What if the key to fixing high school starts with ninth grade?

In this episode of the Unlearned & Unlimited Podcast, hosts Dr. Sito Narcisse and Tatiana Echevarria sit down with Kaaren Andrews, National Director of the Center for High School Success, to unpack why the first year of high school is one of the most critical—and misunderstood—moments in a student’s life.

With over 20 years of experience as a principal, system leader, and education reformer, Kaaren shares powerful insights from her work building alternative education models in Seattle and scaling student-centered systems across 14 states. She explains why belonging and connection are not “soft skills,” but foundational drivers of academic success, especially for students with disabilities and those navigating systemic barriers.

This conversation also explores how schools can build internal capacity instead of constantly chasing new programs, why listening to communities matters more than top-down reform, and how AI in education could either widen gaps—or help schools finally meet students where they are.

Whether you’re a teacher, principal, district leader, policymaker, or advocate, this episode challenges you to rethink school structure, student support, and what real education reform looks like.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why the first semester of ninth grade predicts long-term success

• How belonging impacts learning and student retention

• Lessons from alternative high schools that traditional systems can adopt

• Supporting students with disabilities beyond compliance

• Building sustainable capacity within schools

• The real promise—and risk—of AI in education

• Community-centered leadership in K–12 systems

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