Summary: Join C.T. and guest Lisa Aguerria Lewis, Principal of Luigi Aprea Elementary School in Gilroy Unified School District, California, as they explore the challenges and opportunities of leading a large, diverse elementary school through times of change. This insightful conversation delves into Lisa’s approach to uniting two distinct communities after a school closure, emphasizing the importance of listening sessions conducted in multiple languages to understand historical context and community needs. 

Key Takeaways:

• Leading in Complexity: Lisa leads a large, diverse elementary school of about 740 students, recently integrating two distinct communities after a nearby school closure, requiring intentional community building and healing post-COVID.
• Listening as Foundation: She prioritizes extensive listening sessions with students, staff, and families—conducted in English and Spanish—to understand needs, historical context, and build trust, using feedback to guide actionable changes.
• Balancing Relationships and Systems: Lisa emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships while simultaneously establishing clear systems and structures to run a large school effectively.
• Curiosity and Reflection: She practices curiosity by asking open-ended questions like “Tell me more about…” to uncover deeper insights, and reflects continuously on her leadership to improve listening and decision-making.
• Ego Management and Patience: Lisa stresses putting ego aside, moving slowly, and being open to adjusting her vision based on community input to foster genuine buy-in and avoid repeating past mistakes.

Chapters:

00:00  Introduction

00:33  Meet Lisa Lewis

01:31  Challenges and Community Building

03:23  Leadership Practices and Listening Sessions

10:59  Balancing Standardization and Autonomy

15:27  Building Effective Systems

24:54  Professional Development Strategies

29:29  The Importance of Reflection

32:02  Coaching and Leadership Advice

Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Lisa Aguerria Lewis: linkedin.com/in/lisa-aguerria-lewis-96b425205

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