How do you lead a district through poverty, natural disasters, and teacher shortages — and still find hope?
In this episode, Dr. Ingrida Barker, Superintendent of McDowell County Schools (WV), joins Anne Brown from the Cook Center for Human Connection to share how her team is transforming rural education through creativity, community, and care.
Dr. Barker opens up about:
Growing up in Latvia and finding her purpose in the West Virginia
Leading trauma-informed schools that prioritize mental health
Launching “Grow Your Own” to solve teacher shortages
Turning crisis into opportunity during devastating floods
A powerful story of resilience, leadership, and hope for anyone working to build stronger schools and stronger communities.
🔗 Learn more: ParentGuidance.org
🎙️ The Superintendent Effect — Strong Leaders. Strong Communities.
Keywords: education leadership, superintendent, rural schools, West Virginia, mental health, resilience, teacher shortage, Cook Center for Human Connection.