🔔 School bells are ringing again as we jump into the fall term for many districts!

As we dive into another busy week, I wanted to share something truly inspiring with you. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Michael Matsuda, the Superintendent of Anaheim Union High School District, and his insights into educational leadership are both refreshing and thought-provoking.

Michael’s leadership journey is a testament to what can be achieved when passion meets strategy. In our conversation, he opened up about his commitment to equity, his innovative approaches, and how he’s working to create a supportive environment for both students and educators.

Here’s a glimpse into our discussion:

🗒️ Empowering Every Learner: Michael Matsuda’s Leadership Approach

• Whole-Child Learning Over Test Scores: AUHSD prioritizes whole-child learning, which has led to higher student engagement and academic success, especially among underserved communities. His commitment to this goal and the results are worth digging into in detail.

• Leadership and Diversity: Michael's background in both the private sector and education has contributed to his unique leadership style focused on social justice and innovation. It's been rare to find someone who transitioned from outside the education sector who then goes on to take on the superintendency, but he leans into the outside-in perspective to drive change.

• Innovation in Education: The district employs advanced tools, including AI, to prepare students for the future job market, emphasizing project-based and community-centered learning. Michael also talks about collaborating with higher ed and other innovators in education to run pilots and rapidly test new ideas.

• Recruitment and Alignment: Emphasizing alignment with core values, Michael discusses the importance of recruiting teachers and leaders who share the district's vision and mission.

Click here to listen to the full interview and get inspired by Michael’s vision for the future of education.

Best,

CT | Engaging Leadership