A Well Remembered Past, Keeps Us Connected in the Present
A Well Remembered Past Keeps Us Connected in the Present
Happy New Year! As we take our first steps into 2026, we are left with vivid life-changing memories from 2025. These memories have nothing to do with news, policies, politics or work that often consume our waking thoughts as educational leaders. The life-changing memories that we carry forward into the new year come from the people that matter most to us and the beautiful people that unexpectedly crossed our path and touched us with their humanity. This transition into a new calendar year is an opportunity to not rush ahead, but rather to take time to get better at being fully present each day for the people around you and to value our time together.
In this January edition of Under the Flamboyan, we provide a recap of the stories shared in 2025, and introduce you to another great colleague, Dr. Maria Lucero, a leader in the Yakima School District in Washington. These stories are an encouraging reminder of the committed leaders impacting public education across our country! I invite you to revisit the moments shared by them in their interviews as they weave professional perspectives with personal narratives. Their stories reflect the issues of our times, while being personal and vulnerable, a reflection of the trust that is so important to our network.
Many of these leaders attend our annual When Women Lead education summit, a unique space to share our stories with one another and to develop our leadership acumen. Be part of this powerful network by registering your team to convene with national thought leaders on June 18-20, 2026 on the Columbia River Waterfront in Vancouver, Washington at the beautiful AC Hotel.
Our network of courageous women leading in executive leadership include the following colleagues that we sat down with in 2025 who shared the following wise counsel and beliefs on a variety of topics. If you want to revisit any of their interviews, listen in on our Voice4Equity YouTube channel.
AI and Computer Science Opportunities for Marginalized Students
“One of the skills we want to empower our students in our community with is AI and computer science, because computer science leads into advanced technologies. What we’ve been doing is setting up labs so that kids have hands-on experiences with computer science, with technology, and with AI, so that they are ahead of the game, so that they enter middle school and high school ready to go. As you know, most of our students of color, most of our students who are affected by poverty, most of our students who are marginalized, they do not get those opportunities. So, we want to be one of those schools that provides those opportunities.”
-Dr. Brione Minor-Mitchell, Principal, Cunningham School, Clark County School District-
Intentional Equity of Access Approaches for Girls
“It’s important for our girls—and all students—to see role models like me in leadership positions, demonstrating that these careers are accessible to them. Additionally, I’ve been working on initiatives like the Girls Policy Network, where we take our young women to Washington, D.C., to meet their congressional representatives and senators. It’s all about empowering them to use their voices, understand policy, and get a firsthand look at how decisions are made. This kind of civic engagement is crucial for them to see that they can impact the world around them, especially in policy and leadership spaces.”
-Dr. Marnie Hazelton, Superintendent, Englewood Public Schools-
Collaboration, Networking and Avoiding Blindspots
“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.”
-Gisselle Herrera, Superintendent, Tolleson Elementary School District-
Adaptability While Remaining Centered on Students and Community
“Politics and policy are always changing, and we have to adapt. As leaders, our focus must remain on what’s best for students. For me, it’s about ensuring access and opportunity, even if the path to achieving those goals changes. We’re working with legislators to address rising costs and advocating for increased funding for special education services. While federal policies affect us, our primary goal is to stay focused on serving our community’s needs, even as resources shift.”
-Heather Tow-Yick, Superintendent, Issaquah School District-
Scaling Through Powerful Partnerships and Policy
“What absolutely scales is partnership—whether you’re a teacher or state commissioner, building relationships with civic leaders, businesses, and philanthropy is crucial. Also, always center both children and families. Stabilizing families improves student success. What often doesn’t scale well is underestimating the role of policy. I’ve learned that using policy to build political will is one of the most powerful tools a superintendent can have. It’s a critical but overlooked skill.”
-Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent, Milwaukee Public Schools-
Be Bold – Innovate When Solutions Are Not Available
“I’m looking at how all of these things work in using research for solution setting, and we need more data, we need variability, to create outstanding robust models for students. And I thought, how interesting because students that have learning differences have huge variability and this can be wonderful if I could take a prototype, apply higher level technical solutions and come out with something awesome for students and parents. And so I did!”
-Dr. Antoinette Banks, CEO, Expert IEP-
When Political Challenges Disrupt Equity of Access, Stay Focused
“One issue was supporting families from different countries. We revised district policy to make sure the language clearly communicated that our schools are safe, welcoming places. We also trained staff on how to respond in situations where outside parties might seek access to students. It was about reassuring families that their children could learn and thrive with us.”
-Dr. Susana Reyes, Superintendent, Shoreline Public Schools-
Honoring Students’ Authentic Voices and Stories
“Our students are vocal. Our student advisory board wrote a statement to teachers about cultural responsiveness, representation, and well-being. They even presented it at our staff kickoff! They want educators who see them and understand their identities. One student once said, “I am excellence!” That really struck me—reminding us that excellence isn’t only about role models out there, but about honoring the brilliance within our students. That’s why we’ve invited them to share their own stories.”
-Dr. Concie Pedroza, Superintendent, Tukwila Public Schools-
Cutting Through the Political Noise
“No one goes into education for politics — but you quickly learn that policy impacts everything we do. We’re navigating federal, state, and local systems that don’t always align. I didn’t expect that part of the job to be so consuming, but it’s become a big piece of our work — from funding and legislation to community expectations and social media. I’ve had to learn how to communicate policy in a way that connects with people’s values. What helps me is coming back to my “why.” I got into education for kids — all kids. That’s the moral imperative that keeps me steady. When policy or politics gets complicated, I ask, “What’s best for students?” That question cuts through the noise every time.”
Dr. Alexa Allman, Superintendent, Deer Park School District-
Advice for Leaders New to Executive Leadership
“Two quotes guide me. When I transitioned from K–12 to higher ed, a mentor told me: Big ships weren’t built to stay in harbor. You must have the courage to set sail. Leadership requires leaving what’s comfortable. The second is attributed to Theodore Roosevelt: Smooth seas never made a strong sailor. Leadership comes with turbulence—unfair attacks, challenges you don’t deserve. You must navigate with integrity and resilience. You can’t silence your life out of fear. So: Leave the harbor, but be prepared for the storm.”
Dr. Kimberly McLeod, President, NABSE
In closing, I encourage you to consider how your leadership is also connected to your personal health and wellness. So be sure to enjoy another great yoga video as part of our Wellness Corner led by yogi Tiana Hill. Have a great 2026!
Dr. Christina DeJesus Kishimoto
