Brighter Together

How Warren Local Serves Healthcare to 2,100 Students Without Referrals

In rural Ohio, 42% of families live below the poverty line, transportation is a luxury many can't afford, and healthcare access feels impossible. But one small school district found a way to bring comprehensive care directly to students—without waiting for referrals or red tape.

**Meet Ann Skufca**, Director of Student and Parent Engagement at Warren Local School District in Vincent, Ohio. In this inspiring episode, Ann shares how her team transformed student wellness by removing barriers to healthcare access and creating a culture where asking for help isn't just acceptable—it's expected.

What You'll Learn

Discover how Warren Local partnered with healthcare providers to deliver services on-site, eliminated transportation barriers that kept families from critical appointments, and built a comprehensive support system that meets students where they are. You'll hear practical strategies for identifying struggling students, training staff to respond with compassion rather than judgment, and creating sustainable solutions in under-resourced communities.

Key Takeaways

- **Remove barriers, not responsibility**: On-site healthcare services eliminate transportation challenges and increase access for families in rural communities

- **Care first, compliance second**: Approaching student support from a caring perspective opens doors that bureaucracy closes

- **Build a pay-it-forward culture**: When families receive help, they become advocates who share resources with neighbors facing similar struggles

- **Transportation is transformational**: Sometimes the single greatest impact comes from solving the simplest logistical challenge

- **Every decision starts with students**: Systems work when every stakeholder remembers that everything they do is ultimately for the kids

Notable Quote

*"Other families are out there, and the best thing that you can do is always ask for help. Think of it as a pay-it-forward avenue. You're getting this help, and the next time somebody is struggling, you pay that same information forward to them."* - Ann Skufca

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**Ready to reimagine student support in your district?** Listen now to hear how Warren Local is proving that resourcefulness, compassion, and community partnership can overcome even the biggest obstacles to student wellness.

**Subscribe** for more stories from educators transforming K-12 healthcare access and student outcomes.

**Episode Description:**

The corner office can be the loneliest place in a school building. Even the most gregarious, people-focused principal finds themselves eating lunch alone while teachers bond in the cafeteria—a painful reality that reveals a deeper truth about educational leadership. In this honest, thought-provoking episode, we sit down with **Greg McElwee, Senior Director at Northwest Georgia RESA**, to explore the invisible isolation that many of your best leaders experience, and more importantly, how to break the cycle.

Greg brings decades of perspective on what it takes to lead schools with purpose and authenticity. He addresses the real challenges keeping education leaders up at night—from teacher retention and school safety to early childhood literacy—while offering a refreshing reminder that leadership is ultimately a calling rooted in putting kids first.

**What You'll Learn:**

- Why maintaining focus on your "kid first" mission is non-negotiable, even when everything else feels chaotic

- The hidden struggles of educational leaders and what your principals might not be telling you

- How to recognize which students need you most—and why you can't always see it on their faces

- The critical role of team alignment and shared purpose in navigating today's education landscape

- Red flags that tell you whether educational leadership is truly your calling—or if it's time to reconsider

**Key Takeaways:**

✓ **Leading with purpose requires intentional focus** – In a complex environment with competing demands, remembering that you're in a "kid first business" becomes your north star.

✓ **Loneliness is part of the job—but it doesn't have to be isolating** – Understanding the unique position principals occupy can help organizations design better support systems.

✓ **Every student needs you, even when they don't show it** – Behavior and facial expressions can deceive; consistent care for all students is non-negotiable.

✓ **Educational leadership is a calling, not just a career** – You'll know quickly if this is where you belong, and authentic leaders make all the difference.

✓ **Team unity around shared goals transforms schools** – When leaders deliberately remind staff that everyone is on the same team working toward the same mission, magic happens.

**Notable Quotes:**

*"You gotta maintain consistent focus and remember this is a kid first business."*

*"The loneliest experience you'll ever have as a principal is when you are a social person and the first day of teacher planning and everybody goes to lunch. Because guess who's not getting invited to lunch? Nobody wants to go with the principal."*

*"Sometimes you just can't look at a kid and tell by their facial expression or their behavior how much they need you. We've got to remember that they all need us."*

*"I feel like my job as a leader sometimes when I do touch so many different pockets of the world is to make sure that everybody still remembers we are all on the same team and the goal is always going to be the same. It's always going to be about kids."*

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**If you're a school administrator navigating the pressures of modern educational leadership, this conversation will resonate deeply.** Greg's candid insights about the realities of school leadership—and the power of purposeful, unified teams—offer both validation and inspiration.

