Leaders in the education space often have similar philosophies and strategies around connection. Without this, it’s hard to develop effective school districts. Sharing her wisdom on cultivating leadership in schools, Dr. Candace Singh joined host Dustin Odham.

Dr. Singh currently serves as the Superintendent of Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. She’s also a speaker, consultant, and leadership coach. “I have a teacher’s heart and worked my way up from an instructional aide to a teacher, then a principal, and now a superintendent. I’m proud of creating an organization and culture that supports classroom teachers.”

Dr. Singh has a strong value set around what makes schools effective. The solution is effective leaders who are supported. “Relationships are the engine for improvement. There also needs to be clarity about outcomes, fronting things hard to look at, and reminding people of the forward-thinking idea of the difference they can make.”

With this focus on developing leaders, Dr. Singh is very involved in the hiring process for principals and building solid connections. “The principal is the linchpin of ensuring the most important connection between teacher and child.”

In Dr. Singh’s career, she’s completed lots of research on what the best principals do, including her doctoral work. In providing best practices, she’s adamant about every principal having an assistant principal. Once those people are in those roles, she prepares them to assume leadership positions in the future. “A principal needs a team and the knowledge the district office is here for them, not the other way around. We work for the schools.”