Corbett Education Consulting LLC


Seats of Change: The Future of School Boards Podcast

Season 1: 2025-2026



Diana Carpio



Board Member, Norwalk (CT)



We explore Diana's pathway to office, how her identity as the sole Latina board member impacts her service, community engagement, & transparency, her efforts to bridge the gap between the school board and the community, emphasizing the importance of open communication and building trust. Listen here.




Elisa Hoffman



Board Member, Cincinnati (OH) & Founder School Board School



Tune in to hear Elisa Hoffman discuss misconceptions about the role of school board members and the pipeline to office. We also talk about authentic community engagement and the role of philanthropy in strengthening grassroots advocacy and public service. Listen here.



Dr. Leslie Rasmussen



Board Member, Forest Hills (OH) & School Board Alliance



Dr. Rasmussen recounts the challenges to her board service, professional career, and even the security of her family, debates around critical race theory, a divisive community controversy concerning a mascot, and her role facilitating the School Board Alliance with Honesty for Ohio Education. Listen here.



Versha Munshi-South



Board Member, Stamford (CT)



Versha Munshi-South discusses campaigning and serving, quirky rules, public meeting laws, and FOIA. Her experience as an education consultant supported her work on the board improving systems and practices, while her roles as a mom and a racial minority impacted both her campaign and service. Listen here.




Secretary Stephanie Thomas



CT Secretary of State



Secretary Thomas highlights her own experiences as a candidate for office, voter turnout, and how her office is now prioritizing civic access and civic engagement across Connecticut. Listen here.



Dr. Kim Bridges



Board Member, Richmond (VA) & Associate Professor (VCU)



Dr. Kim Bridges discusses the often heated process of redistricting, how to sustain improvements in a system, and board leadership skills. Listen here.



Dr. Phelton Moss



Board Member, Prince George's County (MD), Assistant Professor (VCU)



Dr. Moss is a former teacher and principal, and shares his journey from education and academia to raising $70k for a campaign and winning a board seat and prioritizing public engagement, reading, and diverse teacher pipelines. Listen here.



Dr. Rachel White



Board Member, Van Wert City Schools (OH), Founder of The Superintendent Lab, Associate Professor (Univ. of Texas at Austin)



Dr. White highlights superintendent and school board relationships, considerations for setting superintendent compensation, and her own experience as a third generation board member. Listen here.



Ethan Ashley



Co-Founder & CEO, School Board Partners Board Member, Orleans Parish (LA)



Hear Ethan's personal pathway led to his service as a school board member in Louisiana, which influenced the creation of School Board Partners. Listen here.




Dr. David Griffith



National Research Director, Thomas B. Fordham Institute



Dr. David Griffith joins us to explore Fordham's recent report, Who’s on Board? School boards and political representation in an age of conflict. Listen here.



Jocelyn Rhynard



Board Member, Dayton Public Schools (OH)



Jocelyn highlights non-partisan work as a school board member, authentic parent engagement, school board advocacy at the state and national levels, and self-segregation of communities. Listen here.



Connor Moeykens



Student Board Member, Orono, ME



Connor, a student board member, shares about the roles and structures which govern his work on the school board, the importance of student stakeholder engagement, student board members onboarding, and how student board members change the dynamic of adult board members interactions. Listen here.



Shu-Yen Wei



Run for Something



Shu-Yen from Run for Something walks us through the campaign process, what steps they should take even before “pulling papers,” the campaign trail, additional complexities of being parents/caregivers, and the importance of coalition building. Listen here.



Marco Pérez



Board Member, Hamilton County (TN)



Marco shares about his heated campaign, identity politics and personal attacks, wonky local laws like skullduggery, the decision-making process during the COVID pandemic, and benefits and challenges to serving as a board member with teachers (and employees in the district) in your family. Listen here.



Josh Acevedo



Board Member, El Paso (TX)



Josh walks us through the realities of governing in border towns, disparate treatment, doing doctoral research in the community you serve, school closures, interest convergence, and how every vote really matters in local elections. Coming April 2026.




Dr. Carrie Sampson



Arizona State University



Coming soon.



Bridget Lee



Executive Director, ALL Chicago



Coming May 2026.




Dr. Che "Rhymefest" Smith



Board Member, Chicago, IL



Coming May 2026.



“Seats of Change deeply resonates with me as a former school board member, reflecting the real challenges and responsibilities that come with governance and leadership in education. The conversations are honest, thoughtful, and grounded in lived experience. It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants a clearer, more human perspective on how change actually happens.”

“It was an honor to be part of the inaugural group - there’s a lot to learn about making school board service effective (and local governance a model of democracy) and these sessions offer valuable diverse perspectives! My [graduate level class] class learned so much from listening!"