On the School Bus with Dr. Spates

By Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates

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Episodes: 20

Description

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.


Episode Date
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
Ep 18 | Reimagining Schools So Marginalized Students Experience Belonging, Brilliance, and Joy
Mar 16, 2026
Ep 17 | From Chaos to Community: How the Tatted Principal Kat Shaw Transforms Schools
Mar 09, 2026
Ep 16 | Nicholas Westfall: California Teacher of the Year Reinvents PE — Why Students Stop Loving It (And How To Fix It!)
Mar 02, 2026
Ep 15 | Principals: Step Back to Build Belonging by Allowing Teams to Lead Schools Forward a Reflective Conversation with Dr. Franklin and Dr. Spates
Feb 23, 2026
Ep 14 | Policy Isn’t Just for Politicians: Lived Experience Is the Real Credential with TaVia Wooley
Feb 16, 2026
Ep 13 | Masterclass: Creating High School Culture from the Ground Up with Dr. Kathya Arriaran-Buono
Feb 09, 2026
Ep 12 | You Are Not Obligated to Set Yourself on Fire to Keep Others Warm: Leading with Purpose, Equity & Data with Dr. Patricia Brent-Sanco
Feb 02, 2026
Ep 11 | Don’t Underestimate Our Communities: Leading with Heart, High Expectations, and a Restorative Lens
Jan 26, 2026
Ep 10 | The Hope Dealer: Restorative Leadership, Digital Voice, and Running Toward the Roar with Dr. J.R. Rucker
Jan 19, 2026
Ep 9 | Equity in Schools: Why Seeing Students and Teachers as Whole Humans Changes Everything with Jazmine Morales Rodriguez
Jan 12, 2026
Ep 8 | Don’t Waste Our Kids’ Time: Principal, Coach Fred Gatlin on Empathy, Relevance, and School Leadership
Jan 05, 2026
Ep 7 | Leadership That Fuels Innovation: Dr. Greg Franklin on Creating a Culture of “Yes!”
Dec 15, 2025
Ep 06 | MTSS for Real Classrooms: Strategies That Actually Support Diverse Learners
Dec 08, 2025
Ep 05 | Meet the Host: Why We Ride – It May Bomb But the Kids and Adults Who Support Them are Worth It
Dec 01, 2025
Ep 04 | Breaking the Stigma — Mental Health, Trust, and Student Well-Being with Ebony Wilson
Nov 24, 2025
Ep 03 | Innovative School Pathways: Connecting Students to Careers with Matthew Winheim
Nov 17, 2025
Ep 02 | Dr. Timothy Howell on Authentic School Leadership & Transforming Schools with Heart & Accountability
Nov 10, 2025
Ep 01 | Hope Isn’t a Strategy: Dr. David Cash on Relentless School Leadership for Equity & Innovation
Nov 03, 2025
Podcast Trailer | It May Fail But I'm Going for It Anyways!
Jun 30, 2025