George Welsh: Visionary Superintendent – Empowering Rural Education

Empowered Learning Podcast

George Welsh

Summary:

George shares his personal and professional journey, highlighting his experiences as superintendent of schools in Center, Colorado, and his involvement in advocating for adequate funding in Colorado. He also discusses his current role at the Colorado Education Initiative and the Rural Superintendent’s Academy, which aims to provide well-prepared leaders for rural school systems in Colorado. George provides insights into the role of a superintendent in developing relationships and leading the board to excellence, emphasizing the importance of engaging the community, resource management, and planning for leadership transitions within the school system.

Andy and George also discuss the impact of the BEST program on their communities, detailing the financial constraints they faced before the program and how it facilitates the funding of new school buildings. They highlight the challenges of passing measures for mill levy increases and bond approvals, underscoring the program's role in partnering with local funds to overcome these obstacles. The conversation reflects on the widespread influence of the BEST program across Colorado and the transformative effect it has had on building projects in various districts.

The episode also delves into the complexities of education leadership, shedding light on the common misconceptions and challenges faced by superintendents. Andy and George emphasize the importance of consensus-building and teamwork at this level, debunking the notion that superintendents have unilateral decision-making power. Additionally, they reflect on the impact of admired leaders, with George sharing a personal anecdote about his influential baseball coach. The conversation also dives into the significance of relevant learning in empowering future generations, highlighting the need to connect education to real-world applications and career paths, particularly through programs like Career and Technical Education (CTE) and industry certifications.

Bio:

George Welsh is a 28-year Colorado resident with a BA in Secondary Education and an MA in Education Leadership. He's in the midst of a 38-year career in public education serving at all levels from classroom teacher to principal, central office administrator, and even 25 years as a Superintendent of Schools. He is currently a PERA retiree but allocates time to the Colorado Education Initiative as a Senior Partner, the Colorado School Finance Project as a Field Representative, the Canon City School District as Coordinator of Special Projects, as a board member of Colorado's Capital Construction (BEST) Board, and as a Trustee for the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind.

Links:

CEI: https://www.coloradoedinitiative.org/

RSA: https://www.coloradoedinitiative.org/projects/rural-superintendent-academy/

The Colorado School Finance Protect: https://cosfp.org/#gsc.tab=0

Colorado's Building Excellent Schools Today program: https://www.cde.state.co.us/capitalconstruction/best

Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind: https://csdb.colorado.gov/