S.5 | Ep. 1: Amy Graeber’s Strategy for Healing and Academic Growth in a Rural District
Welcome to Season 5 of the Unlock 360 podcast by Lead.Teach.Learn.360! In today’s episode, Wendy York Davoud sits down with Amy Graeber, Chief Instructional Officer for Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District, to explore the power of resilience, leadership, and healing after tragedy. Amy Graeber shares her inspiring journey through various roles in education, from paraprofessional to principal, counselor, and now central office leader, and opens up about joining Uvalde ISD in the wake of unimaginable loss.
Together, Amy and Wendy talk about rebuilding district systems, navigating change, and fostering a coaching culture. They dive into the unique challenges of leading in a rural community, the importance of strategic planning and professional learning, and the balance between honoring grief and pressing forward to ensure every student thrives. This episode is a candid, hopeful look at what it means to lead and learn together—no matter the obstacles. Join us for a conversation full of hard-earned wisdom, practical insights, and a commitment to making a difference for every learner.
Key Moments
29:56 Brenda Law: Inspiring Leadership Mentor
Why You Will Love This Episode
Amy Graeber offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what it truly takes to lead instruction in a community navigating grief, rebuilding trust, and moving forward with purpose. Through her journey from paraprofessional to chief instructional officer, she shares grounded insights on coaching cultures, system building, staffing challenges, and keeping the “main things” the main things amid constant change. This conversation blends heart and strategy, showing how healing and growth can happen at the same time, and leaves education leaders with practical takeaways, reflective questions, and a renewed sense of why this work matters for students, teachers, and communities alike.
Connect with Amy Graeber
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-graeber-49a76222a
Website: https://www.ucisd.net/
Email: agraeber5212@uvaldecisd.net
Follow Us
Wendy York Davoud LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyryork
Lead.Teach.Learn.360 Website: https://leadteachlearn360.com
Lead.Teach.Learn.360 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lead-teach-learn-360%C2%B0/
About Unlock 360°
Unlock 360° is the podcast where school leaders and instructional trailblazers reveal how they are turning bold vision into sustainable action. Powered by Lead Teach Learn 360, each episode brings you inside the systems, strategies, and human stories that drive school improvement, one leader, one learner, one breakthrough at a time.
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