From teaching fourth grade in Compton to founding a KIPP elementary school in Newark, Joanna Belcher has spent her career building schools and supporting leaders who believe every student deserves opportunity.
In this episode of The Stronger Podcast, Mike Montoya sits down with Joanna Belcher, Regional Superintendent at the KIPP Foundation, to discuss the leadership lessons she has learned along the way. Joanna reflects on the moments that shaped her approach to leadership, including the power of seeing excellence firsthand and why curiosity remains one of the most important habits for leaders.
They also explore what it takes to build strong teams, support school leaders across a national network, and stay focused on what matters most for students.
Listen in for a thoughtful conversation about leadership, curiosity, and the work of building schools that help students thrive.
Chapter:
01:35 🏫 Joanna’s Role at KIPP and Leading Across 28 Regions
06:09 🌱 Growing Up in Pennsylvania and Finding Teach For America
10:54 🚀 The Moment Joanna Saw What Excellence Looks Like
21:02 🤝 Curiosity, Mentorship, and Building Strong Teams
25:48 🧠 Why Curiosity Matters for Leaders
26:50 ⚡ What COVID Taught Joanna About Leadership
31:53 🎯 Helping School Leaders Focus on What Matters Most
38:08 ⚖️ When a Health Crisis Changed Joanna’s Perspective
45:17 🔭 What’s Ahead for KIPP
If you’d like to learn more about Joanna Belcher’s work or follow the broader work happening across KIPP schools, connect with her on LinkedIn or explore the KIPP website through the links above.
Stay strong.
Episode 20