In this episode, we hear from Downey Unified Superintendent Dr. John Garcia as he reflects on his 31 years as an educator and what it means to be in 'legacy mode.' As a Downey High graduate, Dr. Garcia is the first alum to lead the district and has an executive MBA and a doctorate in education, which have helped him create a visionary action plan for bridging classroom learning to industry. Dr. Garcia emphasizes the importance of collaboration between schools, businesses, government, and community groups, and discusses how Downey is modeling effective practices in college and career readiness. Tune in to hear his insights on how public schools can stay relevant in preparing students for our digital economy.

Questions and Topics Covered:

• (01:37) - Dr. John Garcia's story and how he got into education.
• (03:27) - Challenges that are facing public education in Southern California.
• (06:22) - Dr. Garcia's career development in connecting business and public education.
• (08:14) - How CTE is meeting the needs of the students in Downey Unified School Districts.
• (12:40) - Bridging the gap between the private sector and public education.
• (17:13) - Being the superintendent in DUSD and the secret sauce of this school district.
• (20:58) - How the staff supports the district overall, and the winning formula for DUSD.
• (24:40) - The working relationship between DUSD and Cerritos College.
• (28:23) - Dr. John's future groove and the future of DUSD.

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