Student Safety, Community Trust & Resilient Leadership

In this episode of Learning Can’t Wait, Dr. Brenda Lewis, Superintendent of Fridley Public Schools, shares her leadership journey from paraeducator to superintendent and discusses the challenges her district faced during ICE Metro Surge. She explains how immigration enforcement activities on and around school property disrupted student attendance, created fear among families, and threatened students' access to their constitutional right to education. Dr. Lewis reflects on leading through crisis, supporting staff and families, rebuilding trust within the community, and maintaining a steadfast commitment to student safety, belonging, and public education. She also offers valuable leadership lessons on communication, transparency, governance, and leading through core values.