Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem! In this episode, Jacob Espinoza speaks with Superintendent Andrea Castañeda and comedian Eleanore Ryan about:

• Andrea's experience leading the Salem-Keizer School District through financial hardship and her commitment to transparency and growth.
• The increasing need for behavioral and mental health support in elementary schools and how the district is responding.
• Why investing in relationships, community engagement, and joy-driven leadership matters for public education.
• And much more!

Timestamps:

00:02:14 – Sharing personal journeys of resilience

00:03:07 – The weight of school budget decisions

00:04:49 – Grace vs. accountability in education

00:13:06 – Breaking down school funding myths

00:27:00 – Expanding behavioral health services

00:41:05 – Embracing leadership during adversity

00:54:07 – Coffee and pastries crawl brainstorm