# A Conversation with Dr. Elida MacArthur, Superintendent of the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaders-learning-from-leaders-6521294/a-conversation-with-dr-elida-macarthur-superintendent-of-the-mount-pleasant-elementary-school-district
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaders-learning-from-leaders-6521294/a-conversation-with-dr-elida-macarthur-superintendent-of-the-mount-pleasant-elementary-school-district.md
Podcast: [Leaders Learning From Leaders](https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaders-learning-from-leaders-6521294)
Published: 2026-06-24T17:29:01+00:00
Episode link: https://supereval.podbean.com/e/a-conversation-with-dr-elida-macarthur-superintendent-of-the-mount-pleasant-elementary-school-district/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/5fpc6prpepjsfajy/LLFL_Dr_Elida_MacArthur_Full_Interview7ujom.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/leaders-learning-from-leaders-6521294/episodes/a-conversation-with-dr-elida-macarthur-superintendent-of-the-mount-pleasant-elementary-school-district
Duration seconds: 1681

## Resource

In this episode of Leaders Learning from Leaders, host Steve Barkley speaks with Dr. Elida MacArthur, Superintendent of the Mount Pleasant Elementary School District in East San Jose, California. A leader who has served the same district for more than two decades, beginning as a kindergarten dual language immersion teacher, Dr. MacArthur offers a portrait of community-centered leadership grounded in her own experience and in a deep commitment to the students and families she serves. Dr. MacArthur describes Mount Pleasant as a small district of approximately 1,500 students that sees itself as a beacon and anchor for its community. She traces her commitment to bilingual and dual language education to her own journey, having immigrated from Mexico as a young student whose academic strengths went unrecognized because she did not yet speak English. That experience shaped her conviction that every student deserves to be treated as capable, held to high expectations, and empowered to use their voice. Throughout the conversation, Dr. MacArthur returns to several connected commitments: building self-efficacy in students, creating a sense of belonging for every child and adult, and inviting students and parents to advocate for themselves. She explains how community-centered leadership brings stakeholders into the work of the schools, citing a teacher workforce housing initiative being designed with parents, staff, and community members. She also describes how civic learning takes shape in practice, from cross-age reading and monthly food distribution to mock trials and students speaking before legislators in Sacramento. Dr. MacArthur reflects on sustaining district-wide commitment through alignment with a supportive school board and a shared vision of community, equity, and succ…

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