Episode
A Conversation with Dr. Cory Strasser, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Rapid City Area Schools, SD
- Published
- Sep 22, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 1328
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/leaders-learning-from-leaders-6521294/episodes/a-conversation-with-dr-cory-strasser-assistant-superintendent-of-educational-services-for-rapid-city-area-schools-sd/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaders-learning-from-leaders-6521294/a-conversation-with-dr-cory-strasser-assistant-superintendent-of-educational-services-for-rapid-city-area-schools-sd.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
Podcast Summary In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, Dr. Cory Strasser, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Rapid City Area Schools in South Dakota, shares insights on leadership, organizational excellence, and creating opportunities for students in a diverse community. Rapid City Area Schools, South Dakota’s second-largest district, serves 12,000 students across 22 schools, situated in a unique blend of urban, rural, and tribal communities. Guided by a five-pillar strategic plan that encompasses students, staff, community, communication, and facilities, the district emphasizes a holistic approach to education. Dr. Strasser outlines the scope of his role, which centers on instructional leadership, curriculum alignment, student support systems, and leadership development. Key initiatives include advancing literacy through the science of reading, expanding evidence-based grading practices, broadening career and technical education, and creating alternative and virtual learning programs. He underscores the importance of equitable behavioral supports and intentional feedback cycles to strengthen communication between district leadership, principals, and teachers. A central theme is the pivotal role of principals. With 17 years of experience as a principal, Dr. Strasser stresses that principals are the cornerstone of school success. They influence culture, instruction, trust, and community relationships more directly than central office leaders. Therefore, the district invests heavily in principal leadership development, leveraging professional learning communities (PLCs) for collaboration, continuous improvement, and peer learning. For aspiring leaders considering central office or superintendent roles, Dr. Strasser advises adopting a systems-…