Interview w/ Sam Duncan and Angie Hanlin

Matthews Elementary in New Madrid County, Missouri resides in one of the poorest congressional districts in the U.S. and was chronically low-achieving in the area of reading. In this episode, you’ll hear the inspiring story of two educational leaders who transformed this school and district to ensure that all children could learn to read. As principal Angie Hanlin and Superintendent Sam Duncan led this change process, they adopted the mantra: “It doesn’t matter about the past. What matters is now; no blaming, only fixing.” Angie and Sam share their journey and lessons learned, including the relentless nature of pursuing change, the power of high expectations, the importance of giving everyone a voice, and the key to owning your data. They will also discuss their respective roles as leaders and change agents, and how they are driven to never give up on what they consider their moral obligation to their students.