Five Years Later: How the Pandemic Changed the Way We Lead Our Districts

In this episode of AASA Radio, educational leaders discuss the lessons they learned from the pandemic and how the experience changed the way they lead their districts. The panel explores the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public schools and shares the successful strategies they’ve embraced for fostering resilience, innovation, and well-being. The group emphasized the importance of building the right infrastructure and capacity for both students and staff to thrive in an AI-driven world, as well as the role of strategic planning in preparing students for future challenges. The episode concludes with advice for education leaders on integrating technology into their practices effectively. Dr. Gustavo Balderas is President of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and President of AASA. Balderas has been involved in numerous state, regional, and national organizations and committees, including having served on the Oregon State Board of Education as a superintendent liaison, the AASA Executive Committee, the Chiefs for Change Board, and is a co-founder and inaugural president of the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. Dr. Brandi Kelly is a superintendent, author, speaker, and consultant. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Kelly is dedicated to empowering leaders to inspire growth, create positive change, and cultivate environments where success thrives. Dr. Kelly has received numerous accolades for her leadership, including the NAESP Distinguished Elementary School Principal Award and the Middle School Principal of the Year Award. Dr. Jeremy S. Owoh is Superintendent of Schools at Jacksonville North Pulaski School District. Owoh’s mission is to bridge educational disparities through cutting-edge instructional practices. Owoh serves as President of the ISTE+ASCD Board of Directors. Dr. Barbara Sargent is the superintendent of the Hermon School Department in Hermon, Maine. She served as Principal of Village School and Orchard Hills School in Montgomery Township, NJ for six years, earning a NJ Principal of the Year recognition in 2003. As Assistant Superintendent for the Madison School District, Barbara partnered with amazing educators to enrich the district curricula and lead academic initiatives that elevated Madison High School in state rankings.