and Superintendent Dr. Brenda Cassellius below.
The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.
Dr. Christina Kishimoto (Host):
Good morning, I’m Dr. Christina Kishimoto, CEO of Voice for Equity, and welcome to the May 2025 edition of The Stories We Must Tell. Across the country, we have incredible stories of women leading with impact, and I’m thrilled to be joined today by Dr. Brenda Cassellius. She’s led in Memphis, Minneapolis, Boston, and now Milwaukee. Welcome, Dr. Cassellius!
Dr. Brenda Cassellius:
Thank you, Dr. Kishimoto. It’s so good to see my old friend again!
Dr. Kishimoto:
It’s great to be with you. And what better way to spend a Saturday morning than catching up and talking about the important work ahead. It’s been a joy to watch your career evolve—and to collaborate, like we recently did presenting on AI. It’s a reminder of the power of national connection among women leaders.
Dr. Cassellius:
Absolutely. Women leaders need spaces to connect. What you’re building with Voice for Equity is so important—and I’m proud of you for launching it.
Dr. Kishimoto:
Thank you, Dr. Cassellius. I’m proud of you, too, for stepping back into the superintendency. But before we talk about Milwaukee, I’d love for you to share more about your personal story—growing up in public housing and how that’s shaped your leadership.
Dr. Cassellius:
I come from a rich, though challenging, background. My mother had my sister at 16 and raised us largely as a single parent in public housing. My father, though not always present, came from an educated African American family—his parents were professors at Florida A&M, and my grandfather, Melvin Alston, was president of the Negro Teachers Union in 1939. Thurgood Marshall was his friend and lawyer. That legacy has deeply inspired my commitment to education.
