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 and is 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.

In the first episode of AASA Radio for 2025, school leaders from across the United States discuss the challenge of leading school districts during divisive times. Hosted by the President of the American Association of School Administrators, the panel shares insights, staying focused on student outcomes, leveraging technology like AI in education, and navigating the current political and social challenges of the moment. They also discuss strategies for balancing competing perspectives and staying resilient in the face of uncertainty.

Twitter: @Supt_Balderas | @m_salazarzamora | @DrAlexMarrero | @larawadem | @Jonharper70bd | @BAMRadioNetwork

Dr. Gustavo Balderas is President of the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents and President of AASA.Balderas has been and is 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, Chiefs for Change Board, is a co-founder and inaugural president of the Oregon Association of Latino Administrators. Dr. Balderas is also a volunteer consulting superintendent for the Educational Research and Development Institute, Suburban School Superintendents, and the Institute for Educational Innovation national organizations.

Dr. Martha Salazar-Zamora has served as an educator in Texas for over 37 years and as the Superintendent of Schools in Tomball ISD since 2017. She is a trailblazer and is the first female Superintendent of TISD and the first Hispanic Superintendent of Tomball ISD. Zamora was recognized as the 2023 Texas Superintendent of the Year, representing Region 4, as well as a 2024 AASA National Superintendent of the Year Finalist. Dr. Salazar-Zamora not only leads a fast-growth district but one of the highest academic achieving districts in the State of Texas, all while maintaining strong financial management practices.

Dr. Alex Marrero has served as the Superintendent of Denver Public Schools since Spring 2021. He oversees Colorado’s largest school district, which includes nearly 85,000 students and 14,000 staff across over 200 schools, and has a budget of $1.45 billion. As the son of a Cuban refugee and a Dominican immigrant, Dr. Marrero understands firsthand and advocates for the diverse needs of his students. Under his leadership, the district has achieved its highest-ever graduation rates and seen the implementation of its first-ever equity-based strategic plan.
David Law is the superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools, one of the top school districts in Minnesota. Law earned a BA from Hamline University with a major in mathematics and a minor in education. His teaching career includes experiences in California and Minnesota at the middle school and high school levels. In 1998, he began his administrative career. Over the following 12 years, he worked in Mounds View, Anoka-Hennepin, and White Bear Lake school districts as a middle school administrator. Law completed his k-12 principal and superintendent license at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and earned his Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 2010, he was named assistant superintendent for White Bear Lake Area Schools. He spent eight years as superintendent for the Anoka-Hennepin School District, the largest school district in Minnesota.

In this AASA Radio episode, Dave Schuler, the executive director of AASA, focuses on mental health awareness in educational settings. Our distinguished guests include Superintendents Shari Camhi (Baldwin, N.Y.), Tobin Novasio (Hardin, Mont.) as well as Paul Imhoff and Ann Levett discussing initiatives in their respective districts aimed at improving student and staff mental health. Programs range from school mindfulness and wellness centers to parent engagement initiatives and partnerships with mental health organizations. The episode highlights the importance of developing relationships, creating supportive ecosystems, and integrating mental health awareness into the educational framework.
Follow on Twitter: @AnnLPGA @tsnovasio@AASAHQ @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd@tsnovasio

Dr. Paul Imhoff has been a public educator for over 30 years, earning his Bachelor’s and Doctor of Education Degrees from Miami University and his Master’s Degree from the University of Dayton. Imhoff was an Ohio superintendent for 16 years, serving the Mariemont Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the Upper Arlington Schools in Columbus, Ohio. He was selected as the Ohio Superintendent of the Year in 2018 and was the President of AASA in 2021/2022. Currently, Imhoff serves as the Director of Government Relations for the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, Ohio’s Superintendent Association. In addition, Imhoff is active in the AASA Leadership Network, leading the Mental Health Cohort and the Eastern States Consortium, and is a veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard.

Dr. M. Ann Levett of AASA is a career educator who has served at every level in education, from teacher to Superintendent to School Board member in K-12 education, and in faculty and administrative positions in higher education.
Tobin Novasio is in their first year as superintendent at Hardin Public Schools in south central Montana and 18 years as a superintendent in Montana. President of Montana Rural Education Association, AASA Mental Health Cohort Steering Committee member, Hope Squad National Advisory Board member, Cook Center for Human Connections Advisory Council and participant in inaugural AASA/JED Foundation District Comprehensive Approach cohort.

Dr. Shari L. Camhi is the superintendent of Baldwin School District and past president of the National School Superintendent’s Association (AASA). She also serves on the National Assessment Governing Board. With more than 30 years’ experience in both education and business, Dr. Camhi has received numerous accolades and recognition for her innovative contributions to K-12 instruction, including Education Week’s “Leaders to Learn From,” NSPRA’s “New Superintendent to Watch,” Education Dive’s “Administrators to Watch.”

David Schuler is a highly experienced, successful and well-regarded educational leader. He was a superintendent for 22 years prior to taking on the Executive Director role at AASA. He has served in rural, urban and suburban settings, including 17 years as superintendent of High School District 214, Illinois’ largest high school system.