In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Todd Cordrey, Superintendent of Eaton School District RE-2 in Colorado. With a unique background transitioning from finance and real estate into education, Todd brings a systems-driven mindset to school leadership, one that challenges traditional approaches and prioritizes intentional, repeatable processes over reliance on individual effort.

Todd shares how his journey into education reshaped his perspective on impact, purpose, and leadership. Drawing from experience across multiple rural districts, he emphasizes a core belief: systems outperform motivation every time. Whether it’s structuring meetings, evaluating programs, or implementing district-wide initiatives, Todd explains how disciplined frameworks create consistency, clarity, and long-term success.

The conversation explores how Eaton is navigating complex decisions, from funding challenges to launching new career and technical education (CTE) pathways, while balancing community expectations, workforce needs, and student interests. Todd also introduces practical frameworks, including the Hierarchy of Competency, MTSS as a continuous improvement tool, and his 7 Steps to Sustainable Change, offering leaders actionable ways to move from idea to execution.

Key Moments

01:07 Todd’s transition from business to education

02:17 Why systems outperform motivation

05:22 Using data to guide funding and program decisions

08:25 Lessons learned across rural districts

10:05 Building systems that drive academic outcomes

12:22 Developing a portrait of a graduate

14:25 Measuring effort vs. outcomes in schools

16:50 The Hierarchy of Competency framework

20:02 Using MTSS beyond special education

24:07 Leading change as a new superintendent

26:50 Navigating competing stakeholder ownership

30:14 Balancing board expectations vs. school realities

31:53 Choosing the right CTE programs

34:52 The 7 Steps to Sustainable Change

Why You’ll Love This Episode

If you’re working to bring clarity and structure to complex district initiatives, this episode will resonate deeply. Todd offers a rare blend of business discipline and educational leadership, showing how systems thinking can simplify decision-making, align teams, and create consistency across schools.

You’ll walk away with practical frameworks for evaluating programs, implementing change, and balancing competing priorities, from board expectations to classroom realities. Todd’s transparency around failure, iteration, and learning makes this episode especially valuable for leaders navigating new roles or large-scale change efforts.

Connect with Todd Cordrey | Superintendent, Eaton School District RE-2

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddcordrey
Website: https://www.eaton.k12.co.us/

Connect with Shweta Gandhi and Strived

Shweta Gandhi | Founder and CEO, Strived

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasharma1

Strived
Website: https://strived.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strived-io/

About The So What Podcast

The So What Podcast explores how school system leaders make sense of complexity when data, strategy, and real classroom outcomes are misaligned. The show is designed for district and charter leaders working to turn fragmented information, competing priorities, and limited capacity into clear decisions that improve teaching, learning, and long-term sustainability.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The So What Podcast for more conversations with leaders working to transform data into meaningful action for schools and students.

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi sits down with Desiree Kiesel, Director of Teaching and Learning at North Marion School District in Oregon. Serving a rural district of about 1,600 students located between Portland and Salem, Desiree works at the center of what Shweta calls the “messy middle” of education—where strategy, systems, and classroom practice intersect.

Shweta and Desiree explore what it means to move from a school-level leadership role into district-level systems thinking. Desiree shares how her experience as a principal, and earlier work in the Small Schools Movement, shaped her belief that schools must adapt to the needs of their students rather than expecting students to adapt to traditional school models. At North Marion, that mindset has guided efforts to rethink literacy instruction, strengthen equity-focused practices, and ensure the district’s systems actually support the needs of a rapidly changing student population.

Throughout the conversation, Desiree walks through how the district uses data to identify gaps—particularly for English learners, Latinx students, and students with disabilities, and then builds targeted systems to address them. She highlights how strategies like high-dosage tutoring, curriculum alignment, culturally responsive teaching, and rapid improvement cycles are helping the district move from insight to action.

Key Moments

03:21 Moving from principal to district-level leadership

05:33 Rethinking traditional models of school

06:54 The Small Schools Movement and career pathways

09:41 Bringing innovation to a small rural district

13:28 Using rapid improvement cycles to guide change

15:09 Identifying achievement gaps through data

17:03 Disaggregating data to understand student needs

19:46 Looking beyond state assessments for deeper insight

21:18 High-dosage tutoring to close literacy gaps

23:42 Addressing gaps for language learners and students with disabilities

26:30 Implementing culturally responsive teaching practices

30:04 Evaluating curriculum through an equity lens

32:05 Using data to redesign curriculum and instruction

35:51 Current challenges facing district leaders

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode provides a clear example of how district leaders can connect data, systems, and classroom practice to improve outcomes for students. Desiree shares how North Marion’s small size allows the district to quickly test ideas, learn from the data, and make adjustments—an approach rooted in continuous improvement rather than long implementation cycles.

