Leading with Heart: How Dr. Zandra Jo Galván Creates Thriving School Communities Dr. Zandra Jo Galván on Leading with Purpose and Building Resilient Schools

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: From humble beginnings in Greenfield to becoming an award-winning superintendent, Dr. Galván shares powerful insights on leading with empathy, building authentic relationships, and preparing students for an AI-driven future.

Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker

Dr. Zandra Jo Galván serves as Superintendent of Salinas UHSD, is CALSA Immediate Past President (California Assoc Latinx Sups & Admin), was named ALAS National Superintendent of the Year 2023-2024, and recognized as a Top 100 National Influencer for District Administration 2024.

Breaking Down the Old Rules 🔨

In this episode, Dr. Galván challenges traditional education paradigms:

Key Insight #1: Authentic Leadership Transforms School Culture

• What's broken: Traditional hierarchical leadership creating barriers between administrators and staff

• The shift: Leading with vulnerability, genuine presence, and intentional relationship-building

• Impact: Staff feel valued, seen, and supported, leading to stronger engagement and better student outcomes

Key Insight #2: Wellness Must Be Systemic

• What's broken: Stigma around self-care and mental health in education

• The shift: Implementing district-wide wellness initiatives including mental health days, beach cruiser bikes, and blender bikes

• Impact: Created a culture where taking care of oneself is celebrated and supported

Key Insight #3: Future-Ready Education Requires Innovation

• What's broken: Preparing students for jobs that won't exist

• The shift: Embracing AI, creating innovative pathways, and focusing on future skills

• Impact: Students develop entrepreneurial mindsets and are better prepared for emerging careers

Quotable Ruckus

"I'm a very authentic person and vulnerable, and I'm okay with that. And a title is not going to change who I am for the virtue of position." – Dr. Zandra Jo Galván

Your Do School Different Challenge

Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

1. Tomorrow: Start your day in classrooms, connecting with students and teachers

2. This Month: Implement one wellness initiative for your staff

3. This Semester: Identify future-ready skills and begin planning innovative pathways

Connect & Continue

• 🎯 Get the full episode transcript: [Link]

• 🔗 Follow Zandra on LinkedIn

• 💪 Join the Ruckus Maker Movement: https://ruckusmakers.club/join

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Today’s RUCKUScast in Partnership with:

Quest Food Management Services: Creating joyful learning environments starts in the cafeteria. Quest brings 40 years of expertise in crafting scratch-made meals that nurture both body and community spirit through innovative student engagement programs. 🔍 Learn more: www.questfms.com

IXL: Meet your students where they are and take them where they need to go. Join over 1 million teachers who trust IXL to drive data-informed excellence in their classrooms. 🔍 Learn more: IXL.com/leaders

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