On the School Bus with Dr. Spates Podcast By Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates cover art

On the School Bus with Dr. Spates

On the School Bus with Dr. Spates

By: Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates
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Welcome to the school leadership podcast dedicated to advancing creativity and innovation in education. No matter the seat you lead from, this podcast is your vehicle for creative ideas, bold school leadership, and field-tested strategies that work where it counts—in schools.

WARNING ⚠️ This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day with a relentless focus on improving student outcomes and transforming students’ TK-12 school experiences and the once-passionate leaders who may have lost a bit of their spark and just need a dose of inspiration to find their way back.

Each week, we invite innovators in education from across the country, doing the real work in schools to hop on the school bus with me -- Dr. Spates, the Proud Principal of a vibrant Los Angeles County Middle School Community. Together, we uncover what’s really working in schools—tapping into each guest’s “zone of genius” to give you one practical, school-tested strategy you can bring back to your learning community.

Because our children, families, and communities are counting on us to lead with urgency, care, and purpose.

Let’s reimagine what’s possible in education, together —one ride at a time.

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Episodes
  • Ep 19 | Lead with Reckless Abandon. From Foster Care to College President: Inside Sacramento State’s Bold Equity Work with Dr. Luke Wood

    Ep 19 | Lead with Reckless Abandon. From Foster Care to College President: Inside Sacramento State’s Bold Equity Work with Dr. Luke Wood
    Mar 23 2026

    In this powerful episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, I sit down with Dr. Luke Wood, President of California State University Sacramento, for a deeply personal and purpose-driven conversation about leadership, equity, and systems transformation.

    Dr. Wood takes us on a journey through his lived experiences—from navigating foster care and systemic barriers to becoming a national voice in higher education leadership. He shares how those experiences shaped his unwavering commitment to ensuring students are not blamed for inequitable outcomes—and why leaders must instead redesign the systems that serve them.

    We explore the bold work happening at Sacramento State, including initiatives like the Black Honors College, culturally responsive supports for students, and a strong focus on meeting students’ basic needs. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Wood reminds us that leadership rooted in love and accountability is not soft—it is strategic, courageous, and necessary.

    This episode is a call to action for leaders to stay focused, lead with purpose, and build systems where every student has the opportunity to thrive.


    ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    • How Dr. Luke Wood’s personal journey informs his leadership and commitment to equity

    • Why systems—not students—must be the focus of change in education

    • The vision and purpose behind Sacramento State’s Black Honors College

    • How addressing students’ basic needs directly impacts academic success

    • What it means to lead with both love and accountability in high-stakes environments

    • Strategies for creating cultures of belonging at scale

    • How leaders can remain grounded, focused, and resilient in challenging times


    🎧 Episode Chapters

    00:00 – Introduction and welcome

    01:14 – Early life experiences and commitment to equity

    02:40 – Navigating foster care and systemic barriers

    05:32 – The vision behind the Black Honors College

    08:40 – Supporting Black students and Native communities

    10:27 – Addressing student needs through basic support systems

    12:14 – Leading through political and social challenges

    14:36 – Shifting from fixing students to fixing systems

    19:33 – Creating belonging and student-centered environments

    23:24 – Leadership lessons rooted in purpose and focus

    26:53 – Self-care, sustainability, and resilience


    📚 Resources Mentioned

    • Black Minds Matter Initiativehttps://blackmindsmatter.net/
    • California State University Sacramento – Black Honors College: https://www.csus.edu/student-affairs/black-honors-college/
    • California State University Sacramento – Basic Needs Center: https://www.csus.edu/student-life/health-counseling/basic-needs-resource-center/


    🚌 About the Podcast

    So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together. This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 education, and the once-passionate leaders who just need a spark to find their way back.

    As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.


    📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates

    Website: ontheschoolbuswithdrspates.com

    Website: KrishnaSpates.com

    Email: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.com

    Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates

    LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.


    📬 Connect with Dr. Luke Wood

    Website: https://www.csus.edu/president/

    Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drlukewood

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukewood/

    X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DrLukeWood

    Research: https://blackmindsmatter.net/


    📸 Production Studio

    Recorded at 661 Creators Space

    Website: 661CreatorsSpace.com

    Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace

    Email: 661creatorsspace@gmail.com


    🎼 Music

    Theme Song: “Call of Duty” — Mutanix

    Instagram: @mutanixs

    Email: mutanixmedia@gmail.com

    Used with permission.


    💛 Support the Work

    If this episode inspired you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share with another school leader. Watch the playlist on YouTube while you're multi-tasking: Listen here. Our students, families, and communities are counting on us.
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    31 mins
  • Ep 18 | Reimagining Schools So Marginalized Students Experience Belonging, Brilliance, and Joy

