“Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged 4.0” is a podcast series where San Diego County school superintendents talk candidly about leadership, their districts, and the challenges facing public education. Season 4 is brought to you by the Classroom of the Future Foundation, Center for Educational Innovation and Cloudcast Media. SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in California, is the series’ Presenting Sponsor.
FPSU Season 4 pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a school district today. Whether you’re an educator, a parent, a district staffer, or just someone who cares about public schools, these conversations offer real, unscripted insight you won’t find in a press release. Listen in and you’ll pick up:
- Practical leadership lessons from superintendents navigating everything from AI adoption and mental health programs to infrastructure and funding crises — ideas you can borrow for your own school or district.
- An honest look behind the scenes, including retiring superintendents reflecting candidly on what they’d do differently and leadership transitions in real time.
- A window into small, rural districts that rarely get airtime — hearing how superintendents in places like Borrego Springs or Julian stretch limited resources and solve problems most urban districts never face.
- Timely takes on the issues shaping education right now, from responsible AI use in classrooms to special education funding gaps and student belonging initiatives.
Below is a complete guide to every Season 4 episode, with a summary, description, air date, and listening link so you can jump straight to the conversations that matter most to you.
Episode 1 — Season 4 Kickoff with Dr. Gloria Ciriza and Dr. Leighangela Brady
Aired: November 6, 2025
Season 4 opens with Dr. Gloria Ciriza, Superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education, and Dr. Leighangela Brady, Superintendent of National School District and Co-Chair of the Classroom of the Future Foundation, setting the stage for the new season.
Episode 2 — Scott Goergens and Dr. Brian Thurman Discuss CTE Programs
Aired: November 13, 2025
Scott Goergens and Dr. Brian Thurman, superintendents of Lakeside Union and Ramona Unified School Districts, highlight the value of Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in preparing students for college and career pathways.
Episode 3 — Superintendents Dr. Rich Newman and Dr. Mark Stevens Discuss Leadership Stories From Small Rural Schools
Aired: November 20, 2025
Dr. Rich Newman (Alpine Union) and Dr. Mark Stevens (Borrego Springs Unified) share their personal leadership journeys and the distinct challenges of serving small, rural school communities.
Episode 4 — Superintendents Dr. Patrick Keeley and Andrea Sissons Discuss Infrastructure and Water Issues For Small Districts
Aired: December 6, 2025
Dr. Patrick Keeley (Mountain Empire Unified) and Andrea Sissons (Warner Unified) dig into the infrastructure headaches — including water access — that come with running small, rural school districts.
Episode 5 — Dr. Kristin Baranski, Dr. Kristen Bonser, and Superintendent Dr. Leighangela Brady
Aired: December 11, 2025
Santee School District superintendent Dr. Kristin Baranski, Pride Academy principal Dr. Kristen Bonser, and National School District’s Dr. Leighangela Brady discuss “Purple Star” districts.
Episode 6 — Jocelyn Gomez, Vanessa Cesena, Dr. Leighangela Brady Discuss Collaboration, Trust, And Inclusivity In School Leadership
Aired: December 25, 2025
Two administrative assistants, Jocelyn Gomez and Vanessa Cesena, join National School District superintendent Dr. Leighangela Brady for a conversation on the trust and collaboration that hold a district office together behind the scenes.
Episode 7 — Karl Mueller, Superintendent, Coronado Unified School District, Discusses Successful Mental Health First Aid Program
Aired: December 28, 2025
Coronado Unified superintendent Karl Mueller discusses the district’s Mental Health First Aid training and the broader mission of superintendents in supporting student wellbeing.
Episode 8 — Marianna Vinson, Superintendent, Lemon Grove School District, Discusses The Power of Community Engagement
Aired: January 11, 2026
Marianna Vinson shares her journey from first-generation Stanford student to superintendent, and how deep community engagement drives outcomes across the Lemon Grove School District.
Episode 9 — Superintendents Dr. Moises Aguirre and Dr. Eduardo Reyes Discuss Model for District Collaboration To Better Serve Students
Aired: January 15, 2026
Dr. Moises Aguirre (Sweetwater Union High) and Dr. Eduardo Reyes (Chula Vista Elementary) discuss how their neighboring districts collaborate — sharing resources and coordinating K-12 pathways — to better serve South Bay students.
Episode 10 — Dr. Tim Baird and Dr. Leighangela Brady Discuss How Innovation Is a Team Sport in Schools
Aired: January 22, 2026
Dr. Tim Baird and Dr. Leighangela Brady discuss their work with the Classroom of the Future Foundation and why turning innovative ideas into classroom reality takes a coordinated team effort across districts.
Episode 11 — Meliton Sanchez, Superintendent of Vallecitos School District, on Building a Support Network that Works
Aired: January 29, 2026
Meliton Sanchez reflects on three years leading Vallecitos School District, the payoff of a guided-reading program, and how community partnerships help a small district stretch limited resources.
Episode 12 — Dr. Fabiola Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, on Interest-Driven Learning & Parent Involvement
Aired: February 5, 2026
San Diego Unified superintendent Dr. Fabiola Bagula traces her path from teacher to superintendent and covers special-education funding, middle-school redesign, and the district’s record as one of the highest-achieving large urban districts in the country.
