Misty Her first entered Fresno Unified as a first grader, learning English as a second language. Her family was among hundreds of thousands of Hmong refugees who came to the U.S. after the Vietnam War.

She’s dedicated her career to giving back to the district where she grew up, starting as a bilingual instructional aide, then a teacher, principal, and deputy superintendent. In May, the school board appointed her as the new interim superintendent of Fresno Unified. She is the first woman to lead the district since its inception in 1873, and the first Hmong person, in a district where 10% of English learners speak Hmong at home.

What challenges does Her face in leading the third-largest school district in California? Why does her appointment as interim superintendent matter?

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.