How do early life experiences shape the kind of leader you become in education?On this episode of Leader to Leader, Darryl Cobb sits down with Nella Garcia Urban, CEO of DSST (formerly known as the Denver School of Science and Technology), to explore her remarkable journey from a chalkboard-wielding kid on the Texas-Mexico border to the leader of Colorado’s largest charter school network.Nella shares how growing up in the Rio Grande Valley shaped her hunger for educational opportunity, how a detour through law school ultimately led her to YES Prep, and how 20+ years of experience—from teaching dance and reading to helping launch one of the first district-charter partnerships in Texas—prepared her for this moment.Now at DSST, she’s championing access to high-quality STEM education for 7,500+ students in Denver and Aurora, especially those historically left out of such opportunities. With fierce love for her community and Latino culture, deep reverence for her ancestors, and a bold vision for the future, Nella is redefining what leadership looks like in public education.Tune in for a rich conversation about identity, STEM access, listening as leadership, and why “El que es gallo, en cualquier gallinero canta.” A true rooster crows in any chicken coop.

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