Liz Legault Interim Deputy Superintendent of Fall River Public Schools
On this episode of Getting Real with Cliff Ponte, Cliff sits down with Fall River Public Schools Interim Deputy Superintendent Liz Legault for a wide-ranging conversation about education, leadership, accountability, and the future of the city’s schools.
Legault shares her journey from growing up in a family of educators to becoming a physical education teacher, principal, district administrator, and superintendent before coming to Fall River. She talks candidly about the challenges she encountered when joining the district, the importance of putting strong systems in place, holding people accountable, supporting teachers and students, and her belief that Fall River can become a model urban school district.
She also shares the lessons she has learned throughout her career—from making difficult personnel decisions to working collaboratively with school committees, unions, families, and the community.
One lesson comes from an unexpected place: the golf course. Legault compares leadership to setting yourself up for the next shot:
“It doesn’t matter where your drive goes. It matters that second shot.”
For Legault, leadership isn’t about where you start—it’s about making the next decision count and continually positioning people and organizations for success.
It’s a candid look at the person helping lead Fall River Public Schools, her philosophy on education, and her vision for what the district can become.
Listen to Getting Real with Cliff Ponte wherever you get your podcasts, and if you enjoy the conversation, subscribe and share this episode with someone who cares about the future of Fall River.
