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Future Pathways Superintendents Unplugged

Future Pathways Superintendents Unplugged

By: Cloudcast
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Welcome to "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged", the podcast where San Diego County Superintendents have a place to unwind, unplug and share their journeys, dreams and challenges. A place and space for Superintendents to decompress, laugh, share, learn and discuss future pathways for their District, their schools and the students they serve.

Season 2 of Future Pathways is brought to you by Schools First Federal Credit Union,the largest credit union in California that has been serving school employees and their families since 1934. For more information on Schools First, please visit www.schoolsfirstfcu.org.Copyright Cloudcast
Episodes
  • Season 4, Episode 14 | Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra & Brian Duffy, Retiring San Diego Superintendents, Reflect On Their Tenure And The Future

    Season 4, Episode 14 | Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra & Brian Duffy, Retiring San Diego Superintendents, Reflect On Their Tenure And The Future
    Feb 20 2026
    Welcome to Season 4, Episode 14 of "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged"

    Dr. Luis Rankins-Ibarra, Retiring Superintendent of Escondido Union School District, and Brian Duffy, Retiring Superintendent of Julian Union Elementary School District, reflect on their careers and the importance of succession planning. Dr. Rankins highlights her third-grade teacher's influence and her district's $182.1 million bond campaign success. Duffy recalls his fifth-grade teacher and the community's resilience during wildfires. Both emphasize the challenges of fiscal stability and external pressures on public education. They discuss their successors, internal candidates chosen for continuity and community fit. Post-retirement, Rankins plans a summer vacation, while Duffy looks forward to building a house and traveling. The conversation underscores the collaborative spirit among San Diego County superintendents.

    Thank you for unplugging and listening to Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged. Be sure to subscribe to the show and share with your colleagues!

    The Presenting Sponsor for Season 4 of Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged is Schools First Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in California serving school employees and their families since 1934. Please learn more about Schools First Federal Credit Union by visiting https://www.schoolsfirstfcu.org/
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    41 mins
  • Season 4, Episode 13 | Joseph Clevenger, Assistant Superintendent at SDCOE, On Reducing Student Poverty And Creating Belonging

    Season 4, Episode 13 | Joseph Clevenger, Assistant Superintendent at SDCOE, On Reducing Student Poverty And Creating Belonging
    Feb 13 2026
    Welcome to Season 4, Episode 13 of "Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged"

    Joseph Clevenger, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services and Programs for the San Diego County Office of Education, discusses his mission to reduce poverty and increase belonging among the county's 500,000 students. He emphasizes the importance of transformational teaching and creating a welcoming environment. Clevenger highlights programs like Juvenile Court and Community Schools (JCCs), which serve 1,200 at-risk students, and San Pasqual Academy, a residential school for foster youth. He also discusses the impact of cybersecurity training and the community school strategy, which integrates local resources to support students. The conversation underscores the critical role of community engagement and relationships in educational success.

    Thank you for unplugging and listening to Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged. Be sure to subscribe to the show and share with your colleagues!

    The Presenting Sponsor for Season 4 of Future Pathways: Superintendents Unplugged is Schools First Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in California serving school employees and their families since 1934. Please learn more about Schools First Federal Credit Union by visiting https://www.schoolsfirstfcu.org/
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    45 mins
  • Season 4, Episode 12 | Fabi Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, on Interest-Driven Learning & Parent Involvement

    Season 4, Episode 12 | Fabi Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, on Interest-Driven Learning & Parent Involvement
    Feb 6 2026
    Welcome to Season 4, Episode 12 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 with Fabi Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, who discusses her journey from a teacher to a superintendent, emphasizing the importance of special education funding and early interventions. She highlighted the district's success in student assessments, noting a 100-point API growth at Balboa Elementary. Ba advocated for middle school redesign, better parent engagement, and the significance of career pathways and dual enrollment programs. She also stressed the need for improved writing curriculum and effective communication. The district's achievements include being the highest-achieving large urban district in the nation and California, with ongoing efforts to enhance literacy and student support.Introduction of Guests and Background of Fabi BagulaDrew Schlosberg, introduces the show and its sponsors, including the Classroom of the Future Foundation and the Center for Educational Innovation.Fabi is introduced as a well-known and highly sought-after superintendent in the region.Fabi shares her background, starting her career in 1998 after graduating from college and obtaining a free teaching credential from San Diego Unified.She recounts her journey from being a teacher to an administrator and eventually becoming a superintendent, driven by encouragement from colleagues and board members.Educational Journey and Personal BackgroundFabi discusses her educational background, growing up in San Diego, attending Southwest Junior High School, and UCSD for her bachelor's degree.She shares a personal story about her principal negotiating her living arrangements at UCSD to allow her to attend college.Fabi emphasizes the importance of special education funding and reform, highlighting the need for adequate funding and early interventions for children with disabilities.She mentions her work with local and state elected officials to advocate for special education funding and the need for reform in the credentialing system.Special Education Funding and ReformFabi discusses the challenges of special education funding, noting that even with significant funding, it is still not enough to meet the needs of students.She highlights the importance of early interventions and a continuum of care for children with disabilities.Fabi mentions her work with local and state elected officials, including City Council members, state assembly members, and Senator Sara Jacobs, to advocate for special education funding.She calls for increased public awareness and support for adequate funding for special education to ensure that students receive the necessary support.Importance of Student Assessments and DataFabi emphasizes the importance of student assessments and data in informing instruction and improving student outcomes.She shares her experience as a principal at Balboa Elementary School, where she grew student performance by over 100 API points through regular assessments and data-informed instruction.Fabi discusses the need for parents to be informed about their children's progress in literacy and mathematics, and the importance of using data to change practice rather than to grade students.She highlights the role of principals in leading with compassion and using data to build relationships and improve student outcomes.Middle School Redesign and Student EngagementFabi discusses the need for a complete redesign of middle school education to address the academic dip and behavioral uptick that occurs during this period.She shares an example of a school that has successfully bucked the trend by implementing an advisory system where students can explore interests and build relationships with teachers.Fabi emphasizes the importance of engaging students in activities that align with their interests and building relationships between students and teachers.She calls for a shift in funding priorities to support middle school education and address the unique needs of this age group.Parent Engagement and CommunicationFabi discusses the importance of parent engagement and communication in supporting student success.She shares her efforts to improve communication with parents, including hosting parent broadcasts and encouraging goal-setting conversations at the dinner table.Fabi emphasizes the need for schools to be welcoming to all parents and to involve them in the educational process.She highlights the role of principals in fostering strong relationships with parents and engaging them in the school community.Career Pathways and Dual EnrollmentFabi discusses the importance of career pathways and dual enrollment programs in providing students with opportunities to explore careers and earn college credits while still in high school.She shares examples of career pathways in San Diego Unified, including...
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    40 mins
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