District Leadership Undercover: Our Take on "Undercover Boss" to Humanize the Superintendent
Date: 7/22/2026
Time: 11:05 AM - 12:15 PM
Room: Grand Ballroom A & B (Floor 1)
Gold Mine Roundtable - A live mini-session on a program/best practice topic, with time for Q&A, presented at a table for 8-10 people during three 20-minute rounds. A one- to two-page tip sheet on the presentation topic is required.
ENGAGEMENT–Internal/external stakeholder engagement
Handouts (if provided):
Session Description
Public school districts often suffer from a "faceless bureaucracy" stigma. This disconnect creates a barrier between the Superintendent and the classroom. In this session, we deconstruct "Burke at Work," a multimedia strategy that offers a strategic take on "Undercover Boss." Instead of a disguise, the Superintendent steps out of the District office to perform the essential duties of staff members, from cafeterias to principal secretaries. This approach is effective for introducing a new Superintendent or highlighting and connecting an existing leader with district staff and the community. We will provide a scalable framework for any organization to validate the workforce and humanize district leadership. Attendees will receive a "Production Protocol" tip sheet including release forms, shoot schedules, and coaching scripts.
Presenter(s)
Amy Johnston
Director of Communications
School District of Palm Beach County
Amy Johnston (Lipman) is an Emmy-winning journalist turned strategic communications professional who focuses on engaging audiences and building brand loyalty through authentic, creative storytelling. As director of communications for the School District of Palm Beach County, she manages video and content production, crisis communications, media relations, and external and internal communications.
Formerly, she worked as a multimedia journalist at WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL, WMBF in Myrtle Beach, SC, and KKCO 11 News in Grand Junction, CO. where she shot, wrote, and edited daily news stories. Amy earned a graduate certificate in social media from the University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. She graduated from Syracuse University with dual majors in broadcast journalism and international relations. LinkedIn Profile
Anthony Angrisani
Communications Specialist
School District of Palm Beach County (FL)
District Leadership Undercover: Our Take on "Undercover Boss" to Humanize the Superintendent
Category
Gold Mine Roundtable - Mini table session on a program/best practice topic, with time for Q&A. 20 minutes (three rounds).