School District Superheroes

How can educational leaders transition from classroom autonomy to collaborative, community-wide leadership? 

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Dr. Constantino "Costa" Aguilar, Superintendent at Riverbank Unified School District. Drawing from his journey as a Spanish teacher, baseball coach, and second-generation immigrant, Costa breaks down how servant leadership, district rebranding, and core values build alignment across school boards, educators, and families.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How servant leadership builds collaborative trust across a school district community
• Why district leaders must intentionally unplug from technology to protect mental health
• How Riverbank's four core values align staff, families, and student readiness goals
• How internal AI tools reduce administrative costs and speed up curriculum analysis
• Why successful district transformation relies on human capacity over new software

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Meet Costa Aguilar
02:51 From Firefighter Dreams to Teaching
05:24 Superintendent Challenges
06:55 Connecting With Riverbank
09:28 Roots and Values From Family
12:48 Unplugging and Healthy Habits
18:42 Growing as a Leader and AI
26:31 Core Values and Final Advice

What can school district leaders learn from the Walt Disney Company and student-led AI guidelines?

In this episode, Nick Telford sits down with Dr. Dalia Gadelmawla, Superintendent of Corona-Norco Unified School District—one of the largest districts in California.

Dr. Gadelmawla shares her inspiring personal journey from immigrating to Hollywood as an 11-year-old English learner to managing food and beverage operations at Disneyland, before bringing her business expertise to public education. She opens up about her non-traditional path to the superintendency, her doctoral research on women in educational leadership, her student-centered strategy for AI, and why visiting school campuses beats Disneyland as "the happiest place on earth."

In this episode you'll learn:
• Why visiting school sites is her "happiest place on earth" over Disneyland
• How child nutrition taught her public education is about service
• Why female leaders are deterred by politics and how mentorship bridges the gap
• How high school students on her advisory committee created a district AI guide
• Why pausing a rushed payroll system rollout taught her the need for buy-in

Learn more about Corona-Norco Unified School District

What can district leaders learn from martial arts black belts, scratch-cooking in classrooms, and Abraham Lincoln-era history?

In this episode, Nick Telford sits down with Dr. Ramiro Rubalcaba, Superintendent of Los Nietos School District. Dr. Rubalcaba shares how his background as a karate black belt shapes his humble, servant-leadership philosophy, why he integrates student energy into major decision-making, and how a whole-child approach to wellness earned national recognition for his schools. 

In this episode you'll learn:
• Why staying humble and serving as a public servant is the core of district leadership
• How bringing martial arts into after-school programs boosts student engagement
• Why taking walks to kindergarten rooms helps clear your mind for big decisions
• How scratch-cooking and classroom recipes earned his schools national health awards
• Why apologizing for leadership mistakes builds trust with students and staff

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
00:51 Meet Dr Ruvalcaba
01:25 Favorite Superhero
02:09 Life Beyond Work
03:54 Martial Arts Surprise
04:54 Humble Leadership Advice
06:23 Path to Superintendent
08:45 What Prepared Him
11:46 HR vs Ed Services
13:19 Priorities and Habits
17:33 Learning and Networking
20:28 District Initiatives
22:18 Nutrition and Wellness
25:03 Core Leadership Principle
26:26 A Leadership Mistake
28:22 Hope for Education
29:54 Closing Thanks

Learn more about Los Nietos School District

What can school district leaders learn from Silicon Valley venture capitalists, legendary sports coaches, and offensive linemen?

