Dr. Robert Mungo, Superintendent of Mount Holly Township School District in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, joins The Superintendent Effect for a conversation about family engagement, leadership, resilience, and building stronger communities.

Dr. Mungo discusses the difference between family involvement and true engagement, his own journey to the superintendency, breaking generational cycles, and how his understanding of leadership has evolved over time.

His message is simple but powerful: leadership is ultimately about people and the impact we leave behind.

#TheSuperintendentEffect #SchoolLeadership #NewJersey #MountHollyTownship

Erin Kane, Superintendent of Douglas County School District in Colorado, joins Anne Brown on The Superintendent Effect to discuss leading one of Colorado's largest school districts through a rapidly changing educational landscape.

Superintendent Kane shares her unconventional journey from engineering and the high-tech industry to education leadership, as well as how Douglas County is embracing AI, expanding career pathways, and making mental health and student well-being a central part of its strategic vision.

In this episode, Erin discusses:

• Why schools can't afford to close the door on AI
• How Douglas County is helping students use AI safely, ethically, and intelligently
• The importance of purpose, hope, and optimism for today's students
• How 90+ career pathways are giving students more options for life after high school
• Why culture and climate are the accomplishments she's most proud of
• How intentional relationship-building has transformed her leadership
• Why superintendents need to focus on both today's challenges and tomorrow's possibilities

Follow Erin Kane:

• Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/DCSDK12 
• Instagram@DCSD_Super@the_real_dougcoschools
• X@DCSDK12
• LinkedINhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/douglas-county-school-district

#TheSuperintendentEffect #EducationLeadership #AIinEducation #DouglasCounty #Colorado

Ben Kirby, Superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools in Kent County, Michigan, joins host Anne Brown to discuss how strong relationships create stronger schools and powerful communities.

In this episode, Ben shares his leadership journey from classroom teacher to superintendent, explains how Forest Hills is uniting three unique attendance areas into one collaborative district, and discusses the importance of investing in school culture, staff engagement, and future-ready learning opportunities.

You'll also hear how Forest Hills is expanding STEM education, health sciences, career pathways, and student-centered learning while keeping family, relationships, and community at the heart of every decision.

📲 Follow Ben and Forest Hills Public Schools:

Facebook: @⁠fhps.net⁠

Instagram: @foresthillspublic AND ⁠@benkirbysup1fhps⁠

X: ⁠@ForestHillsPS⁠ 

#SuperintendentEffect #EducationalLeadership #PublicEducation #SchoolLeadership #K12Education #EducationPodcast #Michigan

Ben Kirby, Superintendent of Forest Hills Public Schools in Kent County, Michigan, joins host Anne Brown to discuss how strong relationships create stronger schools and powerful communities.

In this episode, Ben shares his leadership journey from classroom teacher to superintendent, explains how Forest Hills is uniting three unique attendance areas into one collaborative district, and discusses the importance of investing in school culture, staff engagement, and future-ready learning opportunities.

You'll also hear how Forest Hills is expanding STEM education, health sciences, career pathways, and student-centered learning while keeping family, relationships, and community at the heart of every decision.

📲 Follow Ben and Forest Hills Public Schools:
Facebook: @fhps.net
Instagram: @foresthillspublic AND @benkirbysup1fhps
X: @ForestHillsPS 

#SuperintendentEffect #EducationalLeadership #PublicEducation #SchoolLeadership #K12Education #EducationPodcast #Michigan

Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent of Durango School District 9-R in Durango, Colorado, joins host Anne Brown, President and CEO of the Cook Center for Human Connection, to discuss how visionary leadership is transforming education for students, families, and the entire community.

From innovative career pathways and maker-spaces to workforce housing for educators, mental health initiatives, and creating a shared "Portrait of a Graduate," Dr. Cheser shares how schools can prepare students not just for graduation, but for life, too.

Learn how community partnerships, future-focused learning, and servant leadership are helping Durango become one of Colorado's highest-performing school districts.

