Episode 398

full
Published on:

7th May 2025

No Time or Money for PD? This Superintendent Shares Some Creative Solutions

Summary: Join C.T. and guest Dr. Brett Geithman, Superintendent of Larkspur-Corte Madera School District in California, as they explore how intentional leadership and innovative professional development are shaping a model for student and staff success. This insightful conversation delves into Dr. Geithman’s commitment to personalized learning through inquiry-based instruction, such as Cognitively Guided Instruction in math and structured literacy, and his district’s multi-layered approach to professional development

Key Takeaways:

  • Community-Funded Stability: Larkspur-Corte Madera is a community-funded “basic aid” district, allowing greater focus on instructional quality rather than enrollment pressures.
  • Leadership Pipeline: The “Leaders From Within” program develops both classified and certificated staff for leadership roles, benefiting the district and the wider region.
  • Gradual Release Model: The district partners with outside experts (like UCLA for Cognitively Guided Instruction in math), but intentionally builds internal teacher leaders to sustain and personalize professional development.
  • Four-Layer PD Framework:
  1. District-wide foundational knowledge
  2. Site-specific PD tailored to each school
  3. Grade-level/department PD for subject/age needs
  4. Individualized coaching for teachers
  • Personalized Support: PD is differentiated by teachers’ experience and needs, with ongoing coaching and lesson study models to embed new practices.
  • Strategic Alignment: All PD and instructional initiatives are closely linked to the district’s strategic vision, with careful planning and timing to maintain momentum.
  • Collaborative Culture: The district values risk-taking, collaboration, and reflection, and leverages strong community partnerships to support academic and social-emotional growth.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction: Overcoming PD Challenges

00:47 Meet Dr. Brett Geman: A Leader in Personalized Learning

01:28 District Overview: Larksburg Jte Madera School District

03:34 Leadership Development: Building the Next Generation

08:30 Four Layers of Effective PD

12:36 Strategic Planning for PD Implementation

23:54 Funding Professional Development: Time and Money Solutions

36:58 Brett Geman's Leadership Journey

42:28 Final Thoughts


Connect with CT: linkedin.com/in/cheetung

Connect with Dr. Brett Geithman: lcmschools.org/Page/2360

Music Credit: Shake it Up - Fesliyanstudios.com - David Renda



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About the Podcast

Principal Office Hours
Real principals. Real talk. No hall passes required.
Finally—a podcast that proves school principals have personalities (and killer insights, too). Every week, join us for candid conversations with K-12 principals who are navigating the beautiful chaos of educational leadership without losing their minds or sense of humor.

Each 40-minute episode features real principals sharing what actually works in school leadership—from handling helicopter parents and budget nightmares to building school culture that doesn't make everyone roll their eyes. Consider this your professional development that doesn't feel like professional development.

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About your hosts

CheeTung Leong

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Jim Kanichirayil

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Your friendly neighborhood talent strategy nerd is the producer and co-host for The HR Impact Show. He's spent his career in sales and has been typically in startup b2b HRTech and TA-Tech organizations.

He's built high-performance sales teams throughout his career and is passionate about all things employee life cycle and especially employee retention and turnover.