Bruce sits down with Jimmy to learn more about his backstory and many roles and impact he’s had on the district:

• Intro (00:00-00:39)

• How It All Got Started (00:39-03:24)

• LISD Through the Years (03:24-10:31)

• Student Centered Learning in Facilities (10:31-20:11)

• Jimmy’s Favorite Facility (20:11-24:37)

• Only Jimmy Knows this (24:37-28:37)

In the first episode of Level Up, a podcast series hosted by Superintendent Bruce Gearing, we’re going to travel back in time a few months, all the way to August and before the start of the school year when A.J. Juliani served as the keynote speaker at LISD's beginning-of-year convocation event for teachers and staff.

A.J. came with the right message at just the right time, and there was a palpable level of excitement in the room that morning and coming off that stage. This conversation is just as relevant today as it was a couple of months ago. And his whole trip out to our district served as validation of the learning happening right here in Leander ISD.

Bruce is joined by A.J. Juliani (01:20 ) fresh off of the district's Convocation event in August.

Later, Bruce and A.J. have a conversation centered around:

(01:57) A new sense of urgency

(04:17) Ownership of learning for everyone, even adults

(05:36) Advice to teachers starting on this "ownership of learning" journey

(06:58) Failing forward

(08:28) Ownership of learning coming from the kids

(11:12) Highlights from districts across the country

(13:33) Words of wisdom

(15:22) Closing

Introducing "Level Up," a new podcast series with Superintendent Bruce Gearing. When it comes to the idea of Empowered Learning – both for students and staff – this series will look to bring to life real-world examples of this happening in #1LISD.

In this series trailer, hear from Gearing as he shares the journey he has been on the past few months and how the importance of "ownership of learning" became crystal clear. It's the bedrock of connecting students to their passions. That passion leads to purpose, and that purpose can change the world. The future of our community, of our state, of our world is right here in our public schools. And this way of thinking is about empowering them to take the future and mold it into something that is theirs.

Later this week, be on the lookout for the series' first episode with a very special guest: A.J. Juliani.