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1. Dad. Husband. Marathoner.
2. Deputy Chancellor, New York City Department of Education
3. State Superintendent, Louisiana Department of Education
4. Teach For America Board Member
5. Chief Executive Officer, Great Minds

John White has spent his career working at nearly every level of the education system, giving him a unique perspective on leadership, reform, and what it takes to create meaningful change at scale.

In this episode of the Square Pizza Pod, Greg and John discuss lessons from Louisiana, the growth and future of Great Minds, the role of artificial intelligence in education, and why strong leadership requires both ambition and trust. John also reflects on how sports shaped his approach to teamwork, how his leadership style has evolved, and why the most important parts of teaching and learning must remain deeply human.

In this episode, you’ll learn more about:

• How John’s experiences across classrooms, districts, states, and organizations shaped his leadership philosophy
• The lessons he took from Louisiana’s education reforms and open-enrollment model
• How Great Minds is balancing rapid growth with quality, implementation, and student outcomes
• Where artificial intelligence can support teachers and students—and where human interaction still matters most
• Why listening, trust, and coalition-building have become increasingly important throughout John’s career
• How sports, running, and team experiences continue to influence the way he leads 

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