DA Changemakers

Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Mike Daria shares how his district became one of only 108 nationwide recognized for significant math growth. His secret for success: invest in people.

"A vision without alignment lacks coherence," Superintendent Carmen Balgobin says on the latest episode. "It's important to have strong intentionality with your priorities."

Students who participate in robotics programs often excel in STEM engagement, problem-solving abilities, computational thinking, and—in rare cases—team-building on the "Survivor" reality series.

Neil Gupta's mentor scuttled his plans to hold a town hall meeting with teachers when he was a newly hired director in a previous district. 

When Dr. Christopher Meyrick stepped into his first superintendency in 2019, he did not realize he was about to receive a masterclass in crisis management that would define his approach to the next great educational frontier: artificial intelligence.

Superintendent Kelly May-Vollmar details how she reaches everyone in Desert Sands USD with the help of board members, educators, parents and students. 

"People support what they help create," is one of Superintendent Alena Zachery-Ross's favorite leadership phrases. It's how she describes Ypsilanti Community Schools' efforts to elevate student voice and engage learners across grade levels in AI adoption and other new initiatives.

Superintendent Bill Runey shares how he reshaped leadership at the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District—and how the relationships you invest in carry you through your hardest moments.  

Edward Aldarelli said the biggest transition he made when he moved up from principal to take the helm of Edison Township Public Schools was becoming the New Jersey's district "head visionary."

In the wake of recent tragic school violence incidents in Colorado and Minnesota, K-12 administrators and district leaders face an urgent imperative: ensuring their emergency response plans and protocols are up to the task of protecting students and staff.
This timely podcast revisits and expands upon critical school safety strategies from the “5 P’s” methodology (Planning, Process, Protocol, Practice, Prevention), a comprehensive framework for school safety preparedness that transforms theoretical safety plans into life-saving action.
What You’ll Learn – The 5 P’s Framework:
Planning: How to identify and prioritize vulnerabilities in your current safety infrastructure
Process: Developing clear, actionable emergency procedures that work under pressure
Protocol: Implementing effective lockdown plans and communication systems
Practice: Conducting trauma-informed drills that build confidence without causing harm
Prevention: Establishing proactive threat assessment and early intervention strategies
When an emergency strikes, there is no time for confusion. The goal is to build muscle memory, so staff and students know exactly what to do without hesitation – from identifying vulnerabilities to implementing lockdown plans that actually work under pressure.  
Podcast Guests Ron Shaffer Industry Solutions Leader, Education Salto 
r.shaffer@saltosystems.com