Episode 15: EdSpark Podcast with Dr. Karen Garza, Part 2 with Dr. Melvin Brown

In the second part of their conversation on starting and sustaining educational transformation systemwide, Dr. Melvin Brown, superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, and Dr. Karen Garza, President and CEO of Battelle for Kids, talk about how he’s embarking on educational transformation in his new district. He discusses how he’s begun seeding the work with staff and his plans to engage community members who feel they have previously been shut out of the conversation. Dr. Brown also shares his advice for school leaders who want to start taking these aspirational and inspirational steps toward system transformation.

Dr. Melvin Brown has served as superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools in Montgomery, Alabama since 2022. He has 21 years of school administrative experience, serving as superintendent, deputy superintendent, and director of human resources. Additionally, he has experience as an elementary and middle school principal.  Battelle for Kids (BFK) is a national, not-for-profit organization with the mission of realizing the power and promise of 21st century, deeper learning for every student. In addition, BFK helps education leaders engage their communities to re-envision and transform their school systems. One way BFK does this is the Portrait of a Graduate, a locally developed but globally positioned vision, which serves as a North Star for system transformation.

Learn more about Montgomery Public Schools: https://mps.k12.al.us

Learn more about Battelle for Kids: https://bfk.org

View more examples of system transformation on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@battelleforkids