Podcast
Welcome to Beyond The Syllabus, a podcast about reimagining education from the inside out. Every week, we sit down with the people doing the real work: superintendents, curriculum leaders, district innovators, those who are pushing against outdated models to build something more human. Because learning should feel personal. Relevant. And grounded in who a student is.
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Josh Satterfield, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum at Woodhaven-Brownstown School District in Michigan. With experience as a teacher, coach, technology leader, and district administrator, Josh shares …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dan Stecken, Superintendent of Seneca Township High School District 160 and founder of Stress Leaders. A lifelong educator, former coach, and small-town superintendent, Dan shares how relationships, authen …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Daniel Smith, Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools. With over two decades of experience as a teacher, principal, chief of staff, and now superintendent, Dr. Smith shares how a coaching mind …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Anthony Mays, Superintendent of Alief ISD in Southwest Houston, where nearly 40,000 students learn across one of the most diverse districts in the country. From growing up as a highly mobile student in Fort Worth to becom …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with John Roach, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in San Jacinto Unified School District in California. With over 28 years in education, John brings a rare blend of deep instructional expertise, systems thinking, a …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Yolanda Conaway, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Student Affairs at Palo Alto Unified School District. With more than 25 years in education and the Outstanding Leadership in Education Award from the California Afri …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Michael Matsuda, Superintendent of Anaheim Union High School District since 2014 and founder of the National AI K12 Summit. Widely recognized for his innovation and advocacy, Mike has earned national awards for promoting …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Jonathan Cooper, Superintendent of Mason City Schools, a high performing and highly diverse district in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. With more than 100 languages spoken in the hallways, Mason is known for its strong a …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Wendy Birhanzel, Superintendent of Harrison School District 2 in Colorado Springs. With more than 20 years in public education across California and Colorado, Wendy has led two elementary schools to National Blue Ribbon a …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, Aidan McDowell sits down with Dr. Julie Williams, Deputy Superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools, for a wide-ranging conversation about how schools can honor student strengths, expand real-world learning, and design environments that …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Vicki Bayer, Superintendent of the Green Bay Area Public School District in Wisconsin. With over three decades in education, Vicki shares how her leadership journey—from classroom teacher to superintendent—has been grounded i …
In today’s episode, host Aidan McDowell sits down with Trish Sexton, the Chief Academic Officer for Lancaster County School District in South Carolina. With over three decades of experience in education, Trish shares her personal journey from a shy student and Navy family member …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, host Aidan McDowell talks with Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent of Cajon Valley Union School District (CA) since 2013. Recognized by the White House and U.S. Department of Education as one of the nation’s top 35 district leaders in perso …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, host Aidan McDowell talks with Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent of Valverde Unified School District (CA). A former minor-league baseball prospect turned lifelong educator, Dr. Amerson shares how his 25-year journey—from classroom teacher …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, we talk with Dr. John Mulford, Superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools in Arkansas. With decades of leadership experience and a deep personal commitment to relational trust, Dr. Mulford opens up about what it takes to create a school …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, we head to rural Florida to hear from Dr. Richard Surrency, Superintendent of Putnam County School District. With decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and now district leader, Dr. Surrency brings a boots-on-the-ground perspective …
In this episode of Beyond the Syllabus, we sit down with Dr. Greggory R. Slate, Superintendent of Davidson County Schools in North Carolina, who brings both vision and lived leadership experience to this essential transformation. With a background in school improvement, trauma-in …
In the debut episode of Beyond the Syllabus, we sit down with Rick Cohen, Chief Academic Officer of Edison Township Public Schools and a leading voice in translating the science of learning into real-world classroom practice. From his beginnings in juvenile detention centers to b …
