In a recent episode of the Educators Among Us podcast, host Scott Barron, Chief Reinvention Officer with School Growth sat down with the inspiring Dr. Rudy Ruiz, Founder and CEO of Edifying Teachers, and Director at The Ready Institute to explore the transformative power of collective impact in education.
The Journey of an Educator
Dr. Rudy Ruiz’s story began in Milwaukee, where early mentors and formative educational experiences set him on a path of purpose. We like to ask our guests who has impacted them educationally, and he fondly recalled Mrs. Shirley Little, a third-grade teacher who empowered him with confidence and a strong sense of identity. Influenced by educators throughout his life, including his own mother, who earned her education degree alongside him, Rudy discovered a calling not just to teach, but to lead and inspire transformation in the field.
Founding Edifying Teachers
Rudy is the founder and CEO of Edifying Teachers, an organization committed to supporting educators holistically. Born out of his doctoral research and a desire to ensure that academic insights translate into real-world change, Edifying Teachers provides mentorship and training that go beyond instructional techniques. Its core mission is to honor educators' “full humanity”—supporting their emotional, spiritual, and professional well-being.
“We want to make sure that every engagement we have asks: what does support look like for you in this moment?” – Dr. Rudy Ruiz
The Power of Collective Impact
At the heart of this conversation was Rudy’s commitment to collective impact—a framework for aligning community efforts around shared educational goals. Drawing from work in Milwaukee, Baltimore, and beyond, Rudy emphasized the importance of transparency, shared accountability, and collaboration across traditionally siloed institutions.
He cited Stephen Covey’s concept of “The Speed of Trust” as foundational to this approach. For Rudy, trust and vulnerability are prerequisites for progress:
“We don’t have it all figured out. We do have some urgent facts... Here’s what they look like—how can we work together to improve these?”
— Dr. Rudy Ruiz
Scott Barron echoed this theme, noting the challenges of breaking down barriers in school systems and the cultural shift that true collaboration requires:
“Sometimes there’s not just silos, but they’re pretty reinforced. You hear the language—us and them, yours and ours—and it becomes confrontational. But collective impact requires deeper trust, vulnerability, and the consistency of leadership to make it work.”
— Scott Barron
Building Cultures of Trust
Scott and Rudy explored how difficult—but essential—it is to build cultures of trust within schools. Whether in urban or rural settings, or even in higher education, fostering trust demands intentionality from leadership. It requires courage to admit you don’t have all the answers and wisdom to listen to others in the room.
“The answers are in the room.” – Dr. Rudy Ruiz quoting Mike Schmoker
The READY Institute and Future Aspirations
Dr. Ruiz also shared insights about his latest endeavor—the READY Institute. This regional initiative works to ensure academic programs are responsive to the real-world needs of students and local communities. It's another example of Rudy’s belief in educator-driven, community-centered innovation.
Leading with Love
The podcast closed with heartfelt reflections on purpose, perseverance, and personal milestones. Rudy celebrated both professional achievements—such as completing his doctorate—and personal ones, like his 25th wedding anniversary. These moments of growth, he believes, are deeply connected to how one leads and serves.
Scott ended with a powerful reminder to all educators:
“Love them and lead them—that’s our calling. We’re not just dispensers of knowledge, we’re inspirers of dreams.”
