Ready or not, November is here! You have survived enrollment count revisions, budget adjustments, the first rounds of SSTs, have made adjustments to your strategic plan, and you are elbow deep preparing data reports. While life balance is elusive for education leaders, I hope that you took time to watch an exciting World Series with two great teams – I got to watch the final game at a pub in Canada! We all need to make time for some fun 😀The fall semester is packed with lots of work events and responsibilities each year, but our families and friends need us to be present with them too. 

I recently had a discussion with colleagues about the tensions that exist in our work, particularly at this time in our history. Exploring and discussing tensions is a good way to try to make sense of the contradictions between the politics of these times in the United States, and the desire for equity-centered education policies that put students, families and communities first. Ask yourself, Do I have a diverse network of professional colleagues to help me see through conflicting perspectives? Am I experiencing contradictions in my day to day work that feel insurmountable? Voice4Equity offers targeted strategy support and culturally responsive policy leadership training to help facilitate the difficult internal conversations and priority setting for your leadership team. We are a team of highly experienced leaders here for you.

There is so much for you in this issue, whether you are a woman leading in one of our nation’s school districts or if you are an ally engaging with us to create viable leadership pathways for the women in your organization. In this issue, I am excited to introduce you to Dr. Alexa Allman of Deer Park Schools, one of our nation’s amazing rural superintendents. Listen to her interview for the throughline between her upbringing and how she chooses to lead. Hear the tensions that she draws upon as she talks about leadership, family, and community. Also, our conference planning committee invites you to register for the 2026 When Women Lead education summit in Vancouver, Washington. If you haven’t attended this policy conference, you are missing out on something special! Our conference sessions are led by women leading in the superintendent seat, Cabinet members, and school Principals. The conference provides many networking opportunities from school and policy design sessions, to dinner on the Columbia River Waterfront, to hiking in one of the many gorgeous pacific northwest lake parks. Also, take advantage of our Executive Coaching Program for women leaders. Coaching is about honing and advancing our leadership practice by being in community with top experts. Finally, let me encourage you to take advantage of our Wellness Corner with Tiana Hill on our YouTube Channel. We love getting your messages about how you are enjoying the meditations and yoga sessions to support your wellness. 

Let me close by reiterating that leadership is not a solo sport. It is important to have a strong go-to network of trusted leaders – at Voice4Equity, we play that critical role for you.  So call upon us, and connect with a powerful network of leaders! 

With Love,

Christina and the Voice4Equity Network

NOVEMBER 2025 | DR. CHRISTINA KISHIMOTO

Enjoy the conversation with Dr. Kishimoto and Dr. Allman below.

The following transcript has been edited for length and clarity.

Dr. Christina Kishimoto (Host):

Hello everyone, it’s Dr. Christina Kishimoto, and welcome to Under the Flamboyan. I’m so excited to be joined today by Dr. Alexa Allman, Superintendent of the Deer Park School District in eastern Washington. Alexa, it’s great to have you here.

Dr. Alexa Allman:
Thank you so much, Christina. I’m happy to be here. Deer Park is about 20 to 25 miles north of Spokane. We’re on the east side of the state, separated from western Washington by the Cascade Mountains. On our side, we get all four seasons — hot summers, cold winters, and right now, a beautiful fall. It’s rural — lots of farmland, space, and a close-knit community.

The Third-Year Perspective

Dr. Kishimoto:
You’re now in your third year as superintendent. How does this year feel compared to the first two?

Dr. Allman:
It’s different in the best way. The first two years are all about listening and learning. By year three, you’ve built relationships, clarified your vision, and now it’s time to implement. We’ve set our goals and are holding each other accountable to reach them.

You also start to feel more grounded — your board knows you, your staff knows you, and you know your community. There’s a confidence that comes from understanding the people and the rhythm of the work.

A Small District with Big Spirit

Dr. Kishimoto:
Tell us about your students and the culture of Deer Park.

Dr. Allman:
We’re a small district of about 2,700 students, and because of that, our kids do so many things. They’re busy — and they’re deeply involved in the community. The opportunities they have compared to what I had growing up are amazing.

They’re at school from early morning until late at night, whether it’s FFA, DECA, sports, or other activities. The chances for students to engage outside the regular school day are phenomenal, and they take advantage of every one of them. When I hear what they’re involved in, I’m amazed — and I often say, “How do you fit academics into your day?”

The 2026 When Women Lead Planning Committee is excited to invite you to the Vancouver, Washington Waterfront for our next women in leadership convening. We have a great line up of presenters, sessions and activities planned that will inspire and reinvigorate you in your leadership as you continue to advance the work of public education on behalf of our nation’s children and youth. Register with your colleagues today and ensure your place at this special event! Also, look out for information about our Equity Warrior Annual Award. We are grateful to Dr. Alicia Thompson for Chairing the 2026 Award Committee. 

Have you ever considered an executive coach? The role of an executive coach is to help advance your leadership decision-making skills by providing a safe environment to confidentially discuss your approach to leadership, including topics such as:

• how you approach difficult decisions, 
• what you bring to decision-making in terms of your mindset, biases and perspectives,
• how you present yourself, your work, and the priorities of your organization,
• how you strategically advance your student-centered priorities with buy-in, 
• where you are experiencing push back from your team or community, 
• how to work through contradictions between your values and what you are being asked to do, 
• how to hone your strategic mindset for equity and justice based decision-making, 
• how you address identity-based tensions in leadership, and
• how to fully leverage your positional power for positive impact as a leader.

You set the focus and agenda, with your coach serving as a highly experienced guide. The coaching relationship allows you to explore how you want to lead in education at this point in your career path. 

Reach out today if you would like to be matched with an Executive Coach. Sessions are held primarily via video conferencing so that they fit into your schedule. In-person observations of leadership can also be arranged.

If you are a district or organization leader, work with Voice4Equity to build us into your capacity development system for on-demand coaching for your women leaders.