You will also hear a powerful perspective on equity and instructional design. Desiree explains how culturally responsive teaching, curriculum alignment, and high-dosage tutoring can work together to address achievement gaps while supporting teachers in their daily work. Her insights highlight how thoughtful leadership and clear systems can help districts move beyond analysis into meaningful action.

Connect with Desiree Kiesel | Director of Teaching and Learning, North Marion School District

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/desiree-kiesel-a2703821
Website: https://www.nmarion.k12.or.us/

Connect with Shweta Gandhi and Strived

Shweta Gandhi | Founder and CEO, Strived

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasharma1

Strived
Website: https://strived.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strived-io/

About The So What Podcast

The So What Podcast explores how school system leaders make sense of complexity when data, strategy, and real classroom outcomes are misaligned. The show is designed for district and charter leaders working to turn fragmented information, competing priorities, and limited capacity into clear decisions that improve teaching, learning, and long-term sustainability.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The So What Podcast for more conversations with leaders working to transform data into meaningful action for schools and students.

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Christina Gibson, Superintendent of Eastpointe Community Schools in Michigan. Christina has spent more than a decade serving the Eastpointe community and now leads the district through one of its most complex periods of transformation, balancing curriculum reform, financial recovery, facilities investments, and strategic planning.

Shweta and Christina explore what it takes to lead a district through major change while keeping students at the center of every decision. Christina shares how Eastpointe has navigated dramatic demographic shifts, intense competition through Michigan’s Schools of Choice policy, and financial instability that once threatened the district’s survival. Despite those challenges, the district has rebuilt stability and is now focused on improving student outcomes through stronger systems and leadership.

Throughout the conversation, Christina highlights how the district uses a long-term strategic plan, regular data monitoring, and disciplined leadership routines to stay focused. She also shares a powerful perspective on curriculum implementation, teacher support, and the importance of strong principals and relationships in schools. From guaranteed and viable curriculum to building stronger leadership pipelines, Christina offers a candid look at the realities of district leadership and the decisions required to move a system forward.

Key Moments

02:23 Demographic shifts and competition from Schools of Choice

03:59 Educators taking pay cuts to keep the district open

05:21 Managing multiple major initiatives at once

06:41 Building a six-month strategic planning process

07:52 Using Gantt charts to manage district priorities

10:51 Monitoring progress through leadership data routines

12:43 Closing gaps between goals and real outcomes

15:59 What guaranteed and viable curriculum means

17:16 Implementing new curriculum across the district

19:31 Rethinking “fidelity” as an equity strategy

24:17 Teacher shortages and the future of the workforce

26:04 Managing the flood of new education technologies

28:16 Why relationships still drive student success

30:48 The three biggest challenges facing district leaders

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode offers a transparent look at what real system leadership looks like in public education. Christina explains how Eastpointe is rebuilding its foundation through strategic planning, curriculum alignment, and leadership accountability while navigating funding pressures and enrollment competition.

You will also hear a compelling leadership perspective on curriculum implementation and equity. Christina reframes the often controversial idea of “curriculum fidelity” as a tool for ensuring every student has access to the same high-quality learning experience—especially in districts with high teacher turnover. Her reflections on talent, leadership, and relationships highlight why strong people systems remain the most important driver of student success.

Connect with Christina Gibson | Superintendent, Eastpointe Community Schools

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinaagibson
Website: https://www.eastpointeschools.org/

Connect with Shweta Gandhi and Strived

Shweta Gandhi | Founder and CEO, Strived

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasharma1

Strived
Website: https://strived.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strived-io/

About The So What Podcast

The So What Podcast explores how school system leaders make sense of complexity when data, strategy, and real classroom outcomes are misaligned. The show is designed for district and charter leaders working to turn fragmented information, competing priorities, and limited capacity into clear decisions that improve teaching, learning, and long-term sustainability.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The So What Podcast for more conversations with leaders working to transform data into meaningful action for schools and students.

In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Stoney Winston, Superintendent of Fruitland School District #373 in Idaho. Serving a rural district on the Oregon border, Stoney brings decades of experience working in Idaho schools and a deep commitment to improving outcomes for students through clear strategy and data-informed leadership.

Shweta and Stoney explore how district leaders can move beyond simply collecting data to actually using it to make better decisions. When Stoney joined Fruitland, only 43% of K–3 students were reading at grade level, prompting the district to focus its strategic priorities on early literacy. He shares how the district simplified its strategic plan, implemented differentiated literacy instruction, and built systems that allow teachers to regularly review and act on student data.

Throughout the conversation, Stoney also highlights the broader challenges district leaders face today, from special education funding gaps and compliance burdens to staffing shortages and rising student needs. He reflects on how leaders balance moral responsibility, limited resources, and competing priorities while keeping student outcomes at the center of every decision.