#TheSuperintendentEffect #EducationalLeadership #PublicEducation #SchoolLeadership #FutureReadyStudents #K12Education

Katy Xenakis-Makowski, Superintendent of Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools in northeast Michigan, joins host Anne Brown to discuss how strong relationships, community partnerships, and steady leadership have transformed opportunities for students in a rural district.

From creating an on-campus health clinic and expanding Career & Technical Education programs to building a community field-house and helping students earn college credits before graduation, Katy shares how thoughtful leadership can create lasting impact.

She also explains why her leadership philosophy is simple:

"Go slow to go fast."

Connect with Superintendent Xenakis-Makowski:

- LinkedIn: Katheen (Katy) Xenakis-Makowski

- Facebook: Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools

- Instagram: @Johannesburglewistonschools

#TheSuperintendentEffect #EducationLeadership #SchoolLeadership #RuralEducation #StudentSuccess #EducationalInnovation #Michigan

Dr. Tom McKee, Superintendent of Rudyard Area Schools in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, joins Anne Brown to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges of leading a rural school district serving nearly 700 students across 400 square miles.

In this episode, Dr. McKee shares his journey from preschool teacher to superintendent at age 28, how Rudyard students are earning college credits and career certifications before graduation, and why schools must work to remove barriers created by geography and poverty. He also discusses the growing mental health needs of students, supporting families through Parent University, and what it means to serve as the heart of a rural community.

#TheSuperintendentEffect #RuralEducation #EducationalLeadership #StudentSuccess

Dr. Randy Russell, Superintendent of Freeman School District in Washington State, joins Anne Brown to reflect on his 38-year career in education and his final year leading the Freeman community after 15 years as superintendent.

Serving a close-knit rural district just south of Spokane, Dr. Russell shares how strong relationships, leadership stability, and community trust have helped Freeman achieve exceptional outcomes, including a 95% graduation rate. He also discusses leading through a school shooting, community wildfire, and the challenges of the pandemic while prioritizing student well-being and mental health.

This conversation is filled with practical leadership lessons, heartfelt stories, and reflections on what it means to put students first.

Listen to his story today!

#SuperintendentEffect #EducationalLeadership #K12Education #SchoolLeadership

Mr. David Law, Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and recent President of AASA (the national association representing more than 13,000 superintendents) joins CEO Anne Brown from Cook Center for a conversation on the future of education.

Mr. Law shares his unique journey through math education, law school, and school leadership, and discusses what sets Minnetonka apart: a thriving dual language immersion program in Chinese and Spanish, innovative experiential learning pathways, and a forward-thinking approach to AI in the classroom.

He also speaks candidly about the challenges of teacher wellness and why simply "getting back to basics" may not be enough to prepare the next generation of students.

This is a conversation you don't want to miss.

🎧 Listen today!

#SuperintendentEffect #EducationLeadership #Minnetonka #Minnesota #Superintendent

Dr. Meredith Nadeau, Superintendent of School Administrative Unit #21 (SAU #21) in Hampton, New Hampshire, joins us for an inspiring conversation about what it truly means to lead with purpose on the seacoast. Overseeing five small districts and nearly 2,000 students — with six school boards and 23 school board members, Dr. Nadeau brings a remarkable depth of experience to the role.

In this episode, we dig into the science of reading and why early literacy is the foundation for everything else. Dr. Nadeau shares her journey from pre-med student to middle school English teacher to special educator, and how her hands-on work with the Wilson Language Program shaped her lifelong commitment to teaching every child to read. We also explore SAU #21's forward-thinking work in AI ethics, student-led mental health initiatives, and the district's innovative Extended Learning Opportunities — from drone pilot licenses to biomedical research — that are helping students forge their own paths to graduation.

Whether you're an educator, a parent, or a community leader, this episode will leave you energized and reminded that real, lasting change happens one relationship at a time.

#SuperintendentEffect #EducationLeadership #ScienceOfReading #SAU21 #NewHampshire #MentalHealthInSchools #AIInEducation #PublicEducation #SchoolLeadership #EdLeaders