Tomorrow’s Principal: Don’t Stop at Disruption
“Thinking back to 2020, we really were all forced into a huge disruptive force called COVID. The question has now become: Once we were disrupted, did we create something better in service of students? So today, we really are exploring that topic: Can disruption be a lever for change?”
—Dr. Nancy Gutierrez, President & Lead Executive Officer, The Leadership Academy
What comes after disruption?
When unexpected challenges or major changes hit school systems, it’s easy for leaders to focus on managing the immediate fallout. But once the initial wave passes, the harder question remains: How do we build something better on the other side, rather than letting the system snap back into old habits?
“Disruption is not the point; it’s the inflection point, and it’s what comes after that.”
—Gene Pinkard, President, Instruction Partners
In this SXSW episode of the Tomorrow’s Principal podcast, hosts Eugene Pinkard, President of Instruction Partners, and Dr. Nancy Gutierrez, President and Lead Executive Officer of The Leadership Academy, sit down with two education leaders to explore how disruption can serve as a constructive force rather than just a source of friction:
- Erika Hurtado, Principal of the Northwell School of Health Sciences (NYC)
- Dr. Alex Marrero, Superintendent of Denver Public Schools
The panel discusses practical approaches to school leadership in times of transition, how to balance innovation and stability, and why clarity and coherence are essential to long-term change.
