Leadership Laps
Leadership Laps explores the journeys and stories of educational leaders within Aurora Public Schools, Colorado's most diverse school district. Like a marathon, leadership requires training, perseverance, and a long-term vision. In each episode, we'll hear from those who are helping guide our district toward #DestinationAPS, sharing their personal stories, challenges overcome, leadership lessons learned, and what keeps them motivated along the way. From superintendents to principals, district leaders to classroom innovators, these conversations reveal the passion, purpose, and people behind APS's commitment to excellence. Join us as we discover how these educational leaders pace themselves through the leadership marathon while creating positive change for our 40,000 students from 130 countries of origin.
Episodes
26 episodes
The Long Run w/Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr.
In this special Season 3 finale of Leadership Laps, Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr. returns to close out where he began - as our very first guest in Episode 1 and now our 30th guest. When we last spoke a year and a half ago in 'The Starting L...
Feeling Fantastic w/Principal Hannah LeCount
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Hannah Lecount, Principal of Vassar Elementary, in her first year as a school leader. After 20 years in education - from classroom teacher to instructional coach to assistant principal - Hann...
May the Force be with Y'all: JEDI Leadership w/Executive Director Jaelyn Coates
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Jaelyn Coates, Executive Director of Culture, Equity, and Engagement Departments (CEED), wrapping up her third year with Aurora Public Schools. As a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion ...
Where Bilingualism Takes Flight w/Principal Anabel Rafoul
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Anabel Rafoul, founding principal of Escuela Bilingüe Betty Benavidez, Aurora Public Schools' first dual language school opening this fall. Currently in 'year zero' which is a planning year b...
From Policy To Practice w/Executive Director Christie Imholt
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Christie Imholt, Executive Director of Policy and Strategy, in her eighth year with Aurora Public Schools. Christie shares her remarkable journey from classroom teacher in Boston, Washington ...
A Decade in the Making w/Principal Karla Fought
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Karla Fought, Principal of Lansing Elementary in her fourth year as principal and 27th year with Aurora Public Schools. Last semester brought historic news: Lansing achieved Performance ratin...
The Science and Art of Reading w/Director Sara Gips Goodall
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we welcome Sara Gips Goodall, APS's new Director of Literacy in her first year with the district. Sara shares her journey from her New England roots to successful turnaround school leadership in Denver and ba...
Building Schools, Building Leaders w/Instructional Director Garrett Rosa
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Garrett Rosa, APS's most tenured Instructional Director, who has been supporting principals since 2018. Before stepping into this role, Garrett was the founding principal of Vista Peak Prep, ...
Onward and Upward w/Principal Kurtis Quigg
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Kurtis Quig, Principal of Aurora Central High School, to celebrate a historic milestone - for the first time in more than 15 years, Aurora Central has achieved Improvement status on the Color...
Student Leadership w/Kevin & Ella from VPP
Meet Kevin and Ella, two student leaders from Vista Peak Prep who participated in the Colorado Association of School Boards student leadership academy. They share their journeys in Aurora Public Schools, what they're passionate about and involv...
Serving with Heart w/Director Kevin Childs
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Kevin Childs, Director of Safety and Security for Aurora Public Schools and a true servant leader. As an APS alumnus who attended elementary, middle, and high school in the district, Kevin ha...
Celebrating Milestones w/Principal Janelle Kirkley
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Janelle Kirkley, Principal of Dartmouth Elementary, who brings a unique perspective as a proud APS alumna. In her 21st year with APS and third year as principal, Janelle leads Dartmouth throu...
Leading With Purpose w/Executive Director, Dr. Sue-Lin Toussaint
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Dr. Sue-Lin Toussaint, Executive Director of Secondary Schools for Aurora Public Schools. With over 25 years in education, Sue-Lin shares her journey from classroom teacher to school principa...
The Soundtrack of Leadership w/Principal Bryan Gasior
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Bryan Gasior, Principal of Aurora Frontier P-8, one of APS's highest performing schools fresh off their strongest year yet. In his seventh year as principal, Bryan shares his unique journey f...
The Story We're Writing Together w/Principal Lacy Jolly
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Lacy Jolly, Principal of Jewell Elementary School in her seventh year at Jewell and twentieth year with Aurora Public Schools. Lacy shares how she's built a Performance-rated school where stu...
Breaking Barriers w/Chief Patti Moon
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Patti Moon, Chief Communications Officer for Aurora Public Schools since 2017. Patti shares her journey from television journalist working in major markets including Chicago and Washington D....
Sustaining Excellence w/Principal Amy Kolquist
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Amy Kolquist, Principal of Vista Peak Exploratory, who has led her school to ten consecutive years of Performance rating. In her eighth year as principal, Amy shares insights into what it tak...
Where We Belong w/Principal Erik Cohen
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Dr. Erik Cohen, Principal of Harmony Ridge P8 in his third year. Erik shares his unique journey through 20 years in education, multiple states, and military service all while searching for a ...
Leading People First w/Chief Joy Ross
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we introduce Dr. Joy Ross, Aurora Public Schools' new Chief People Officer, who brings 36 years of educational experience across nine school districts to her role. Just two months into her APS tenure, Joy sha...
Building from the Ground Up w/Principal Josh Cooley
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Josh Cooley, Principal of Aurora Highlands P-8, who brings a unique perspective to educational leadership as someone who opened a brand new school from scratch. Josh has extensive leadership ...
Turning the Tide w/Principal Jessica Abel-Pype
In this episode of Leadership Laps, we sit down with Jessica Abel-Pype, Principal of Dalton Elementary, who has led one of the most remarkable school transformations in Aurora Public Schools. In her 17th year with APS and 8th year at Dalton, Je...
Leadership Laps, Episode 9: Welcome to Aurora w/ Chief Jen Troy
Join Jesús for a very special episode as he welcomes Aurora Public Schools' brand new Chief Academic Officer, Jen Troy (JT) – on just her third day on the job! Hear JT's first impressions of APS, including starting her tenure by attending gradu...
All In For Aurora w/Chief Craig Lyle
What does it truly mean to be "All In For Aurora"? This week on Leadership Laps, Jesús sits down with Craig Lyle, a 25-year veteran of Aurora Public Schools and an Aurora native, who is just completing his first year as Chief of School Leadersh...
The Kenton ROAD to Success w/ Principal Hoelscher
Join host Jesús Rodríguez on Leadership Laps as he sits down with Drew Hoelscher, Principal of Kenton Elementary School. In his seven years leading the Kenton Roadrunners, Drew has navigated the school through significant transformation, achiev...