What happens when a former basketball coach takes his playbook to the superintendent's office?

In this episode, Nick Telford sits down with Kent Bechler, a former varsity basketball coach who now coaches and mentors superintendents across California as a Senior Partner at Leadership Associates. Kent explains why district leaders need coaches just like professional athletes do, and shares how to trade outdated "command and control" tactics for expert facilitation. In this episode you'll learn:

• Why working with the school board isn't an obstacle, it is your job
• How districts hit a seven-year cycle before needing to reinvent
• Why modern leaders must shift from command and control to facilitation
• How asking more questions turns a good solution into a better one
• Why the higher you climb in district leadership, the less truth you hear

What does it take to lead the same school district for 14 years while consistently building a culture that develops leaders who get recruited across the entire state?

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Bob Taylor, the Superintendent of Walnut Valley Unified School District in California. Broadcasting from a leadership retreat in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Bob shares his deep commitment to developing people at every level of his organization. From taking 50 district employees to learn leadership lessons on historic battlefields to running a state-wide Aspiring Superintendents Program, Bob reveals why true leadership requires investing heavily in others. Discover how his unparalleled longevity with a highly veteran school board has created a resilient, well-oiled district culture rooted in continuous learning. In this episode, you'll learn:

• How a year-long leadership program builds culture and ends with a Gettysburg trip
• Why leaders must be "generalists" and lead subject experts by asking questions
• How "productive paranoia" helps leaders look ahead to make complex decisions
• The secret to Bob's 14-year tenure and the efficiency of a veteran school board
• Why losing top talent is a chance to adopt an "upgrade" mindset to thrive

Learn more about Walnut Valley Unified School District

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Dr. Gordon Amerson, Superintendent of Val Verde Unified School District, to discuss his unique path to education and his forward-thinking approach to school leadership

In his early years, baseball was a big part of Gordon's future plans. Gordon shares his personal journey of being drafted by the San Diego Padres and playing for the New York Yankees organization, and how a career-ending hand injury led to a profound identity shift. With his mother's guidance, he found his true calling: inspiring the next generation as an educator.

Gordon opens up about some of the hardest calls he's had to make, from choosing ethics over optics during a high school testing cheating scandal, to navigating the highly polarized political climate of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, you'll learn:

• Amerson's philosophy based on four pillars: Listen, Empower, Affirm, and Develop (L.E.A.D.)
• Why Val Verde Unified is a trailblazer in family engagement
• Details about district initiatives funded by a $35 million Community Schools grant
• Why Amerson isn't afraid of AI, instead advocating for administrators to use it

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Bruce Bivins, Superintendent of Perris Elementary School District, to discuss how true leadership and holistic education can transform a school community.

Bruce shares how growing up in an adopted family built on love and service shaped his lifelong desire to create a sense of belonging. He details his unique path to education, which included coaching youth, almost becoming a firefighter, and working with highly vulnerable populations like displaced foster youth and incarcerated teens. Bivins also shares the innovative work he's doing in the Perris school district. In this conversation, you'll learn:

• Why the "command and control" mindset that dominated early 2000s education is broken
• How a leadership style rooted in humility, curiosity, vulnerability, and trust is more effective
• Why psychological safety is the absolute foundation for student success.
• Why Perris emphasizes emotional intelligence and critical problem-solving
• Innovative techniques, like classroom Zen zones, and campus sensory rooms
• How holistic strategies have led to decreases in suspensions and accelerated English literacy
• Impact of enrichment programs like school gardens and a bike-riding program for kindergartners

Tune in to hear how Superintendent Bivins is working to leave a legacy of deep care, strong relationships, and a school culture where kids and families are the ultimate winners

Learn more about Perris Elementary School District

What does it mean to lead when you’re accountable for everything—but in control of very little?

In this episode of School District Superheroes, Nick Telford sits down with Dr. Paul Marietti, Superintendent of Lancaster School District, to explore the realities of leadership at the highest level of public education.

Dr. Marietti shares his journey from a blue-collar upbringing—where college wasn’t the expected path—to becoming a district leader responsible for thousands of students and staff. Along the way, he reflects on the power of mentorship, perseverance as a struggling student, and the defining influence of his mother’s belief in education.

At the heart of the conversation is a powerful reframing of leadership: the superintendency isn’t about doing the work—it’s about owning the responsibility for it.

Together, they unpack:

• The emotional and professional weight of leading a school district
• Why leadership becomes less about control and more about trust
• How to build alignment through clarity and consistent communication
• The growing challenges of AI, misinformation, and student behavior
• The expanding role of school districts as essential community support systems

This episode offers a grounded, honest perspective on what it takes to lead in today’s educational landscape—and why the best leaders focus on building people, not just systems.

Emy Flores’ story is one of resilience, opportunity, and purpose.

After immigrating from Guatemala at age nine, Emy grew up in the projects of East Los Angeles, where instability and limited opportunity were a daily reality. School became her refuge—and the educators who believed in her changed the course of her life.

Today, she serves as Superintendent of West Covina Unified School District, where she is focused on creating the very opportunities that once changed her own trajectory.

In this episode, Emy shares how her upbringing shaped her leadership, why resilience is at the core of student success, and how she is reimagining education through innovation, career pathways, and a deep commitment to student well-being.

This conversation offers a powerful reminder of the impact educators can have—and what’s possible when students are seen, supported, and given the chance to thrive.

Connect with Emy on LinkedIn

Visit the West Covina Unified School District website

What does it really take to lead a school district today?

In this trailer episode of School District Superheroes, host Nick Telford introduces the show and why it's dedicated to the leaders who carry one of the most demanding—and impactful—roles in education: superintendents.

These are the individuals making high-stakes decisions, shaping vision, building teams, and ultimately influencing the opportunities available to thousands of students.

This podcast shines a light on the innovation, resilience, and leadership driving school districts forward across California. Through candid conversations, you’ll hear directly from superintendents and district leaders about:

• How they navigate complex challenges
• The values and mindsets that guide their decisions
• The unique paths that led them into leadership
• Their vision for the future of education

Whether you’re a current or aspiring superintendent, educator, policymaker, or community member, this show offers an inside look at the people shaping the future of schools—and the students they serve.

Subscribe to School District Superheroes to learn from the leaders putting the SUPER back in superintendents.