Overview:

At CASBO, we sat down with educational leaders from across California to explore a different kind of question: What does it take to lead school systems forward while balancing vision, operations, and the evolving needs of students and communities?

From managing growth and change to aligning district priorities with meaningful student impact, these conversations highlight the complexity behind creating environments where both students and staff can thrive. Along the way, you’ll also hear personal stories, reflections, and moments of humor that bring authenticity to the work of educational leadership.

If you’re looking to better understand the challenges, opportunities, and people shaping the future of education, these CASBO episodes offer an insightful look inside the conversations driving schools forward.

In this episode, Yuri Calderon, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at Orange Unified School District, discusses what it truly means to lead with students at the center — even from the business office. Yuri shares his philosophy of removing the “business hat” and instead focusing on aligning every dollar and resource as close to the classroom as possible. He reflects on lessons learned across his career in Santa Barbara, small and rural districts, and now Orange Unified, making a compelling case for why small districts are often the most innovative. Yuri also dives into the power of replicating and iterating on great ideas, what a thriving school actually looks like when you walk through the doors, how to align vendor and architect partnerships around what matters most for kids, and why reading — not AI summaries — remains his go-to tool for continuous learning.

In this episode, Dr. Todd Cutler, Superintendent of Lake Tahoe Unified School District, discusses what it truly means to build schools that transform communities. He shares his belief that education shapes the future of entire communities, not just individual students, and reflects on his journey through three superintendencies to find what matters most in school leadership. Dr. Cutler highlights the district’s innovative career tech education programs, dual enrollment partnerships with Lake Tahoe Community College, and a recently passed bond focused on creating flexible, engaging learning environments. He also opens up about the importance of high expectations paired with genuine care, the power of student voice in shaping classroom design, and why celebrating wins is something education doesn’t do nearly enough.