The NCUST Review: What Great Schools Do
The NCUST Review podcast was designed to discuss topics grounded in the educational research of the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST). The mission of NCUST is to support district leaders, school personnel, and their communities with research-based practices, policies, and procedures that have successfully ensured equity and excellence for all children who enter their schools. The NCUST Review: What Great Schools Do podcast, hosted by award-winning school administrator and podcast host Debra McLaren, Ed.D, shares the stories and lived experiences of those schools, districts, and their leaders who have successfully transformed particularly urban schools into places where all students achieve academic proficiency, evidence a love of learning, and graduate well prepared to succeed in post-secondary education, the workplace, and their communities.
- Update frequency
- every 31 days
- Average duration
- 22 minutes
- Episodes
- 13
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Episode 13: Tavga Bustani
Tavga Bustani has championed equity and excellence throughout her 25-year career as a teacher, transformational principal, and central office executive in the San Diego Unified School District.
As a f…
Episode 12: Dr. Karen Janney
Karen Janney, Ed.D. is a former superintendent, assistant superintendent, area superintendent, California Principal of the Year, assistant principal, and teacher. Dr. Janney has participated in and l…
Episode 11: Granger Ward
Granger Ward began his educational career as a middle school and high school science teacher and eventually served as a high school principal for seven years in Syracuse, NY. He was formerly superint…
Episode 10: Dr. Angela L. Bass
Angela L. Bass, Ed.D. has served as the Executive Director for Program Implementation for the Western Region of New Leaders, a non-profit committed to advancing educational equity and excellence. Pre…
Episode 9: Cara Riggs
Cara Riggs is an Omaha Public Schools transplant to San Diego California, after spending her whole personal and professional life there. A 30-year career in the Omaha Public Schools allowed Cara a gr…
Episode 8: Dr. Alexa Sorden
In 2013, principal Alexa Sorden reopened Concourse Village Elementary School in the Bronx in New York City after it was shut down for poor performance and disrepair by her predecessor. Concourse Vill…
Episode 7: Dr. Jeffrey Thiel
Dr. Thiel is one of the executive coaches for NCUST working with school districts and their leaders to improve the educational outcomes for all students. Having served as a classroom teacher, element…
Episode 6: Dr. Shawna Codrington
Dr. Codrington has a track record for advancing and improving educational outcomes for all students. Most notably she opened the newest school in the Chula Vista Elementary School District and in its…
Episode 5: Dr. Vincent Matthews
Dr. Matthews has served as superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District, the San Jose Unified School District, the Inglewood Unified School District, and most recently the San Francisco Unif…
Episode 4: Dimitres Pantelidis
Principal Pantelidis is a two-time NCUST America’s Best Schools Award winner. Even though 87% of the students were Latino or Black, met low-income criteria, and none were admitted through selective p…
Episode 3: Dr. Francisco Escobedo
In this episode of the NCUST Review, we will hear from Dr. Francisco Escobedo, the Executive Director of NCUST. Dr. Escobedo has served as principal, and superintendent, and is currently a member of …
Episode 2: Dr. Helen Griffith
Dr. Helen Griffith is the inaugural executive director and now superintendent of the Preuss School UCSD. She has won numerous awards for her leadership in education, particularly around equity advanc…
Episode 1: Dr. Joseph F. Johnson Jr.
Dr. Joseph Johnson is the founding executive director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST) at the San Diego State University Research Foundation (SDSURF). While serving at N…