In this episode of Hire Ground, hosts Christina Greenberg and Josh Czupryk tackle the growing crisis of leadership fatigue in K12 education. With teachers hesitant to step into school leadership and principals wary of central office roles, they explore how to make leadership sustainable again—amid political pressures, enrollment battles, and expanding demands. Joined by Natasha Trivers, current Executive Director of the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management and former CEO of Democracy Prep Public Schools. They discuss neurodiversity in teams, the importance of clarity and boundaries, and how to train the next generation of equity-driven, resilient leaders.

The political landscape in K12 education is more complex than ever, influencing classrooms, schools, districts, networks, and state-level systems. In this episode of Hire Ground, hosts Christina Greenberg and Josh Czupryk explore how political headwinds shape the K12 leadership profile and the critical role of state education agencies (SEAs) in driving student outcomes. Joined by Kunjan Narechania, CEO of Watershed Advisors and former leader at the Louisiana Department of Education and Teach For America, they discuss essential skills like coalition building, community engagement, and political savvy, alongside strategies for identifying and developing resilient leaders to navigate these challenges and foster positive education outcomes.

The K12 Leadership Profile has shifted since COVID. Can a leader compartmentalize? Can the communicate with clarity? Can they manage the external noise and keep their leaders, faculty, staff, students, and families focused on an academic north star? In this episode, we explore the Leadership Profile for K12 organizations, how the profile has shifted, and what you can do as you continue to identify, hire, and develop your leaders.

We bring on Eric Thomas from Charter School Growth Fund (CSGF) to share his reflections on what they see from the 400+ schools across their portfolio.

Successful hiring matches between leaders and organizations aren't accidents—they stem from clear conversations about what a role entails, how it drives impact, and the skills that ensure success. In this Hire Ground episode, we explore the candidate's journey in selecting roles and the organization's side in choosing talent, emphasizing alignment on every detail for the best outcomes.

Top organizations craft precise job descriptions outlining responsibilities, success metrics, and ideal candidate profiles. Savvy job seekers build resumes that spotlight results, link them to business wins, and showcase tangible contributions.

This timeless recruiting wisdom faces a new twist: AI's disruption. But fear not—ethical AI can supercharge efficiencies, from automating initial screens to aiding interview prep and resume tailoring. Organizations can harness it while keeping human experts in the loop; candidates can use it to research companies and customize applications. Balance is key.

Tune in to unpack how to define skills and profiles, leverage AI responsibly in your job search (from either side), and shine as the perfect fit—whether you're the employer or the applicant.

When will superintendents, CEOs, principals, and faculty look for 2026-27?

It's earlier than you think.

Listen to Episode One to go on a journey to Hire Ground with Christina and Josh as we talk about the start of the 2025-26 school year, how to support and actively retain your current leaders and faculty, and how to think ahead to hiring for 2026-27 using the data.

Hire Ground is the essential podcast for K12 leaders and talent professionals navigating the ever-changing landscape of educational leadership hiring. Hosted by Christina Greenberg, CEO of Edgility Search, with over 20 years of executive search expertise, and Josh Czupryk, founder of Josh's K12 Jobs Blast, this podcast blends high-level data insights with real-world stories to uncover how to find, hire, and retain the right leaders for the right organizations at the right time.