Dr. Anthony Godfrey on Meaningful Connections: Prioritizing What Truly Matters in Education

The Ruckus Report

Quick take: In a system built for efficiency rather than connection, Dr. Godfrey shows how one district is creating space for what truly matters—from targeted reading interventions to wellness days for staff—proving that even large districts can make the human element their highest priority.

Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker

Dr. Anthony Godfrey is the Superintendent of Schools for Jordan School District in Utah, overseeing 58,000 students and 9,000 employees. Appointed superintendent in 2019, he brings 31 years of experience in the district, having served as an English teacher, assistant principal, principal, and administrator of schools. Dr. Godfrey holds a Bachelor’s in English Teaching and French from Weber State University, along with a Master’s Degree and Doctorate from the University of Utah. He hosts the popular “Jordan Supercast” podcast, using his platform to connect directly with his community.

In this episode, Dr. Godfrey challenges traditional education paradigms:

Key Insight #1: Fund Preparation Time, Not Just Professional Development

• What’s broken: Traditional PD without paid time for teachers to implement what they’ve learned
• The shift: Securing board funding for teacher preparation time alongside professional development for their Walk to Read program
• Impact: Reading scores higher than ever before, despite launching during the pandemic

Key Insight #2: Prioritize Staff Wellness Through Structural Changes

• What’s broken: Expecting staff to maintain wellness without creating systemic support
• The shift: Implementing dedicated “Health and Wellness Days” (three-day weekends) for all 9,000 district employees
• Impact: Creating a culture that values people over processes, demonstrating that employee wellbeing isn’t just talk

Key Insight #3: Reimagine Leadership Communication

• What’s broken: Relying on emails and memos to build connections and communicate vision
• The shift: “Email is for information, not conversation” philosophy and launching a superintendent podcast
• Impact: Deeper connections throughout the district as people hear their superintendent’s voice and style, creating familiarity and trust

Your Do School Different Challenge

Ready to implement these ideas? Start here:

1. Tomorrow: Audit your own communication habits—are you trying to have conversations via email that would be better in person?
2. This Month: Create a plan to pay teachers for their preparation time for your next major initiative, not just the training
3. This Semester: Explore what a wellness day would look like in your school or district—even starting with a half-day pilot could show commitment to staff wellbeing

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