Leading for Equitable Systems is a three-part virtual professional learning series centered on the five-part podcast series "Where the Schools Went", which traces the story and journey of the New Orleans public school system before and after Hurricane Katrina. The podcast documents how crisis accelerated one of the most radical education restructurings in modern American history and invites listeners to examine who shaped that change, who benefited, and who bore the consequences.

Through learning from the story and evolution of one school system over time, participants will explore how historical context, race, governance, privatization, educator workforce displacement, power, and community voice influence system design. Participants will use the narrative as a mirror — reflecting on how similar forces operate within their own districts and regions.

This series explicitly engages issues of race, equity, and power while creating space for thoughtful reflection and leadership dialogue. Participants will:

• Examine how historical narratives shape system reputation and reform.

• Analyze recruitment and retention practices and their impact on workforce diversity.

• Interrogate how data is framed and used to justify structural change.

• Reflect on governance, public accountability, and community voice.

• Identify leadership actions that advance equitable system transformation.