Dr. Jenkins speaks with the co-directors of MMSD’s Office of School Safety. Gina Aguglia and Sedric Morris share how they support students, families, and staff through home visits, restorative recovery, and connections to resources, all while building strong relationships within the MMSD community.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins speaks with Dr. Anu Ebbe, MMSD’s Deputy Associate Superintendent of Middle Schools. Dr. Ebbe was named Wisconsin’s 2022-2023 Principal of the Year. They discuss identity; shifting mindsets to believe all students can succeed at high levels; and what’s happening at the middle school level to prepare students for high school and beyond.

Dr. Nancy Molfenter, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, joins Dr. Jenkins to discuss special education in MMSD. Dr. Molfenter shares more about how department staff work in collaboration with families, caregivers, and scholars. They speak about the district’s anti-racist IEP work, Madtown Mommas community advocates, Project Search transition program, and Mission Possible robot technology. Throughout the conversation, the resilience and brilliance of scholars are kept at the forefront.

MMSD’s Mental Health Director Dr. Kristen Guetschow shares how schools are supporting students’ social-emotional and mental health as we emerge from the pandemic. She talks about re-establishing stability, Dr. Jenkins shares how a scholar taught him breathing techniques, and together they discuss how programs such as Bounce Back and Care Solace are helping our students, families, and staff thrive.

In this episode, Dr. Jenkins is joined by middle school music teacher Nicole Carrion Vaughn. She shares her story of how she came to MMSD. They talk about some of the challenges and opportunities of teaching, and the ways she is working to engage students.

Superintendent Jenkins is joined by West High School’s Athletic Director and MMSD alumni, Corvonn Gaines. They talk about challenges and opportunities, being a role model for Black and Brown youth, and the importance of building relationships with students.

Former Wisconsin State Superintendent, Carolyn Stanford Taylor is the featured guest in this episode of Lead to Liberate with Dr. Carlton D. Jenkins. She began her career in MMSD, and is back as the district's Deputy Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. During their conversation, they discuss youth voice, family engagement, Village Builders and Student Engagement Specialists, as well as workforce diversity.

In this episode of Lead to Liberate, Superintendent Jenkins is joined by Tara Tindall, MMSD Native American Teacher Leader. A member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Tara shares about her experiences growing up in Black River Falls, time spent in Alaska, and teaching Navajo-speaking children in New Mexico, before returning to Wisconsin. They talk about the impact of the district's Land Acknowledgement Ceremony in April 2022, and Tara shares more about Indigenous invisibility. The conversation touches on Native American boarding school history, and how Tara has created Native American lessons and resources for teaching staff to advance culturally-relevant pedagogy.

Superintendent Jenkins is joined by Melinda Heinritz, President of the Madison Public Schools Foundation. They talk about the impact the Foundation has had not only for our students and schools, but also in our community and state. The conversation then turns to school funding, community and business partnerships, advocacy for K12 public education, and early literacy.