The Groundbreaking Plan to Stop Teachers From Being Priced Out of Their Own Communities

Olivia Wahl

30 March 2026

In part one of my S5E31 @schoolutionspodcast conversation, Dr. Fabi Bagula, Superintendent of San Diego Unified School District, discusses her authentic approach to leadership and its impact on education. She shares insights into critical teacher retention issues and the innovative, affordable housing solutions her team is implementing in San Diego, California. Fabi's commitment to equity and school improvement strategies is evident as she addresses the challenges and triumphs of leading with an open heart. Fabi also speaks to why she refuses to call it an "achievement gap" (it's a support gap) and how she's avoided hardening in response to public criticism. This episode is essential listening for school administrators, instructional leaders, new teachers, teacher mentors, instructional coaches, families, and anyone invested in school improvement and education transformation. Some Episode Mentions: ➡️Otto Scharmer, author of Presencing ➡️Marshall Elementary School ➡️Yale Broad Leadership Fellowship ➡️Monday 02/26 & Tuesday 02/27 board meetings, when they chose the final proposals for more information 📌 Part 2 drops Friday, where Fabi illuminates what emancipatory leadership looks and feels like in practice 📑 CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction — Dr. Fabi Bagula, First Latina Superintendent of San Diego Unified 1:45 The researcher Fabi is leaning on: Otto Scharmer's Presencing 3:00 How they met 26 years ago at Marshall Elementary 4:30 Schools belong to the communities they serve 5:50 Stepping into unsteady terrain: building trust as a new superintendent 7:00 Why honest, hard conversations move schools AND people 8:00 The weight of carrying everyone's 10-year-old problems 9:30 Laying off 69 while creating 86, and why no one heard the good news 10:40 "Don't armor up" - the hardest part of leading with an open heart 12:30 The affordable housing crisis for San Diego educators 13:45 How the district turned 5 vacant properties into 30 developer bids 16:00 $4 billion in long-term revenue with zero taxpayer dollars 17:45 Why educators living in the communities they teach matters 19:00 Whole child AND whole adult education 20:30 Lightning Round: school culture, the support gap, and what teachers need to know 22:00 Teaser for Part 2 🎧 New episodes every Monday & Friday with bite-sized Wednesday reel bonus content. 📧 Connect with me if you’d like a thought partner to help you cultivate curious learners who advocate for what they believe in. 🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl Don't forget to🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!  When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.