#23: Rich McBride's legacy of collaboration and innovation at North Central ESD

My guest this week is Dr. Rich McBride, who recently retired as superintendent of the North Central Educational Service District after a remarkable 15 years. McBride's quiet leadership style and gracious approach won him many friends and admirers among the superintendents and school board members throughout the 29 school districts in North Central Washington. We spoke about the powerful sense of community that exists in our rural communities, the impact of technology on schools and student learning and the importance of developing mentoring relationships with students. Our public education system, McBride said, is the greater equalizer in our society. School districts in the region are finding ways to become relevant to students by offering meaningful internships and other ways to get real-world experience in their communities. He sees tremendous potential in the graduates who are emerging from our school districts. Compared to students in his day, today's graduates are smarter, more technologically savvy, innovative and creative. The ESD provides a critical services to local school districts, assisting them with technology, contracting out services to them and supporting their efforts. McBride prefers to deflect praise to those who work at the ESD and at the school districts. However, superintendents I have met give him high marks for being a critical resource when districts face difficult challenges.