With Guest Host Ury Gonzalez, Prince Padania, Roxane Jablonski-Liu, and Judy Cuturrufo

Throughout our lives, we are known by many roles—educator, leader, parent, mentor, and friend.

In this special episode of Moving Forward, the spotlight turns to host Linda Anderson as the third installment in a four-part series exploring the different chapters of her life. After conversations about Linda as a wife and as a mother, this episode focuses on the role that shaped more than three decades of service: educator.

For this conversation, the microphone is handed to Ury Gonzalez, producer of the Moving Forward podcast. Since the show's beginning, Ury has worked behind the scenes to help bring each episode to life. In this special role reversal, he steps into the host's chair to guide a thoughtful conversation about Linda's own journey as an educator.

Joining Ury are three people who each represent a unique chapter of Linda's educational journey.

Prince Padania first met Linda as her sixth-grade student teacher and has since built a career as an inspiring kindergarten teacher who believes children learn best through play, curiosity, and joy. His perspective reflects the lasting influence of mentorship and the importance of investing in the next generation of educators.

Roxane Jablonski-Liu is a respected educational leader whose career has spanned classroom teaching, principalship, district leadership, and human resources. She served as Principal of Oliveira Elementary before Linda, and Linda later had the privilege of succeeding her in that role. Roxane offers the perspective of someone who understands both the opportunities and challenges of leading a school community.

Judy Cuturrufo has shared much of her professional journey with Linda. Together, they helped launch the Curriculum and Instruction Department in Fremont Unified School District, where Judy served as an instructional coach, Program Manager, and English Language Development (ELD) specialist. Today, she teaches third grade at Warwick Elementary School in Fremont, California, and serves as a Student Teacher Supervisor for San José State University.

Together, Prince, Roxane, and Judy ask the questions that invite Linda to reflect on the experiences, people, and moments that shaped her career—from discovering her calling as an educator to navigating leadership challenges, building meaningful relationships, mentoring others, and finding hope in every season.

The conversation concludes with a fun round of rapid-fire questions from Prince, revealing another side of Linda beyond the principal's office.

More than a conversation about one career, this episode is a celebration of the relationships that define a life in education. It reminds us that leadership is not measured by titles or accomplishments alone, but by the people we encourage, the communities we build, and the opportunities we create for others.

Whether you're an educator, school leader, parent, or someone reflecting on your own journey, this conversation is a reminder that our greatest legacy is found in the lives we help shape.

Connect with Linda Anderson

Moving Forward: Conversations on Culture, Identity, Healing, and Hope explores the stories that shape who we are and the experiences that help us move forward with purpose.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, share it with someone who would appreciate Linda's story, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform.

You can also continue the conversation through Linda's weekly Substack, Open Doors, where she writes about leadership, identity, belonging, and the unexpected doors that continue to open throughout life's journey.

If you have a comment or question please email us at themovingforwardpodcast@gmail.com

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Music by Maksym_Dudchyk from Pixabay

Podcast produced by Ury Gonzalez