**Listen now to discover how the best school leaders can break free from isolation and build the kind of teams where everyone remembers why they showed up in the first place.**

**Subscribe to never miss an episode that speaks directly to your challenges as an education leader.**

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Chris Kamrath, the superintendent and principal of Plum City School District in Wisconsin, as he shares insights on the transformative power of knowing every student's name. Chris reflects on the unique advantages of small school environments, where personal connections enhance educational experiences and community engagement. He discusses his commitment to being present in classrooms, fostering relationships, and navigating the challenges of school budgets while prioritizing student needs. Join us to explore how individualized attention can create a more supportive and thriving educational atmosphere, making all the difference for both students and teachers.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with William C. Chilman, the dedicated superintendent of Harbor Beach Community Schools in Michigan. Bill shares his inspiring journey in education, highlighting how he successfully built an impressive $1 million endowment without traditional fundraising approaches. We delve into the importance of community involvement, the innovative foundations he established, and the unique programs designed to support students financially. Bill’s passion for education and his commitment to empowering rural schools make for an enlightening discussion that underscores the vital role educators play in shaping the future. Tune in to discover how one superintendent is making a significant impact in his community and beyond.

Episode Description

What if the biggest barrier to transforming your district isn't budget constraints or technology—but a willingness to demand more? In this powerful episode, we sit down with PJ Caposey, Superintendent of Oregon Community Unit School District 220, who shares how he's leading his community from complacency to excellence, even while navigating impossible financial pressures and the anxiety surrounding AI adoption.

**Meet Your Guest**

PJ Caposey is a visionary educational leader with deep expertise in systemic change, technology integration, and building cultures of excellence. As Superintendent of Oregon CUSD 220, he's championed initiatives that raise academic standards while addressing the very real constraints that keep many districts stuck in the status quo.

What You'll Learn

In this candid conversation, you'll discover:

- **The mindset shift required to demand excellence** even when your budget says "settle"—and how to build community buy-in around higher expectations

- **A practical framework for AI adoption** that transforms anxiety into opportunity and positions your staff as empowered innovators rather than threatened workers

- **How to navigate the impossible math** of escalating fixed costs while protecting student outcomes and maintaining core services

- **The leadership decisions that keep superintendents up at night**—including when serving the greater good means difficult trade-offs

- **Why "how well we do AI" matters more than whether we do it**—and what this means for your district's competitive future

Key Takeaways

✓ Excellence isn't a luxury reserved for well-funded districts—it's a choice that requires courageous leadership and clear vision

✓ The superintendent's role includes helping staff transition from AI anxiety to AI advocacy through intentional communication and trust-building

✓ Financial constraints demand prioritization, but they shouldn't be an excuse for lowered expectations—they're an opportunity to get smarter about what matters most

✓ Building a culture that refuses to be "okay with okay" requires transparent communication about why higher standards serve every student

✓ Strategic technology adoption, when framed as a tool for equity and efficiency, can actually help districts do more with less

Notable Quotes

> *"My job as the leader of the organization is to help transition people from AI phobic, if you will, into hopefully understanding that it is a tool that they can leverage."*

> *"I don't want our community to be okay with us being okay. And so we're in this unique challenge of trying to thread the needle of increasing expectations. The way we phrase it all the time is we need to demand excellence."*

> *"It's not a choice of whether we do AI, it's a choice of how well we do AI. That is the question."*

> *"The thing that actually the hardest decision that I make on a consistent basis is when I have to walk into a decision that might not be best for an individual kid, but that is best for the other 400 kids or my 1,500 kids in the district."*

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**Ready to rethink what's possible in your district?** Tune in to hear how one superintendent is proving that excellence isn't about having more resources—it's about using what you have with intention, courage, and unwavering commitment to every student.

**Listen now and subscribe** so you never miss an episode that challenges the status quo in K-12 education leadership.

What if your superintendent could name every kindergartner in the district? What if teacher retention wasn't a crisis, but a culture? In this episode, we meet a leader who challenges everything we think we know about school administration—by rolling up his sleeves and leading from the front lines.

