Ep 11 | Don’t Underestimate Our Communities: Leading with Heart, High Expectations, and a Restorative Lens
In this episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, Dr. Carlos Montes shares his powerful journey in education as a teacher, instructional coach, principal, and now a system-level leader supporting 20 schools across East Los Angeles.
Dr. Montes reflects on the intentional work that led to the transformation of Jordan High School, highlighting the central role of creating restorative culture , high expectations, authentic relationships and a deep respect for students and families. He emphasizes that culture, community pride, and identity are not add-ons, but foundational to building schools where students thrive.
The conversation explores what authentic family partnership looks like in practice, including Dr. Montes’ innovative use of instructional walks with caregivers and parents to invite family voice and presence in schools, increase transparency, trust, and shared accountability. Together, Dr. Spates and Dr. Montes discuss how equity lives in daily leadership decisions, why student voice must be embedded in school structures, and how passion and humanity sustain long-term impact in education.
This episode serves as a powerful reminder that education is deeply human work—and that the leadership choices made today shape students, families, and communities for generations to come.
✨ What You’ll Learn (Episode Takeaways)
- How relationship-centered leadership transforms school culture
- Why restorative practices must be paired with high expectations
- Strategies for authentic family engagement beyond traditional meetings
- How instructional walks with parents strengthen communication and trust
- The role of student voice in equitable decision-making
- Why passion and humanity are essential in school leadership
⏱️ Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Dr. Carlos Montes
- 03:01 Dr. Montes’ Journey in Education
- 05:45 Transforming Jordan High School
- 09:01 The Power of Hustle and Relationships
- 11:54 Restorative Practices in Education
- 14:52 Current Role and Supporting Schools
- 17:51 Cultural Pride in East LA Schools
- 20:48 Personal Experiences Shaping Leadership
- 23:39 Building Relationships with Families
- 26:50 Instructional Walks with Parents
- 29:51 Feedback and Growth in Education
- 32:44 Creating a Positive School Environment
- 35:44 Conclusion and Future Aspirations
- 44:20 Equity in Education: A Consistent Practice
- 50:43 Building Authentic Partnerships with Families
- 55:53 Empowering Student Voice in Decision Making
- 01:08:11 Passion and Leadership: Starting with Yourself
- 01:15:48 The Human Impact of Education
🎧 Sound Bites
- “You got to hustle.”
- “Don’t underestimate our parents.”
- “It’s about wanting to know.”
🔑 Keywords
Educational leadership, equity in education, restorative practices, family engagement, student voice, school culture, community pride, instructional leadership, East Los Angeles schools
🚌 About the Podcast
So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together. This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 education, and the once-passionate leaders who just need a spark to find their way back.
As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.
📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates
Website: KrishnaSpates.com
Email: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.com
Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates
LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.
📬 Connect with Dr. Carlos Montes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/montes-carlos-ed-d-6b632471/
📸 Production Studio
Recorded at 661 Creators Space
Website: 661CreatorsSpace.com
Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace
Email: 661creatorsspace@gmail.com
🎼 Music
Theme Song: “Call of Duty” — Mutanix
Instagram: @mutanixs
Email: mutanixmedia@gmail.com
Used with permission.
💛 Support the Work
If this episode inspired you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share with another school leader. Watch the playlist on YouTube while you're multi-tasking: Listen here. Our students, families, and communities are counting on us.
