Episode 151 Jason Rowland and Sonja Bailes - "Shreveport-Bossier: My City, My Community, My Home"

This week we gain wonderful insight into Bossier Schools and all the extraordinary work they are doing to strengthen our community's future. You can find my full discussion with Superintendent Jason Rowland and Communications and Media Officer Sonja Bailes here.

 

Here are the questions I asked:

 

0:31 1. We have an incredible team here. Jason, you come from a family deeply rooted in public education.

 

On January 1, 2024, you became the Superintendent for Bossier Schools, after serving as Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Personnel for Bossier Schools since 2019. And you have hit the ground running to say the very least. We’ll try to cover some of the high points, of which there are many.

 

One of your key initiatives was the Empowering Principals mentoring program. Talk to me some about this if you could.

 

5:31 2. Sonja, how lucky Bossier Schools is to have someone like you. You have been the Public Relations Liaison for more than a decade after spending 20 years in television news. You have been heavily involved in community service and non-profit work and are an Athena Award nominee and Virginia K. Shehee Most Influential Woman honoree and a recipient of the Clyde E Fant Memorial Award.

 

Talk to me some about your role with Bossier Schools.

 

9:20 3. The two of you oversee a wonderful podcast entitled “On the Record with Bossier Schools.” Talk to me about the genesis of this project and why it is such an important part of your work.

 

15:39 4. I read that approximately 13% of your students are from military families. Tell me how you have to think about your military students in a customized way, as well as how you have to think about and approach your relationship with Barksdale.

 

22:56 5. Talk to me about the Monday Morning Memo. Give me an example or two of what that sounds and looks like.

 

30:12 6. What does your weekly collaboration look like, the two of you?

 

33:08 7. Bossier Parish is booming. Talk to me about how this growth is impacting enrollment and your overall approach to overseeing Bossier Schools.

 

37:07 8. Jason, you were recently selected by the National School Public Relations Association as one of the top 25 Superintendents to watch in the country.

 

I read something that was incredible. That when school started last year, you boarded a school bus and visited all 34 Bossier School campuses in two days to offer words of encouragement.

 

What does being a great superintendent and leader mean to you?

 

45:21 9. One of the recurring themes on this podcast is about how many of our young people leave after school and don’t return. How can we do a better job at holding on to our best and brightest?