How can a superintendent who teaches middle school weekly—and wears sneakers with suits—transform an entire school district?

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent of Topeka Public Schools and a nationally recognized education leader, shares how embedding leadership within the lived realities of students, families, and teachers can reshape entire systems. As the first Black woman to lead the historic Topeka district, Dr. Anderson has built a blueprint for sustainable transformation—one rooted in equity, proximity, and purpose.

From establishing trauma-informed schools and wraparound services to developing teacher pipelines that begin in high school, Dr. Anderson demonstrates how leadership that stays grounded—literally—builds trust, raises achievement, and reimagines professional learning.

Key Insights

• Sneakers on the Ground: Why Dr. Anderson leads by walking hallways, visiting homes, and teaching weekly.
  
• Systems Over Programs: From in-school laundry to parent hiring pipelines—solutions built to last.
  
• Decentralized Leadership: How Topeka flattens hierarchy with lead principals and teaching administrators.
  
• Wellness Meets Strategy: Mental health spaces, time audits, and trust-building to fight burnout.
  
• Redefining PD: Real talk–what makes professional learning stick, and what gets in the way.

Listen now:

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