Serving over 38,000 students across more than 160 languages, Michael shares his unconventional journey into education, beginning with his work in juvenile justice. That early experience shaped his belief that schools must be proactive systems of support, not reactive ones, and continues to influence how he leads today.

Michael walks through how Aurora Public Schools built its strategic plan by deeply engaging the community, combining qualitative insights with quantitative data, and aligning everything to clear goals around student outcomes. He explains how creating a sense of belonging at scale requires intentional hiring, ongoing professional development, and reimagining schools as community hubs that support the whole child and family.

The conversation also dives into the realities of leading in today's environment, including navigating politics, funding challenges, and the complexities of school choice. Michael shares how his district is embracing AI thoughtfully, building governance structures, and preparing educators and communities for its impact.

Throughout the episode, Michael emphasizes the importance of transparency, culture, and authenticity in leadership, and why creating the right conditions for students and educators is the foundation for long-term success.

Key Moments

01:26 Transition from juvenile justice to education

03:41 The importance of connection and belonging in learning

05:21 Building inclusive systems in a highly diverse district

07:36 Creating schools as community hubs for families

10:24 Using qualitative and quantitative data to shape strategy

12:50 Aligning strategic plans with measurable outcomes

13:10 The challenge of fragmented data systems

14:32 Building centralized dashboards for actionable insights

16:36 Leveraging AI for faster and smarter decision-making

17:43 Leading with transparency when priorities compete

19:24 Navigating politics and community pressures

22:12 The complexity of school board governance

27:59 Balancing school choice with district priorities

33:15 Building AI governance and ethical frameworks

36:46 Why culture is often overlooked in education systems

Why You'll Love This Episode

Michael Giles offers a powerful perspective on what it means to lead with purpose in a complex, diverse, and rapidly changing environment. His approach blends deep community engagement with strong systems thinking, showing how leaders can turn data, diversity, and challenges into meaningful progress.

This episode is especially valuable for district leaders working in diverse communities or navigating competing priorities like school choice, funding, and innovation. If you're looking to build systems that create belonging while driving results, this conversation provides both inspiration and practical strategies.

Connect with Michael Giles | Superintendent, Aurora Public Schools
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-giles-jr-7b29436
Website: https://www.aurorak12.org/

Connect with Shweta Gandhi and Strived
Shweta Gandhi | Founder and CEO, Strived
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shwetasharma1
Strived
Website: https://strived.io/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strived-io/

About The So What Podcast
The So What Podcast explores how school system leaders make sense of complexity when data, strategy, and real classroom outcomes are misaligned. The show is designed for district and charter leaders working to turn fragmented information, competing priorities, and limited capacity into clear decisions that improve teaching, learning, and long-term sustainability.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The So What Podcast for more conversations with leaders working to transform data into meaningful action for schools and students.