In this episode, Nick Telford sits down with Don Austin, the Superintendent of Laguna Beach Unified School District. Drawing on his experience leading in the heart of tech innovation, Don shares how K-12 leaders can borrow evaluation metrics and team-building perks from Silicon Valley, why he rejects traditional transition timelines, and how to over-plan against failures. In this episode you'll learn:

• How leading like an offensive lineman helps your team score the touchdowns
• Why Bobby Knight’s "negative thinking" philosophy is a powerful planning tool
• How to borrow KPIs and employee perks from Silicon Valley to support staff
• Why investing 10-plus hours a week with your school board is a necessity
• Why to reject 100-day listening campaigns and accelerate leadership transitions

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
00:43 Introducing Don Austin
06:20 Superintendent Career Journey
08:20 Superintendent Misconceptions
11:12 Managing a Team
12:44 Key Performance Indicators
17:08 Superintendent Time Allocation
22:48 Continued Growth as a Leader
26:47 Good vs Great
29:26 Lessons Learned as a Superintendent
35:11 Advice to Aspiring Superintendents

Connect with Don on LinkedIn
Learn more about Laguna Beach Unified School District

#schooldistrict #education #california #superintendent #podcast 

What does it take to persevere through nine grueling interviews to become a trailblazing superintendent?

In this episode, Nick Telford sits down with Katie Russell, the first female and first African American superintendent in the 150-year history of Panama-Buena Vista Union School District. Katie opens up about overcoming bias on her journey to the top office, the secrets to continually transitioning a school board from politics to governance, and how she built a cohesive district culture from scratch during the pandemic. In this episode you'll learn:

• Why she endured nine interviews to break a 150-year district barrier
• Why leaders need an "invisible plane" to hear the truth from staff
• How to effectively transition board members from politics to governance
• How to unite a large leadership team around purpose, caring, and results
• Why combating perfectionism and using AI as a tool helps cure leadership fear

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
03:17 Trailblazing Superintendent Journey
09:12 Nine Interviews and Bias
12:30 Perseverance and Mentors
16:10 Mentoring Others and County Impact
19:07 Board Governance and Trust
26:00 Cabinet Culture AI and Advice

What can American school districts learn from education systems in other nations? And what is the most challenging aspect of being a Superintendent?

In this episode, Nick Telford speaks with Gunn Marie Hansen, the veteran Superintendent of Westminster School District. Drawing on her international perspective, Hansen shares her journey to the top office, lessons learned studying schools in Helsinki, and strategies for empowering female leaders. In this episode you'll learn:

• Why the most challenging part of a superintendent's job is managing and motivating people
• How Finland's "whole child" approach and lack of over-assessment fosters incredible equity
• Why female leaders must build strong networks to overcome structural barriers to promotion
• How surviving a contract termination taught Gunn Marie to lead fearlessly with her core values
• Why even veteran superintendents need a coach to confidentially unload and process challenges

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
02:19 Path to Superintendent
06:07 Learning the Whole Job
07:25 Hardest Part People
10:24 Keeping Teams Motivated
12:28 Global Trends and AI
16:13 League of Innovative Schools
20:33 Leadership Networking and Wrap

What happens when a former basketball coach takes his playbook to the superintendent's office?

In this episode, Nick Telford sits down with Kent Bechler, a former varsity basketball coach who now coaches and mentors superintendents across California as a Senior Partner at Leadership Associates. Kent explains why district leaders need coaches just like professional athletes do, and shares how to trade outdated "command and control" tactics for expert facilitation. In this episode you'll learn:

• Why working with the school board isn't an obstacle, it is your job
• How districts hit a seven-year cycle before needing to reinvent
• Why modern leaders must shift from command and control to facilitation
• How asking more questions turns a good solution into a better one
• Why the higher you climb in district leadership, the less truth you hear

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
01:42 Superhero Origins Underdog
03:02 From Social Work to Teaching
04:50 Leading Three Districts
05:38 Why Retire and Coach
07:21 Mentors and Mentorship
08:40 Better Decisions Through Questions
13:38 Modern Superintendent as Facilitator
18:37 Boards Leadership Associates and Farewell

What does it take to lead the same school district for 14 years while consistently building a culture that develops leaders who get recruited across the entire state? 

