In this episode of Vetted by Mark Vetter, Mark sits down with Teshon Christie, Chief Digital Transformation and Information Officer at Highline School District and a self-described culture-building innovator.

Teshon shares his journey from early days at AOL and network engineering to leading large-scale digital transformation in K–12 education. The conversation dives deep into what leadership really looks like when it matters most during a crisis.

After navigating a major cyber incident, Teshon reflects on the realities of incident response, the importance of team cohesion under pressure, and how strong leadership can turn disruption into opportunity. He unpacks concepts like technical debt in simple terms, explains why curiosity is a critical leadership skill, and shares how asking better questions can transform team performance.

The episode also explores the human side of leadership, including how to support teams through long hours, stress, and uncertainty without burning them out, and why trust and psychological safety are essential before a crisis ever happens.

Whether you are a CIO, educator, or leader in any field, this conversation offers practical insights on building resilient teams, leading with intention, and coming out stronger on the other side of adversity.