Of the many variables the twindemic - Covid-19 and Racial Justice Reckoning - has revealed, lack of strong leadership at the national and, in some cases, at the local level is most telling because of the life and death consequences. This fifth episode begins a special series focusing on leadership at the superintendent level. The focus will be supts who get cultural and linguistic responsiveness (CLR) and have been able to implement it successfully. We call these leaders superintendents who love outrageously and we are starting with Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley of University City in St. Louis. Dr. Hardin shares her inspirational journey to responsiveness not only as a leader of an urban district but as an African American woman in a position dominated by white males primarily and historically. She speaks passionately and powerfully about her own education and how that led to her vision of the "heart" work that must come first. Episode 5 also includes Dr. Hollie's two cents on leadership and what he considers are the essentials for any leader to lead CLR successfully.

Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm