Dr. Peter Noonan, Executive Director of the Washington Area Schools Study Council (WASSC)

"Building Leadership Pipelines, Rebuilding Public Trust"

 Dr. Peter Noonan

Executive Director of the Washington Area Schools Study Council (WASSC)

What does it take to sustain strong schools—and strong communities—in an era when trust in public institutions feels shaken? That’s the focus of my latest Community Catalysts conversation with Dr. Peter Noonan, Executive Director of the Washington Area Schools Study Council (WASSC) and former superintendent in Falls Church, Fairfax City, and Fairfax County, Virginia.

Dr. Noonan brings decades of leadership experience, but he’s not looking backward—he’s looking straight into two of the biggest challenges facing public education and civic life more broadly:

First, the leadership pipeline. Who will be tomorrow’s superintendents and tomorrow’s school board members? Across the country, the pool is thinning. The superintendent’s job is often seen as politically fraught, and school board service is increasingly contentious. Without intentional effort to recruit, train, and support new leaders, the governance of our schools—and the strength of our communities—could falter.

Second, the engagement imperative. COVID didn’t just disrupt classrooms. It changed the way communities interact with public institutions. Parents, neighbors, and community members are more vocal than ever—sometimes combative, often passionate, always watching. As Dr. Noonan says, the pandemic “supercharged” engagement. Leaders today have no choice but to over-communicate, to be radically transparent, and to show why their institutions matter—not just to families directly involved, but to the entire community.

In this episode, Dr. Noonan shares how he’s navigated the three distinct eras of leadership—pre-COVID, during the pandemic, and the years since. He speaks candidly about what’s durable in leadership (values, courage, and heart) and what must adapt (communication, visibility, and collaboration). And he offers insights that apply far beyond schools—to anyone working to sustain trust in local government or civic life.

This episode is made possible by the Regional Elected Leaders Initiative (RELI) at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government. RELI brings Northern Virginia’s local leaders together to collaborate, share perspectives, and strengthen the region’s capacity to meet complex challenges.