Episode 13 — Dr. Joseph Clevenger, Assistant Superintendent at SDCOE, On Reducing Student Poverty And Creating Belonging
Aired: February 12, 2026
Dr. Joseph Clevenger of the San Diego County Office of Education discusses programs serving at-risk and foster youth — including Juvenile Court and Community Schools and San Pasqual Academy — and the county’s push to reduce poverty through belonging.
Episode 14 — Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra and Brian Duffy, Retiring San Diego Superintendents, Reflect On Their Tenure And The Future
Aired: February 19, 2026
Two retiring superintendents — Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra (Escondido Union) and Brian Duffy (Julian Union Elementary) — look back on their careers, successful bond campaigns, wildfire resilience, and why they chose internal successors.
Episode 15 — Mark Burroughs and Dr. Matt Doyle Discuss Belonging, Transportation and Big Decisions
Aired: March 31, 2026
San Pasqual Union superintendent Mark Burroughs and Vista Unified superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle compare the realities of leading small vs. large districts, from transportation logistics and power outages to building student belonging.
Episode 16 — Brad Johnson and Dr. Jessica Spallino Discuss The Big Vision Behind The Dehesa School District & Method Sports Academy
Aired: April 2, 2026
Dehesa School District superintendent Brad Johnson and Method Schools CEO Dr. Jessica Spallino discuss their partnership behind the Method Sports Academy — a site-based program pairing flexible academics with athletic training for student-athletes.
Episode 17 — Wearing Many Hats: Small-District Leadership with Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez and Brenda Mefford
Aired: April 28, 2026
Fallbrook Union High School District superintendent Ilsa Garza-Gonzalez and Chief Business Officer Brenda Mefford talk trust-building between a superintendent and CBO, and the financial squeeze small districts feel from rising special-education costs.
Episode 18 — Human-Centered AI-Innovation with Poway Unified’s Dr. Ben Churchill, Amy Fousek and F3 Law’s Gretchen Shipley
Aired: June 7, 2026
Poway Unified superintendent Dr. Ben Churchill and Director of Ed Tech Amy Fousek team up with education attorney Gretchen Shipley to explore AI literacy, data-privacy policy, and how districts can adopt AI responsibly and ethically.
Episode 19 — Belonging, AI, and Future Ready Students: Inside Rural School Districts With Dr. Heather Golly and Kelly Baas
Aired: June 7, 2026
Dr. Heather Golly (Bonsall Unified) and Kelly Baas (Spencer Valley Elementary) compare notes on running small, rural districts — from transportation gaps and special-education staffing shortages to Bonsall’s Purple Star military-family designation.
Episode 20 — Leading with Joy in San Diego Schools: Conversations with Superintendents Dr. Andrée Grey and Dr. Andrea Norman
Aired: June 10, 2026
Dr. Andrée Grey (Encinitas Union) and Dr. Andrea “Andi” Norman talk about visibility, mentorship, and positive leadership, plus how their districts are approaching AI adoption and the ongoing struggle to fund special education adequately.
Episode 21 — From Habits to Heroes: Liz Bystedt and Kim Pinkerton Explore How “Leader In Me” Transforms School Culture
Aired: June 15, 2026
Superintendents Liz Bystedt (Jamul-Dulzura Union) and Kim Pinkerton (Rancho Santa Fe), joined by two campus principals, Yesenia Robinson and Joe Erpelding, unpack how the “Leader in Me” program — built on Stephen Covey’s leadership habits — has reshaped student engagement and school culture in their districts.
Episode 22 — Future Pathways in National City: Leadership Transition from Dr. Brady to Dr. Philyaw
Aired: June 17, 2026
Outgoing National School District superintendent Dr. Leighangela Brady — the district’s first woman superintendent in its 155-year history — hands the reins to her successor, Dr. Laura Philyaw. The two discuss student-centered leadership, dual immersion programs, and how shared values are making for a smooth transition.
Episode 23 — Superintendents Dr. Jennifer Burks and Marisa Janicek chat about AI, Nature, and Student Voice
Aired: July 7, 2026
Superintendents Dr. Jennifer Burks (Solana Beach) and Marisa Janicek (Del Mar Union) discuss the importance of innovative learning, purposeful technology, and preparing students for the future. They also highlight the value of mentorship, community collaboration, and human-centered approaches to AI in education.
Episode 24 — Leadership Is Temporary, Culture Is the Legacy: Dr. Leighangela Brady Unplugged
Aired: July 16, 2026
Retiring National School District Superintendent Dr. Leighangela Brady reflects on her career, highlighting the power of positive school culture, community partnerships, and outdoor learning. She also shares insights on mentorship, educational leadership, and her vision for the future of public education.
Episode 25 — Keeping Kids in Love with School: Future-Ready Middle School Design, CTE Pathways, and Student Voice
Aired: July 17, 2026
Dr. Andy Johnsen shares how San Marcos Unified is preparing students for success through career pathways, dual enrollment, and a community-driven vision for the future. He also highlights the importance of collaboration, leadership, and equipping students with the skills to thrive beyond graduation.
To explore our full library of audio content and stay updated on all episodes, visit the CFF Podcasts page at https://classroomofthefuture.org/cff-podcasts/.