Faculty are leaving the profession in record numbers - but some schools are bucking the trend. In Episode 8 of Hire Ground, Christina and Josh explore the power of lab schools, university partnerships, and innovative district models that keep great teachers in classrooms. Joined by Dr. Sally Gates Parish, they dive into post-COVID leadership realities, why retention starts with reimagining the faculty role, and how strategic, human-centered superintendents are building sustainable cultures that attract and keep top talent.

In this episode of Hire Ground, hosts Christina Greenberg and Josh Czupryk dive into the power of community engagement in K12 leadership. Drawing from real-world examples in Memphis and Oakland, they explore how authentic partnerships with families build trust, drive equity, and sustain schools amid challenges like enrollment pressures and political shifts. Joined by Kimi Keene, CEO and co-founder of Families in Action for Quality Education, they discuss shifting from paternalism to partnership, empowering parents as co-leaders, and why listening to community voices is non-negotiable for transformative education.

HEADLINES:

• ED is not abolished tomorrow. Congress still appropriates every dollar.
• What IS moving right now: $31 billion in annual grants — Title I, Title II, Title III, CSP, magnets, Indian Ed — shifting via Economy Act agreements to Labor, Interior, State, and HHS.
• Charter-specific bombshell: the Charter Schools Program and Title V-B facilities incentives just became the property of the Department of Labor.
• Big exhale: IDEA Part B ($15 billion) and OCR civil rights enforcement are staying put. No signed transfer agreements yet. That buys us 2025–26 and almost certainly 2026–27.

WHAT TO DO:

• Your Director of Federal Programs needs immediate support. They will now have to navigate the remaining US Ed programs (IDEA), Labor, Interior, State, and HHS
• Your Chief Academics, Chief Financial, and Chief Operations will need to be well versed in Federal compliance and how it shifts since there are now many more stakeholders to report into
• Your local and state relationships matter more than ever. Your Superintendent/CEO hires need to be able to build and maintain those relationships.
• You need a Chief Schools or Chief Academics who looks internally and runs the day-to-day while your CEO/Superintendent manages the external given how many more relationships are going to be critical to accomplish your mission to serve students, families, and communities.