In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Garrett Rosa, APS's most tenured Instructional Director, who has been supporting principals since 2018. Before stepping into this role, Garrett was the founding principal of Vista Peak Prep, leading it to Performance rating. With APS running deep in his family spanning employees, alumni, and current students, Garrett shares his  story of how he came to education, his journey from teacher to founding principal to principal supervisor, and what he's learned about building great schools and great leaders. He offers invaluable insights for aspiring principals about what it takes to be ready for school leadership, what he looks for when hiring principals for both new and existing schools, and how the principalship journey differs across those two very different contexts.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Kurtis Quig, Principal of Aurora Central High School, to celebrate a historic milestone - for the first time in more than 15 years, Aurora Central has achieved Improvement status on the Colorado School Performance Framework. In his fourth year as principal, Kurtis shares his journey to educational leadership, what he found when he arrived at Central, and the strategies that built a culture of commitment among students, staff, and families. He discusses the sustained effort required to lead a school through improvement, how to celebrate progress while maintaining ambitious goals, and what comes next as Central continues its upward trajectory. Kurtis's story demonstrates that with clear vision, persistent effort, and unwavering belief in community, transformation is possible - and as he says, 'Good. Better. Best!' - they're just getting started.

Meet Kevin and Ella, two student leaders from Vista Peak Prep who participated in the Colorado Association of School Boards student leadership academy. They share their journeys in Aurora Public Schools, what they're passionate about and involved in at Vista Peak, and what leadership means to them as young people shaping their schools today. Kevin and Ella offer authentic perspectives on what makes APS special. Their insights remind us why centering student voice matters as we work toward #DestinationAPS, and why sometimes the most important leadership lessons come from those we serve.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Kevin Childs, Director of Safety and Security for Aurora Public Schools and a true servant leader. As an APS alumnus who attended elementary, middle, and high school in the district, Kevin has returned to serve the very community that shaped him. He shares his journey from military service to school safety leadership, explaining his powerful belief that 'you cannot serve a community you don't love.' From implementing new safety measures like the Red Bag system to delivering meals during a mass eviction on the first day of school, from attending nearly every home game to distributing Thanksgiving turkeys to families, Kevin demonstrates what leadership looks like when rooted in genuine care and compassion. His story offers insights about the difference between working in a community and truly serving it, and what it means to lead with both strength and heart.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Janelle Kirkley, Principal of Dartmouth Elementary, who brings a unique perspective as a proud APS alumna. In her 21st year with APS and third year as principal, Janelle leads Dartmouth through a remarkable year of dual celebrations: the school's 50th anniversary and achieving Performance rating once again. She shares her journey through two decades in Aurora Public Schools, the defining moments that led her to school leadership, and how she balances honoring Dartmouth's rich half-century legacy with innovation and moving forward. Janelle offers insights about stepping into a school with established traditions, maintaining high performance, and what it means to serve the same district that shaped her own education.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Dr. Sue-Lin Toussaint, Executive Director of Secondary Schools for Aurora Public Schools. With over 25 years in education, Sue-Lin shares her journey from classroom teacher to school principal to now supervising APS secondary principals. She discusses her recent promotion to executive director, how her commitment to educational equity informs her leadership, and what it takes to support principals across multiple schools. Sue-Lin offers valuable insights about career progression in education and ensuring all students have access to excellent secondary education in our journey toward #DestinationAPS.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Bryan Gasior, Principal of Aurora Frontier P-8, one of APS's highest performing schools fresh off their strongest year yet. In his seventh year as principal, Bryan shares his unique journey from secondary education to elementary leadership. What makes this conversation special is Bryan's deep passion for music; his office features part of his vinyl collection that he generously shares with visitors. Bryan discusses how music influences his leadership philosophy, the intentional culture-building that has driven Frontier's success, and how he balances honoring what works with innovation and growth. Whether you're interested in educational leadership, the intersection of arts and administration, or simply love a good conversation about music and purpose, this episode offers insights into finding your authentic leadership voice while creating the right 'soundtrack' for your school community.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Lacy Jolly, Principal of Jewell Elementary School in her seventh year at Jewell and twentieth year with Aurora Public Schools. Lacy shares how she's built a Performance-rated school where students don't just learn, they become active participants in writing their own stories. Guided by Jewell's powerful purpose statement: As Jewell Jaguars we will reach our full potential in order to shape a successful future, Lacy discusses her journey through two decades in APS, her evolution as a leader, and how she brings to life a mission centered on equity through high expectations, fostering risk-taking and perseverance, and nurturing collaboration and respect. Her insights reveal how leaders can create environments where both students and staff develop ownership, independence, motivation, and self-advocacy to author their own successful futures.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Patti Moon, Chief Communications Officer for Aurora Public Schools since 2017. Patti shares her journey from television journalist working in major markets including Chicago and Washington D.C. to becoming the voice and storyteller for one of Colorado's largest and most diverse school districts. She discusses the evolution of APS's brand identity and the intentional work behind shaping narratives that reflect our community. Patti offers insights into the unique challenges of leading communications through both celebrations and crises, and as a woman of color in leadership, she shares perspective on ensuring district communications honor and reflect our diversity. Whether you're interested in communications, leadership, or how organizations tell authentic stories, this conversation reveals the strategic and deeply personal work of giving voice to a community's values and aspirations.

In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Amy Kolquist, Principal of Vista Peak Exploratory, who has led her school to ten consecutive years of Performance rating. In her eighth year as principal, Amy shares insights into what it takes not just to achieve high performance, but to sustain it year after year. She discusses her journey into education and school leadership, the evolution of her approach over nearly a decade at Vista Peak, and the strategies that have helped her navigate constant change while maintaining stability and excellence for her diverse P-8 community. Amy's story offers valuable lessons for leaders about consistency, vision, and the daily work of creating an environment where success becomes a sustainable reality.