Guest Introduction

Alex Moore is the Superintendent of Montmorency Communities Consolidated School District 145 (CCSD 145) in Rock Falls, Illinois. A true servant leader, Alex has built his career on a radical belief: that the best way to lead a school district is to remain genuinely connected to the people it serves. From playing with kindergartners at recess to cleaning toilets when custodians are sick, Alex embodies a leadership philosophy that's transforming how his district attracts, retains, and empowers educators.

What You'll Learn

In this compelling conversation, we explore how one superintendent is reimagining school leadership in a resource-constrained rural district. Discover:

- **How servant leadership creates loyalty** – The practical strategies Alex uses to build unshakeable school culture

- **Why teacher retention is solved differently** – What makes educators want to stay (and it's not what you think)

- **Moving beyond standardized testing** – How CCSD 145 is restoring holistic student development and real relationships

- **The technology paradox** – Finding balance in an over-digitized educational landscape

- **Small district, big impact** – Maximizing limited budgets through authentic leadership and community investment

Key Takeaways

✓ **Servant leadership isn't performative** – Real leaders aren't afraid to do the work. When staff sees their superintendent wiping tables and cleaning toilets, it sends a powerful message about dignity and shared responsibility.

✓ **Relationships are the foundation** – Playing with students, knowing their names, and genuinely investing in their development creates a school culture where everyone feels valued.

✓ **"Family first" must be lived, not just said** – Districts claiming to prioritize families while making budget cuts send mixed messages. Authentic family-first cultures are built through consistent, sometimes difficult decisions.

✓ **One leader can influence an entire district** – By shifting focus from test scores to student growth, from compliance to culture, superintendents can redirect their entire school system.

✓ **The best ROI is in retention** – Investing in staff development and creating a supportive culture costs less than constant turnover and is infinitely more impactful.

Notable Quotes

*"I frequently will go down and I'll go outside at recess and I'll play with the kindergartners and the first graders. And I can build those relationships and get to know an actual face and a person much more than just another number."*

*"I've been raised with the idea of servant leadership. So, um, I've been known to wipe tables with the custodians when custodians were out sick during COVID, I'd clean toilets. You know, there's, there's not a job that I, I can't do."*

*"We live by here family first. And I know some, some places you'll go, they'll say family first, but we mean it here."*

*"Part of the decision making and going from the classroom into admin was I can touch more lives that way."*

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Listen Now

If you're a school administrator, teacher leader, or educator searching for what authentic leadership looks like in practice, this episode is for you. Alex Moore's story proves that the best school culture isn't built from a desk—it's built in the hallways, on the playground, and in the willingness to do whatever it takes.

**Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts.** Share this episode with a colleague who needs to hear that transformational leadership is possible, even in under-resourced districts.

You think you know who your struggling readers are—but what if your best readers are hiding the biggest gaps?

In this episode, we uncover a counterintuitive challenge that affects far too many classrooms: how exceptionally strong readers can inadvertently mask critical comprehension gaps, while other students find alternative pathways to success that schools rarely recognize or cultivate.

**Richard Modery**, Superintendent and Curriculum Leader at Glenburn School Department in Glenburn, Maine, joins us to discuss how we can shift our lens from viewing academic ability through a single metric to recognizing the multifaceted strengths every student brings to school. Drawing from his extensive experience in both healthcare and education leadership, Richard reveals how fixed mindsets about reading ability damage student confidence and engagement—and what educators can do to foster genuine, sustainable growth.

What You'll Learn

This episode tackles the hidden dynamics of student self-perception and academic identity, exploring how traditional metrics of reading excellence can actually work *against* deeper learning. You'll discover practical approaches to helping students recognize their strengths in unexpected places—from technology to the arts—and how reframing success creates more resilient, engaged learners.

Beyond individual student growth, we also address the systemic pressures facing small school districts, including enrollment challenges and the spread of misinformation that threatens community trust and recruitment efforts.