    Ep 18 | Reimagining Schools So Marginalized Students Experience Belonging, Brilliance, and Joy
    Mar 16 2026
    In this powerful episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, Dr. Spates sits down with Allyson (Wright) Taylor, educator and program specialist with the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Allyson shares her deeply personal story and her mission to help educators reimagine schools as places where marginalized students do more than survive—they experience belonging, brilliance, and joy.Drawing from her own life journey, including experiencing homelessness as a teenager and being supported by a teacher who changed the trajectory of her life, Allyson speaks candidly about the transformative power of education. She challenges educators to rethink traditional systems and create learning environments that affirm student identity, center cultural responsiveness, and expand what young people believe is possible for themselves.Throughout the conversation, Allyson offers practical strategies for educators and school leaders to shift their mindset, redesign systems, and build authentic partnerships with students and families. This episode is a powerful reminder that when schools intentionally honor identity, culture, and voice, they become places where students can truly thrive.✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode• How Allyson’s personal journey shaped her commitment to equity and belonging in schools• Why schools must move beyond survival toward belonging, brilliance, and joy for Black students• Practical strategies for educators to shift their thinking around identity, culture, and power in the classroom• How culturally responsive behavior systems can transform school culture• The role of apology, repair, and student voice in building trust with students• Why educators must begin equity work with self-awareness and reflection• Strategies for partnering with families and caregivers through humility and trust-building• How intentional learning environments can affirm student identity and expand opportunity• The importance of hiring educators whose values align with equity-centered leadership• Why supporting educator well-being is critical for sustaining transformational work🎧 Episode Chapters00:00 – Introduction to Allyson (Wright) Taylor and her background01:26 – How education changed Allyson’s life after experiencing homelessness02:29 – Reimagining schools where Black students experience safety, belonging, and joy04:10 – Practical steps educators can take to better support Black girls in school05:59 – The power of apology, repair, and elevating student voice07:25 – Rethinking behavior systems through culturally responsive practices08:42 – Addressing racial slurs and inequitable discipline through systemic change10:04 – Persisting in advocacy work despite resistance and challenges13:01 – Designing learning environments that affirm diverse identities14:30 – Recruiting staff who align with equity-centered school values16:34 – Leadership insights: charter schools vs. traditional public schools21:48 – How educators influence how students understand their identity and story23:12 – New approaches to family engagement and community partnership27:40 – Building trust through vulnerability and authentic relationships29:17 – Current initiatives supporting Black learners, including the GENIUS Initiative32:50 – Professional learning that shifts educator mindsets35:36 – Culturally relevant practices that amplify student stories36:26 – Building community through relational practices and shared storytelling37:40 – The power of collaboration among educators working toward equity38:47 – A call to action for school leaders advocating for marginalized students39:33 – Sustaining the work through educator wellness and self-care41:49 – Final reflections and gratitude for the shared journey in education📚 Resources Mentioned• Supporting the African American Learner Guide – Dr. Katherine Edwards• The GENIUS Initiative• Brown University Teacher Education Program🚌 About the PodcastSo here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together. This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 education, and the once-passionate leaders who just need a spark to find their way back.As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene SpatesWebsite: ontheschoolbuswithdrspates.comWebsite: KrishnaSpates.comEmail: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.comInstagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpatesLinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.📬 Connect with Allyson (Wright) TaylorEmail: Taylor_Allyson@lacoe.eduLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allysonwright/📸 Production StudioRecorded at 661 Creators SpaceWebsite: ...
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    39 mins
  • Ep 17 | From Chaos to Community: How the Tatted Principal Kat Shaw Transforms Schools

    Ep 17 | From Chaos to Community: How the Tatted Principal Kat Shaw Transforms Schools
    Mar 9 2026

    In this episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, I sit down with Kat Shaw, widely known as The Tatted Principal and Executive Director of Howard Gardner Community School. Kat brings more than two decades of experience in education and a leadership style grounded in authenticity, restorative practices, and deep belief in the potential of every student.

    Kat shares her remarkable journey from instructional aide to transformational school leader serving students who have often been pushed out of traditional systems. At Reach Academy, a school serving expelled students, she stepped into an environment marked by crisis and instability and helped transform it into a space centered on trust, belonging, and accountability.

    We talk about what happens when leaders refuse to code-switch and instead show up as their authentic selves. Kat explains how that authenticity helped her connect with students who had learned not to trust adults in schools.

    She also shares practical strategies educators can implement immediately: community circles, daily check-ins, mental health partnerships, and empowering students to step into leadership roles within their school community.

    This conversation is a powerful reminder that relationships are the foundation of real school transformation.

    If you care about belonging, restorative practices, and leadership that meets students where they are, this episode is for you.


    ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode

    • Why authentic leadership builds trust with students who feel disconnected from school

    • How restorative practices shift school culture from punishment to accountability

    • The power of daily community circles and student voice

    • Why mental health support must be integrated into school systems

    • How empowering students can transform school culture


    🎧 Keywords

    education leadership, restorative practices, school transformation, student engagement, authentic leadership, student belonging, school culture, behavior intervention, alternative education, Kat Shaw, Howard Gardner Community School, student empowerment, teacher collaboration


    🚌 About the Podcast

    So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together. This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 education, and the once-passionate leaders who just need a spark to find their way back.

    As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.


    📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates

    Website: ontheschoolbuswithdrspates.com

    Website: KrishnaSpates.com

    Email: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.com

    Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates

    LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.


    📬 Connect with Principal, Kat Shaw

    Email: kshaw@hgcschool.org

    Recommitted Counseling Founder: www.recommittedconsulting.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katshaw1227/


    📸 Production Studio

    Recorded at 661 Creators Space

    Website: 661CreatorsSpace.com

    Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace

    Email: 661creatorsspace@gmail.com


    🎼 Music

    Theme Song: “Call of Duty” — Mutanix

    Instagram: @mutanixs

    Email: mutanixmedia@gmail.com

    Used with permission.


    💛 Support the Work

    If this episode inspired you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share with another school leader. Watch the playlist on YouTube while you're multi-tasking: Listen here. Our students, families, and communities are counting on us.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 21 mins
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