In this episode of The So What Podcast, host Shweta Gandhi, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Adriana Garza, Executive Director at Northside Independent School District, to explore what it takes to lead and support one of the largest districts in Texas.

With over four decades in education, Adriana shares how the role of district leadership has evolved from oversight to active, on-the-ground support. She explains why “boots on the ground” leadership is critical, especially in a post-COVID environment where student needs, teacher challenges, and system complexity have all intensified.

The conversation dives into how Northside ISD shifted its approach after seeing declining student outcomes, moving from high-level oversight to deeply embedded support within schools. Adriana highlights how being physically present in classrooms and working side by side with principals creates urgency, clarity, and better decision-making at the district level.

Shweta and Adriana also explore how data must be understood in context, not isolation. Through real examples, Adriana shares how combining different data points such as attendance and academic performance can reveal powerful insights that drive meaningful interventions for students.

The episode emphasizes the importance of leadership development, relationship-building, and intentional coaching systems to ensure principals and teachers are supported in navigating today’s challenges.

Key Moments

01:05 Adriana’s journey across 40+ years in education

03:10 How teacher support systems have evolved

05:00 What has not changed in great schools

06:30 The importance of relationships in student success

07:45 Defining Adriana’s role in supporting 80+ schools

09:10 Why district leaders must be “boots on the ground”

10:45 The shift in leadership approach after declining outcomes

12:20 Post-COVID challenges impacting schools

13:40 Why presence in classrooms creates urgency

15:10 Moving from data access to data understanding

16:50 The importance of analyzing data in context

18:30 Identifying patterns through combined data sets

20:10 Using data to communicate with families

22:45 Supporting first-year principals effectively

24:10 Why leaders must listen before acting

Why You’ll Love This Episode

Adriana Garza brings a deeply practical perspective on leadership at scale. She shares how large districts can stay connected to real classroom experiences by prioritizing presence, relationships, and contextual data analysis.

This episode is especially valuable for district leaders and administrators responsible for supporting multiple schools. Whether you’re building leadership pipelines, improving data practices, or strengthening instructional support, you’ll walk away with actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Connect with Adriana Garza | Executive Director, Northside Independent School District
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-garza-9b882475
Website: https://www.nisd.net/

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, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with Dr. Todd Cutler, Superintendent of Lake Tahoe Unified School District, to explore what it takes to lead in one of the most unique educational environments in the country.

With more than 30 years in education, Dr. Cutler shares how leading a geographically isolated, tourism-driven community like Lake Tahoe requires a different approach to systems, relationships, and long-term planning. From navigating fluctuating enrollment to addressing funding pressures, he explains how district leaders must constantly adapt while staying grounded in what matters most for students.

The conversation dives into how Dr. Cutler approaches data beyond surface-level metrics. Rather than focusing only on scores, he emphasizes understanding the “why” behind performance and building systems that identify gaps, scale bright spots, and create consistency across schools.

Shweta and Dr. Cutler also discuss the importance of community trust and presence in a smaller district. In a setting where relationships are deeply interconnected, leadership visibility and authentic engagement play a critical role in driving both staff alignment and student outcomes.

The episode also explores broader challenges facing education today, including staffing shortages, funding uncertainty, and the rapid rise of AI. Dr. Cutler shares a balanced perspective on innovation, emphasizing the importance of experimentation while ensuring students continue to build critical thinking and real-world skills.

Key Moments

01:15 Introduction to Lake Tahoe Unified School District

03:40 Transitioning leadership across different district contexts

06:12 Breaking out of insular thinking as a district leader

10:42 Moving from data awareness to system-level action

12:30 Scaling bright spots across schools

16:05 The importance of leadership presence in schools

18:47 Implementation challenges in a geographically unique district

21:22 Aligning career pathways with local opportunities

24:10 Preparing students for an AI-driven future

27:05 Balancing innovation with foundational skills

29:50 Navigating funding and enrollment challenges

32:18 Top priorities for district leadership

35:02 The importance of asking “why” behind the data

Why You’ll Love This Episode

Dr. Cutler offers a thoughtful and grounded perspective on leading through complexity. He highlights how strong systems, deep community relationships, and a willingness to adapt can help districts navigate even the most unique challenges.

This episode is especially valuable for district leaders working in smaller or geographically distinct communities. Whether you're managing shifting enrollment, building trust, or integrating innovation, you’ll walk away with practical insights on how to lead with clarity and purpose.

Connect with Dr. Todd Cutler | Superintendent, Lake Tahoe Unified School District
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtoddcutler
Website: https://www.ltusd.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, CEO and Founder of Strived, sits down with David Wildy, Chief Technology Officer at Dublin Unified School District, to explore how technology is reshaping the way schools operate, teach, and make decisions.

With responsibility for everything from network infrastructure to cybersecurity and instructional technology, David shares how the pandemic forced a rapid shift to one-to-one learning environments and how that transformation continues to impact districts today. He explains why technology can no longer sit in a silo and must be deeply integrated with instructional strategy to truly support students and teachers.

The conversation dives into the challenge of turning overwhelming amounts of data into meaningful action. David walks through how his district approaches longitudinal data, cohort tracking, and integrated systems to better understand student progress and identify support needs early.

Shweta and David also unpack the evolving role of AI in education. From building district-wide guidelines to balancing innovation with academic integrity, David shares how schools can thoughtfully integrate AI while still preserving critical thinking, creativity, and foundational skills.

The episode highlights a central tension facing education today: how to embrace powerful new tools without losing the human elements that make learning meaningful. David offers a grounded, practical perspective on finding that balance while preparing students for a rapidly changing future.

Key Moments

02:14 The evolving role of a CTO in modern districts

04:33 Pandemic-driven shift to one-to-one technology

05:37 The rapid emergence of AI in education

07:22 Balancing screen time with foundational skills

09:22 Turning overwhelming data into actionable insights

12:31 Using cohort tracking to understand student progress

15:29 Systems for early student intervention

17:23 Integrating data across behavior, attendance, and academics

21:25 Building effective AI policies in schools

27:23 AI’s role in improving teacher efficiency

29:23 How students are already leveraging AI

34:18 Top challenges facing district technology leaders

Why You’ll Love This Episode

David brings a rare systems-level perspective that connects technology, instruction, and leadership. He goes beyond tools and platforms to explain how districts can actually make technology work in service of better outcomes for students.

This episode is especially valuable for district leaders and technology teams navigating rapid change. Whether you're managing data systems, implementing AI, or balancing innovation with classroom realities, you’ll walk away with practical insights on how to move from complexity to clarity.

Connect with David Wildy | Chief Technology Officer, Dublin Unified School District
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-wildy-mpa-ba41b95
Website: https://www.dublinusd.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.