Key Takeaways

- **The "Best Reader Trap"**: Exceptionally strong readers may hide comprehension gaps because they've learned to perform proficiency rather than develop deeper understanding

- **Alternative Pathways Matter**: When students struggle with traditional academics, they often excel in technology, arts, and creative fields—and these strengths deserve recognition and cultivation

- **Fixed Mindsets Start Early**: Students develop limiting beliefs about their reading abilities at critical points in their academic journey, leading to disengagement and reduced confidence

- **Redefine Excellence**: Being the strongest reader in school isn't the ultimate measure of a student's potential or worth—diverse strengths lead to more well-rounded, resilient learners

- **Lead with Authenticity**: Education leaders who communicate genuine impact and shared purpose build community trust in an age of rapid misinformation

Notable Quotes

*"Perhaps you have a student, and everybody does have students, reading is not their favorite thing. There's a certain point in time where kids do recognize that perhaps they're not as good a reader as maybe other kids in their class."*

*"And one of the ways they can do that is sort of shining in this technology field or in an art field where they can create something that perhaps that really strong reader is just not quite as good at."*

*"Being the best reader in the school is not all it's about."*

*"I can't think of a way where I can get up every day, come to work, have a genuine impact, hopefully a positive one, on a lot of kids and a lot of adults. I just think that's pretty hard to find that in other places."*

Listen Now

If you lead a school or district, teach in the classroom, or care about how we identify and nurture student potential, this conversation will reshape how you think about academic strengths and student identity. **Subscribe now** and discover how to help all your students—including your strongest readers—reach their genuine potential.

The One Thing Alternative Schools Know About Burned-Out Teachers

**Are your best teachers leaving because they're emotionally drained? What if the secret to preventing educator burnout lies in a fundamental shift in how we interpret student behavior?** In this episode, we discover why alternative schools are keeping their teachers engaged and effective—even with the most challenging students—by understanding one critical principle that changes everything.

About Our Guest

Juliene Haskins is the Principal and Special Education Supervisor at North Point Alternative Learning Center, part of North Point Educational Service Center. With deep expertise in serving students with complex behavioral and emotional needs, Juliene has pioneered approaches that simultaneously protect teacher wellbeing and transform student outcomes.

What You'll Learn

Educator burnout doesn't just happen—it's often accelerated when teachers feel ineffective or personally attacked by student behavior. In this conversation, Juliene reveals how alternative schools approach student relationships differently, and why that approach is exactly what burned-out teachers in traditional settings need to hear. You'll discover practical, immediately applicable strategies for depersonalizing challenging behavior, connecting authentically with resistant students, and—most importantly—protecting your own emotional resilience.

Whether you're a building administrator watching good teachers leave, a teacher questioning whether you're cut out for this work, or an instructional leader searching for sustainable approaches to student discipline, this episode offers a refreshing perspective rooted in both compassion and practicality.

Key Takeaways

- **Deescalate before you set expectations.** The order matters, and most burned-out teachers have it backward

- **Student resistance isn't personal rejection.** Understanding this distinction is the antidote to taking difficult behavior home emotionally

- **Every student arrives carrying hidden pressures.** When teachers remember this, burnout decreases and connection increases

- **Relationship is the intervention.** Students won't care what you know until they know that you care—and finding what "lights them up" is how you prove it

- **Your emotional boundary is your most important tool.** Protecting it isn't selfish; it's sustainable teaching

Hear These Powerful Insights

*"Every student is a miracle waiting to unfold."*

*"It's not about you, even when you've given them a button to push and they are pushing it and pushing it and pushing it—it's a distraction."*

*"If we can get to know them and find what lights them up, so that they can feel 'you really do care about me,' everything changes."*

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**Don't let another talented educator leave your school due to burnout.** Listen now to discover the one thing alternative schools understand that could transform your school culture and keep your best teachers engaged and thriving.

**Subscribe to stay connected with proven strategies for sustainable, effective leadership in today's schools.**

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Cindy Felkins, the Director of Student Support Services at Bleckley County Schools in Georgia. With nearly 30 years in education, Cindy shares her insights on creating effective special education systems that truly support teachers rather than overwhelm them. We discuss the importance of hands-on experience, the value of growing your own educators, and the critical role community engagement plays in supporting families and students with special needs. Cindy emphasizes the need for empathy and collaboration in addressing the challenges faced by educators and students alike. Join us for a heartfelt conversation about making a positive impact in special education and the significance of community support in fostering successful learning environments.

In this episode of Brighter Together, I sit down with Michelle Stewart, the superintendent and principal of Happy Valley Elementary School District in Santa Cruz, California. With just 105 students, Happy Valley has achieved remarkable success, consistently ranking in the top 1% of schools in California. Michelle shares her journey through education, from teaching to administration, and discusses the unique challenges of leading a small, rural school, particularly in a post-COVID world. We delve into the importance of kindness among students and explore how a supportive school culture fosters both academic excellence and personal growth. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind Happy Valley's outstanding results and the heartfelt commitment of its community.