State POY Series - Christian Ledesma (Minnesota) - Growing Enrollment Through BIg Dreams and Culture
Proud Principals Podcast with Tony Cattani
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Show Notes
Christian Ledesma is the 2025 Minnesota Principal of the Year
Christian Ledesma is the principal of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where he leads with a strong focus on safety, equity, and academic excellence. Returning after the pandemic, he addressed students’ physical and emotional well-being through safety campaigns, increased supervision, and student-led cultural celebrations. Under his leadership, Roosevelt strengthened its partnership with the International Baccalaureate program, emphasizing collaborative planning, professional development, and character education. Ledesma’s leadership has created a culture of care and academic rigor, preparing students to thrive as globally-minded, reflective, and principled members of their communities.
In this episode Christian shares:
- how he grew enrollment 300+ students in 4 years.
- Community events
- Junior Teddy Program
- Academic achievements
Backwards planning of student dreams - asking every student their goal after HS, and creating a plan aligned with their goal.
- Walking people through hard stuff
Instagram - @Principal_Ledesma Schoo and @FollowTheTeddy