Michael Lubelfeld is a veteran superintendent, author, and outspoken advocate for public education as a cornerstone of democratic society. Since 2010, he has led Illinois’s North Shore School District 112, overseeing nine schools and serving thousands of students in the communities of Highland Park and Highwood. With decades of experience in school leadership, Lubelfeld has become a national voice on the challenges facing public schools—both visible and invisible.

In this conversation, Michael joins Thomas to demystify what it actually takes to run a public school system. He explains why the superintendent’s job is more “orchestra director” than instructional leader, what most people get wrong about school governance, and why political noise is one of the least glamorous but most consequential parts of the job. He also shares candid reflections on the future of teacher retention, the importance of school culture over salary, and why professional development is the most underrated line item in a school budget.

Along the way, they discuss the importance of student voice, what metrics really define educational success, how school systems can evolve beyond outdated age-based structures, and why collaboration across school types—public, private, charter, and micro—is essential. If you want to understand how schools really function and what it means to lead with humility, purpose, and clarity, this episode offers valuable insights from a true practitioner.

“Public education is the great equalizer. That doesn’t mean it’s perfect. It means it’s necessary.”

Read an enhanced transcript with helpful links at Eduaide.Ai.

Recorded 18 July 2025