EPISODE · Sep 25, 2023 · 31 MIN
#15 Community-First Learning with Rocketship Schools’ Preston Smith
from Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning · host Seth Fleischauer, Komal Shah, and Lauren Pinto
On this week's episode, host Seth Fleischauer interviews Preston Smith, CEO and co-founder of Rocketship Schools. The discussion revolves around Rocketship's -innovative, community-centered approach. Any Rocketship campus begins with an exploration of the school's families' and community's values. Preston describes how these diverse ideas are incorporated while scaling around a central model and how conscious parent engagement begins with meaningful relationships. We also examine Rocketship's introduction of digital citizenship in early elementary years. Tune in to discover how trust and mindfulness drive Rocketship's educational success.---Preston Smith co-founded Rocketship in 2006. He has held numerous roles at Rocketship, including teacher, principal, Director of Schools, and Chief Achievement Officer. Preston has led Rocketship’s professional development, leadership development, integrated special education, and student and teacher recruitment. In 2013, he was named CEO. Prior to Rocketship, Preston was founder and Principal of L.U.C.H.A. Elementary School, part of the Alum Rock Unified School District in San Jose, CA. After its first three years of operation, L.U.C.H.A. was the fourth highest performing low-income elementary school in California. Preston began his career in education as a Teach for America Corps (TFA) member at Clyde Arbuckle Elementary School (CA). In 2003, Preston was named “Teacher of the Year” at Arbuckle and was also nominated as one of six finalists for TFA’s Sue Lehmann award, given to TFA corps members with the highest classroom academic gains in the nation. Preston is also an Aspen New Schools Fellow.Preston is a proud Rocketeer parent: Zeke and Phoenix are alumni of Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep. He earned his Master in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University and graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Latin American Studies, Phi Beta Kappa.---Guest Links:Rocketship Schools - https://www.rocketshipschools.org/ Co-Host Links:Seth FleischauerFounder and President of Banyan Global LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/Lauren PintoCofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology SpecialistLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/Komal ShahSpeaker, Author, & EntrepreneurLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/consultkomalWebsite: https://thekomalshah.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Your-Hand-Consciousness-Education-ebook/dp/B09FNT6B45/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
What this episode covers
On this week's episode, host Seth Fleischauer interviews Preston Smith, CEO and co-founder of Rocketship Schools. The discussion revolves around Rocketship's -innovative, community-centered approach. Any Rocketship campus begins with an exploration of the school's families' and community's values. Preston describes how these diverse ideas are incorporated while scaling around a central model and how conscious parent engagement begins with meaningful relationships. We also examine Rocketship's introduction of digital citizenship in early elementary years. Tune in to discover how trust and mindfulness drive Rocketship's educational success.---Preston Smith co-founded Rocketship in 2006. He has held numerous roles at Rocketship, including teacher, principal, Director of Schools, and Chief Achievement Officer. Preston has led Rocketship’s professional development, leadership development, integrated special education, and student and teacher recruitment. In 2013, he was named CEO. Prior to Rocketship, Preston was founder and Principal of L.U.C.H.A. Elementary School, part of the Alum Rock Unified School District in San Jose, CA. After its first three years of operation, L.U.C.H.A. was the fourth highest performing low-income elementary school in California. Preston began his career in education as a Teach for America Corps (TFA) member at Clyde Arbuckle Elementary School (CA). In 2003, Preston was named “Teacher of the Year” at Arbuckle and was also nominated as one of six finalists for TFA’s Sue Lehmann award, given to TFA corps members with the highest classroom academic gains in the nation. Preston is also an Aspen New Schools Fellow.Preston is a proud Rocketeer parent: Zeke and Phoenix are alumni of Rocketship Fuerza Community Prep. He earned his Master in Educational Leadership from San Jose State University and graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Latin American Studies, Phi Beta Kappa.---Guest Links:Rocketship Schools - https://www.rocketshipschools.org/ Co-Host Links:Seth FleischauerFounder and President of Banyan Global LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/Lauren PintoCofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology SpecialistLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/Komal ShahSpeaker, Author, & EntrepreneurLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/consultkomalWebsite: https://thekomalshah.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Your-Hand-Consciousness-Education-ebook/dp/B09FNT6B45/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
NOW PLAYING
#15 Community-First Learning with Rocketship Schools’ Preston Smith
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m