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Bob Taylor, the Superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District in California. Broadcasting from a leadership retreat in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Bob shares his deep commitment to developing people at every level of his organization. From taking 50 district employees to learn leadership lessons on historic battlefields to running a state-wide Aspiring Superintendents Program, Bob reveals why true leadership requires investing heavily in others. Discover how his unparalleled longevity with a highly veteran school board has created a resilient, well-oiled district culture rooted in continuous learning. In this episode, you'll learn:

• How a year-long leadership program builds culture and ends with a Gettysburg trip
• Why leaders must be "generalists" and lead subject experts by asking questions
• How "productive paranoia" helps leaders look ahead to make complex decisions
• The secret to Bob's 14-year tenure and the efficiency of a veteran school board
• Why losing top talent is a chance to adopt an "upgrade" mindset to thrive

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
01:41 Trip to Gettysburg 
08:48 Other Leadership Initiatives
11:26 Aspiring Superintendents Program
16:31 Skills needed to lead experts
19:56 Secret to decades at the same district
24:54 Operating efficiency - pick up here
28:52 Making hard things look easy

Learn more about Walnut Valley Unified School District 

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent of Val Verde Unified School District, to discuss his unique path to education and his forward-thinking approach to school leadership

In his early years, baseball was a big part of Gordon's future plans. Gordon shares his personal journey of being drafted by the San Diego Padres and playing for the New York Yankees organization, and how a career-ending hand injury led to a profound identity shift. With his mother's guidance, he found his true calling: inspiring the next generation as an educator.

Gordon opens up about some of the hardest calls he's had to make, from choosing ethics over optics during a high school testing cheating scandal, to navigating the highly polarized political climate of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, you'll learn:

• Amerson's philosophy based on four pillars: Listen, Empower, Affirm, and Develop (L.E.A.D.)
• Why Val Verde Unified is a trailblazer in family engagement
• Details about district initiatives funded by a $35 million Community Schools grant
• Why Amerson isn't afraid of AI, instead advocating for administrators to use it

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
00:55 Meet Dr Amerson
01:28 Favorite Superheroes
03:01 From Sports To Schools
06:25 Injury And Identity Shift
09:40 Purpose And Providence
10:28 Modern Leadership Defined
14:12 Advice For Aspiring Supers
16:28 Hard Calls And Crisis Leadership
25:44 Val Verde Innovations
28:41 AI To Be More Human
31:35 Legacy And Side Projects
35:36 Final Thanks And Wrap

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Bruce Bivins, Superintendent of Perris Elementary School District, to discuss how true leadership and holistic education can transform a school community.

Bruce shares how growing up in an adopted family built on love and service shaped his lifelong desire to create a sense of belonging. He details his unique path to education, which included coaching youth, almost becoming a firefighter, and working with highly vulnerable populations like displaced foster youth and incarcerated teens. Bivins also shares the innovative work he's doing in the Perris school district. In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why the "command and control" mindset that dominated early 2000s education is broken
• How a leadership style rooted in humility, curiosity, vulnerability, and trust is more effective
• Why psychological safety is the absolute foundation for student success.
• Why Perris emphasizes emotional intelligence and critical problem-solving
• Innovative techniques, like classroom Zen zones, and campus sensory rooms 
• How holistic strategies have led to decreases in suspensions and accelerated English literacy
• Impact of enrichment programs like school gardens and a bike-riding program for kindergartners

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome
00:48 Meet Bruce Bivins
01:18 Spider Man
01:54 Why Education Matters
02:54 Bruce’s Journey to Superintendent
08:04 Leadership Lessons Learned
10:08 Building Trust Over Control
12:32 Leading Teams in Practice
15:57 Belonging Before Learning
20:52 Whole Child Over Test Scores
21:59 Measuring What Matters
27:36 Perris Initiatives Spotlight
34:31 Legacy and Closing Thoughts

Tune in to hear how Superintendent Bivins is working to leave a legacy of deep care, strong relationships, and a school culture where kids and families are the ultimate winners

Learn more about Perris Elementary School District