Leadership Laps

In this episode of Season 4, "Growing the Light," we sit down with Dominique Jones, Executive Director of Continuous Improvement and Accountability, who reflects on her journey in education and her unwavering passion for helping kids.

Starting her career in the classroom as a teacher, Dominique transitioned into district leadership by staying intentional, developmental, and relentless in the pursuit of better. In this candid conversation, Dominique shares what it truly takes to drive continuous improvement, how to lead with integrity, and why she lives by the guiding philosophy to always "make sure the tongue in your mouth matches the tongue in your shoes."

Dominique’s journey is an inspiring reminder that real impact happens when our actions walk the same path as our words.

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In this episode of Season 4, "Breaking Away," we sit down with Joe Taylor, who reflects on a life spent inside the classroom and the enduring power of education.

Growing up surrounded by educators, Joe has spent more than half his life in schools—a background that deeply shaped his belief that learning never truly stops. In this candid conversation, Joe shares the profound joy his career brings him, how his passion for continuous growth drives his leadership, and why remaining a lifelong learner is essential for navigating change.

Joe’s journey is an inspiring reminder that the best leaders are those who never lose their curiosity or passion for learning. 

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Every great educational leader has a unique origin story. For Heather Stewart, Instructional Director for Network 3 at Aurora Public Schools, that journey started at McDonald's! In this conversation, Heather opens up about her transition from fast-food management to educational leadership. Tune in to hear what inspired her path, the powerful lessons she carried over from her early career, and how she empowers her team to build the capacity to create an environment where every student can thrive.

Two Danielles, one powerful mission! In this episode of Leadership Laps, Danielle H. (Climate & Culture Coordinator) and Danielle G. (Assistant Principal) from Vista Peak Exploratory sit down to discuss the magic behind their dynamic partnership. Together, they share how intentional teamwork directly fuels student success, the importance of prioritizing mental health in schools, and the personal journeys in education. Tune in to learn how this duo cultivates a thriving school culture from the inside out.

In this episode of Season 4, "Breaking Away," we sit down with Jenny Herbert, Climate and Culture Coordinator at Dalton Elementary School.

With 22 years of dedication to the APS community, as a classroom teacher, dean of students, and now coordinator, Jenny shares her deeply personal connection to education. We discuss her work implementing the Neurosequential Model in Education, launching a successful student mentorship program, and building predictable systems that allow students to thrive academically.

Jenny’s journey is a powerful reminder that school culture isn't a soft skill: it is the foundation for all student success.

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In this episode of Leadership Laps, Yvette Moye, a Climate and Culture Coordinator (CCC) at East Middle School, joins the podcast to discuss her 17-year journey in education. Yvette shares her leadership philosophy which is rooted in the belief that leaders must "tend the soil" by creating safe, supported, and valued environments before expecting growth and reflects on the rewards of cultivating belonging for students, staff, and families.

Listeners will hear about Yvette's transition from an involved APS parent volunteer to an educator, her recent efforts to support multilingual families, and her proudest recent project: the 6th grade first-day experience. She also offers insight into the importance of "being purposeful on purpose," and discusses how she breaks away toward district goals in Season 4 of the podcast.

In this Season 4 premiere of Leadership Laps: Breaking Away, I sit down with Tim Burcham, Aurora Public Schools' Chief Information and Technology Officer, just six months into his role. Tim shares his remarkable journey from a BFA in Film at CU Boulder through 25 years of innovation in financial technology and healthcare data, to finding his calling in public education, a transition shaped in part by his experience as a cancer survivor. A fellow runner, Tim brings fresh perspective from the private sector to APS, discussing how technology accelerates our most ambitious goals: doubling early literacy rates, increasing graduation, and supporting multilingual learners. From AI in the classroom to ensuring every student has connectivity and devices, Tim offers insights into how every member of the APS team, regardless of role, contributes to student success.

In this special Season 3 finale of Leadership Laps, Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr. returns to close out where he began - as our very first guest in Episode 1 and now our 30th guest. When we last spoke a year and a half ago in 'The Starting Line,' Mr. Giles was 18 months into the superintendency. Now, wrapping up year three and having just received a five-year contract extension from the Board of Education, he reflects on the journey so far and the road ahead. From launching Destination APS as our strategic plan to celebrating schools achieving Performance rating for the first time in over a decade, from opening new schools to passing a historic bond, Mr. Giles discusses what leadership lessons have emerged, how his approach has evolved, and where he sees APS in five years. As we complete year one of our five-year strategic plan and board goals, this conversation looks back at progress made and forward to the long run still ahead.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Hannah Lecount, Principal of Vassar Elementary, in her first year as a school leader. After 20 years in education - from classroom teacher to instructional coach to assistant principal - Hannah made the leap to the principalship this year. When asked midyear how she was feeling, her response was remarkable: 'feeling fantastic' and 'so lucky to be here.' Hannah shares what made her first year as principal not just survivable but truly positive, how her decades of preparation equipped her for the role, and what she's learned about the difference between being an assistant principal and leading a school. Her story offers hope and practical wisdom for aspiring principals about what it takes to thrive - not just survive - in that critical first year of school leadership.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Jaelyn Coates, Executive Director of Culture, Equity, and Engagement Departments (CEED), wrapping up her third year with Aurora Public Schools. As a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Advocate, Jaelyn shares her journey to equity work and how CEED's wide-ranging portfolio connects family engagement, student engagement, and staff professional learning on culturally sustaining practices. She discusses her team's instrumental role in major district initiatives including the Board of Education's LGBTQIA+ Resolution, the Immigrant Community Response Task Force, ensuring every school has a school accountability committee and completes equity audits, and supporting staff through the Intercultural Development Inventory. As the sponsor for our 'Schools as Community Hubs' strategy within Destination APS, Jaelyn offers insights about creating sustainable equity-focused change and building authentic engagement with communities that have historically been marginalized in educational spaces.