Season 4, Episode 1 | Dr. Gloria Ciriza, Superintendent, San Diego County Office of Education and Dr. Leighangela Brady

Welcome to Season 4, Episode 1 of "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged."  

Sponsored by a champion of schools, school leaders, teachers and employees - SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union - we have an excellent episode featuring discussions with the Superintendent of the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE), Dr. Gloria Ciriza and Dr. Leighangela Brady, the Superintendent of the National School District and Co-Chair of the Classroom of the Future Foundation.  In her role as the leader of SDCOE, Dr. Ciriza leads an organization which supports school leaders, teachers, and students across 780​ schools, 480,000 students in total, including the children we educate each year through the Juvenile Court and Community Schools. SDCOE provides a variety of services for the 43 school districts, 128 charter schools, and five community college districts in the county.  

The discussion highlights the unique collaboration among San Diego County's 43 superintendents, emphasizing their collective efforts in education. Key points include the importance of cybersecurity, strengthening networks to support student well-being, and the Community of Practice series to foster empathetic leadership among Superintendents.


Introduction of Guests and Sponsors

• Drew Schlosberg, introduces the launch of season four of "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged."
• Drew welcomes two CFF board members: Dr. Gloria Ciriza, County Superintendent of Schools, and Dr. Leighangela Brady, incoming Chair of the Classroom of the Future Foundation.
• Drew highlights the involvement of the Classroom of the Future Foundation, the Center for Educational Innovation, Cloudcast Media and SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union in supporting the podcast.
• Drew emphasizes the unique collaboration and support from sponsors like Schools First Federal Credit Union, who actively participate in events and support the community.

Unique Collaboration Among San Diego County Superintendents

• Drew discusses the unique collaboration among the 43 superintendents in San Diego County, highlighting their ability to work together and support each other.
• Dr. Gloria Ciriza shares her pride in working with other county superintendents and the sense of pride and joy it brings.
• Dr. Ciriza emphasizes the importance of coming together to face challenges and celebrate together.
• Drew and Dr. Ciriza discuss the importance of focusing on local issues and not letting national noise distract from local efforts.

Importance of Cybersecurity in Education

• Dr. Leighangela Brady discusses the importance of elevating students' voices and making a difference in their schools and communities.
• Drew introduces the third annual Superintendent Cyber Security Summit, scheduled for October 14, 2025, at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, USD.
• Dr. Ciriza emphasizes the growing importance of cybersecurity and the need for school leaders to understand and protect student and staff data.
• Dr. Brady shares her personal experience of restructuring the technology department in her district after attending the first cybersecurity summit.

Community of Practice and Empathetic Leadership

• Dr. Brady discusses the importance of empathetic leadership and the need for Superintendents to take care of their well-being.
• Dr. Brady highlights the Community of Practice series focused on surviving to thriving as an empathetic leader, in partnership with the County Office of Education.
• Dr. Brady shares the importance of mindfulness and self-care for Superintendents to avoid burnout and maintain their effectiveness.
• Drew and Dr. Brady discuss the role of the mindful leaders project and the importance of building networks and partnerships.

Live Well Advance in School Summit

• Dr. Gloria Ciriza introduces the 10th Annual Live Well Advance in School Summit, scheduled for October 22, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center.
• The summit focuses on strengthening networks and relationships among educators, community leaders, and families to support student success.
• Dr. Ciriza emphasizes the importance of collaboration and breaking down barriers to improve resource flow and support for students and families.
• Drew and Dr. Ciriza discuss the significance of the summit in promoting communication and collaboration among various stakeholders.

Supe Tank 5.0 and Building Networks

• Dr. Brady discusses the importance of building networks and partnerships through events like Supe Tank 5.0.
• Dr. Brady shares the success of previous Supe Tank events and the importance of Superintendents pitching their needs to potential partners.
• Dr. Brady highlights the innovative format of Supe Tank 5.0,