On this episode of The K-12 Change Equation, Dr. Mort Sherman and Dr. Leila Nuland sit down with Ernesto Duran, Regional Director for California’s Region 8, about how county offices of education are creating systems that expand opportunity beyond the school day.
From after-school programs and workforce readiness to family engagement and mental health, Ernesto shares how expanded learning is helping students and educators thrive. He reflects on his own journey as an English learner and the educators who shaped his path—underscoring why connection, culture, and community still drive meaningful change.
It’s a conversation about leadership, empathy, and what it takes to turn compassion into action in today’s schools.
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