Key Moments

04:02 Identifying early literacy as a top priority

05:53 Differentiated reading groups for targeted instruction

07:38 Making data visual and usable for teachers

09:33 The challenge of limited staffing

10:17 Exploring AI tools to support instruction

13:19 Using progress monitoring to guide teaching

15:00 The cost of underfunded special education

18:19 Making tough budget priorities

21:00 Compliance burden on district leaders

23:44 Avoiding “shiny object” initiatives

26:17 Expanding preschool through grants

31:03 What keeps superintendents up at night

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode offers a candid look at the real decision-making challenges district leaders face when data, funding, and student needs collide. Stoney shares how Fruitland School District narrowed a long strategic plan into a small set of focused priorities, allowing the district to take meaningful action rather than spreading resources too thin.

You will also hear how simple systems, like regular progress monitoring and teacher collaboration—can make data actionable without requiring complex technology or analytics expertise. Stoney’s reflections on funding constraints, staffing realities, and the evolving role of AI provide valuable perspective for leaders trying to support teachers and improve outcomes in today’s challenging education landscape.

Connect with Stoney Winston | Superintendent, Fruitland School District #373

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stoney-winston-4a20b286
Website: https://www.fruitlandschools.org/

Connect with Shweta Gandhi and Strived

Shweta Gandhi | Founder and CEO, Strived

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasharma1

Strived
Website: https://strived.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strived-io/

About The So What Podcast

The So What Podcast explores how school system leaders make sense of complexity when data, strategy, and real classroom outcomes are misaligned. The show is designed for district and charter leaders working to turn fragmented information, competing priorities, and limited capacity into clear decisions that improve teaching, learning, and long-term sustainability.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The So What Podcast for more conversations with leaders working to transform data into meaningful action for schools and students.

In the first episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, Founder and CEO of Strived, sits down with Dr. Fred Rundle, Superintendent of Mercer Island School District in Washington. Dr. Rundle leads a district of six schools serving approximately 4,000 students and brings deep experience from across teaching, learning, and district leadership.

Shweta and Fred explore what it takes to lead through complexity when financial pressures, enrollment shifts, and community expectations collide. From stepping into the superintendent role during a financial challenge that included a $2 million internal loan and declining fund balance, to rebuilding fiscal stability while protecting student opportunities, Fred shares how leaders can prioritize the right data, maintain transparency, and make difficult decisions without losing sight of students.

Throughout the conversation, Fred discusses the importance of building a strong data culture and using frameworks like Problem–Cause–Treatment–Results (PCTR) and What, So What, Now What to move from analysis to action. He also reflects on leading through declining enrollment, navigating a narrowly failed facilities bond, and balancing fiscal responsibility with innovation. For district and charter leaders facing similar pressures, this conversation offers practical insights on how to align data, strategy, and community communication to move from uncertainty to clarity.

Key Moments

05:02 Turning over every rock to understand the district’s financial reality

07:42 Protecting student opportunities while rebuilding fiscal stability

09:13 Applying zero-based budgeting to rethink district priorities

11:14 Managing inflation and declining enrollment at the same time

14:26 Using structured frameworks to align around the real problem

17:11 Building MTSS systems and districtwide data practices

21:03 Normalizing data conversations across school teams

23:21 Balancing student achievement data with whole-child outcomes

28:39 Learning from a narrowly failed facilities bond proposal

33:55 How housing trends and birth rates impact enrollment

36:43 Leadership lessons about listening, transparency, and courage

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode offers a candid look at what it means to lead a school system during uncertain financial and demographic shifts. Dr. Rundle shares how leaders can move beyond surface-level metrics and build a culture where data becomes a tool for improvement rather than a tool used only for accountability. His emphasis on transparent communication, collaborative problem solving, and structured decision-making frameworks provides a roadmap for leaders navigating complex environments.

You will also hear how system leaders can maintain innovation even during financial constraints by prioritizing the long-term health of programs that matter to students. From implementing districtwide MTSS systems to launching a phone-free school policy and navigating community conversations about school funding, Fred’s experiences highlight how thoughtful leadership can align data, strategy, and values to support both students and educators.

Connect with Dr. Fred Rundle | Superintendent, Mercer Island School District

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fred-rundle-58169235
Website: https://www.mercerislandschools.org/

Connect with Shweta Gandhi and Strived

Shweta Gandhi | Founder and CEO, Strived

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasharma1

Strived
Website: https://strived.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strived-io/

About The So What Podcast

The So What Podcast is the podcast where school system leaders unpack the complexity of modern education leadership. Each conversation explores how district and charter leaders make sense of competing priorities, fragmented data, and limited resources to make decisions that improve teaching, learning, and long-term sustainability.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The So What Podcast for more conversations with leaders navigating complexity and turning data into action across school systems.