{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Learning Through Technology","title":"Small School, Big Impact: Eric Bonniksen Shares Community-Centered Leadership Strategies","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2062,"description":"\nIn this episode of Learning Through Technology, hosts Alex and Bob talk with Eric Bonniksen, superintendent of Placerville Union School District in California and president of the Small School District Association. With 14 years of leadership in the same district—a rare feat—Eric shares how building trust, fostering relationships, and prioritizing “students first” has created a culture where both staff and families feel valued. From introducing a dual immersion program shaped by parent input to structuring a unique technology bond that keeps classrooms up-to-date without overburdening taxpayers, Eric explains how small schools can innovate while staying deeply connected to their communities.\n\nThe conversation doesn’t shy away from challenges either. Eric candidly discusses the staffing crisis—bus drivers to teachers—and the difficulty of competing with outside industries for talent. Yet, he shows how culture, personal connection, and genuine customer service can make schools places where people want to work and stay. His reflections on leadership, relationships, and the influence of his educator parents add a personal dimension to this practical, hopeful discussion.\n\nKey Moments\n\n04:20 Building Trust Through Relationships\n\n08:00 Integrating Technology in Classrooms\n\n11:00 Infrastructure Update & Classroom Technology\n15:11 Staffing Challenges in Rural Education\n\n17:44 Hiring Challenges in Education Technology\n\n22:20 Valuing Staff Contributions\n\n25:06 Workplace Culture's Impact on Retention\n27:55 Customer Service Culture in Education\n30:30 Parental Influence in Education\n33:23 Small School, Big Opportunities\n\nWhy You’ll Love This Episode\n\nThis episode is a masterclass in small-school leadership. Whether you’re a superintendent, educator, or community member, you’ll be inspired by Eric’s creative solutions for funding technology, his philosophy of putting relationships first, and his belief that culture drives everything. If you’ve ever wondered how small districts...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/b_2a_1rLuEm7QAYX_XAB_1b9a9aZM-OWX8ZOu0NFK88/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iZTM4/NDVjZDYzNWRiMGJl/Yjk5MzdmYjVlNDJk/MzlhOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}