Lessons Learned

How can districts make the most of every dollar while still raising academic intensity?
“ If we want to be the future ready system of tomorrow, we have to look each other in the eye, have courageous conversations, and we have to create the school system of tomorrow.” - Superintendent Dr. Patrick Ward
This special episode of Lessons Learned comes from a recent virtual event featuring the superintendents of Visalia Unified School District (CA) and Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools (OH). Together, they unpack how district leaders can stretch resources further and reinvest them in ways that directly impact student success.

Both leaders share practical strategies that uncovered more than $5M in potential savings through scheduling improvements and resource reallocations—all while boosting academic rigor and student engagement.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:
  • How auditing schedules revealed $5M+ in potential improvements
  • Ways to align student pathways with high-wage, high-growth careers
  • How they’re measuring academic rigor through an Academic Intensity Measure (AIM)
  • Why professional learning is key to leadership capacity and buy-in
“You're talking about changing systems that have been in place for a long, long time, and so [we have to be] intentional about celebrating some of those wins along the way. That builds the appetite for this work to really catch on.” - Superintendent Kirk Shrum

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What is Lessons Learned?

Lessons Learned is a podcast by BetterLesson that takes a deep dive into the world of education through the eyes of K-12 district, state, and education leaders. Each episode focuses in on the real, innovative strategies school districts are employing to impact teaching and learning across the country. From rethinking the "portrait of a graduate" to building out systemic, sustained professional learning practices, our guests share the lessons they've learned along the way.