In this episode of Autonome, host Fran Kenton, Founder and Creator of Autonome, sits down with Moises M. Merlos, Director of Student Services at Banning Unified School District. With more than two decades in public education, Moises shares how his journey, from aspiring medical professional to district leader, shaped a deeply student-centered approach to systems change.

Fran and Moises explore how attendance, school connectedness, and social-emotional supports intersect to drive student success. Moises walks through Banning USD’s comprehensive strategy: attendance recovery programs, wellness centers, expanded learning, community partnerships, and incentive systems designed to reengage students and families. The conversation highlights why improving attendance is about more than funding, it’s about belonging, trust, and consistent adult relationships.

They also discuss how rural context shapes student needs, why middle school requires targeted supports, and how strong Tier 1–3 systems can serve the whole child. Throughout the episode, Moises emphasizes purposeful change, clear communication, and hands-on leadership as essential ingredients for sustainable impact.

Key Moments

05:03 "Focusing on Whole-Child Support"

09:42 Boosting Attendance Through Engagement Programs

11:45 School Wellness Centers Boost Support

16:04 TK & Kindergarten Post-Pandemic Struggles

20:12 "Full-Day TK and Kindergarten"

21:54 Elementary STEAM Centers Expansion

26:27 "Commitment to Growth and Community"

30:35 "Effective Communication and Purpose"

32:37 "Building Strong Tiered Support"

36:13 Addressing Absenteeism and Engagement

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This conversation offers a practical, systems-level look at how districts can redesign student services to improve attendance, engagement, and wellbeing. Moises shares concrete examples, from wellness centers to community shoe drives, that show how small, thoughtful interventions can remove barriers to learning.

You’ll also hear a powerful reminder that sustainable change depends on trust, collaboration, and clear purpose. Whether you’re a district leader, principal, or student services professional, this episode provides actionable ideas for building inclusive, whole-child systems that help students, and families truly thrive.

Connect with Moises M. Merlos | Director of Student Services, Banning Unified School District

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moises-merlos-ed-d-81a7b279
Website: https://www.banning.k12.ca.us/

Connect with Fran Kenton and Autonome

Fran Kenton
Founder and Creator, Autonome
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-kenton-a0a7969a/

Autonome
Website: https://www.autonome101.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/autonome101/

About Autonome

Autonome is the podcast where district leaders share practical, scalable ways to build students’ foundational life skills—wellbeing, identity and purpose, relationships, and executive function—so they can manage life today and be ready for what’s next.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Autonome for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of student success.

In this episode of Autonome, host Fran Kenton sits down with Dr. Bonny Porter, Director of Student Services at Tehachapi Unified School District. Dr. Porter shares how his 33-year journey from elementary teacher to district leader shaped his commitment to student wellness, safety, and systems that support educators, families, and community needs. Fran and Dr. Porter discuss building coordinated supports like site-based social workers, updating discipline through root-cause approaches, expanding alternative learning options, and strengthening attendance strategies that keep students connected to learning.

Key Moments

01:39 Dr. Porter’s journey from classroom teacher to district leader

02:28 Why administration was never the plan and how it became the path

04:18 Learning district systems through curriculum and LCAP work

05:38 Creating the Director of Student Services role

06:56 Hiring school-based social workers and building systems from scratch

08:49 Post-COVID student needs and the growing focus on mental health

10:20 Using student voice to shape school culture and supports

11:03 Shifting discipline from punitive responses to root-cause solutions

12:42 In-school intervention as an alternative to suspension

16:38 Building districtwide culture with Capturing Kids’ Hearts

18:40 Attendance challenges after COVID and why presence matters

21:23 Launching a blended alternative school model for diverse learners

25:25 Expanded Learning Opportunities and after-school access

33:17 Funding realities and sustaining student services long-term

40:56 Teacher pipeline challenges and mentoring future leaders

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode offers a clear look at how districts can strengthen student wellness and school safety through coordinated supports, positive culture systems, and practical alternatives to exclusionary discipline. Dr. Porter shares grounded examples leaders can adapt to reduce behavior issues, support staff, and keep students learning.
You will also hear innovative ways districts can meet community needs through flexible learning models, expanded-day programming, and attendance strategies that prioritize connection and access. If you lead student services, curriculum, or school operations, you will leave with ideas you can apply right away.

Connect with Dr. Bonny Porter | Director of Student Services, Tehachapi Unified School
District

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonny-porter-ab790755/
Website: https://www.tehachapiusd.com/

Connect with Fran Kenton and Autonome
Fran Kenton
Founder and Creator, Autonome
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-kenton-a0a7969a/

Autonome
Website: https://www.autonome101.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/autonome101/

About Autonome
Autonome is the podcast where district leaders share practical, scalable ways to build students’ foundational life skills—wellbeing, identity and purpose, relationships, and executive function—so they can manage life today and be ready for what’s next.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Autonome for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of student success.

In the very first episode of Autonome, host Fran Kenton, Founder and Creator of Autonome, sits down with Jarrad Grandy, Executive Director of Student Services at Oakland Schools. Serving more than 176,000 students across 28 districts, Jarrad shares how his journey from teacher to administrator to countywide leader shaped his mission to help every student become career ready.

Fran and Jarrad discuss how students can explore three essential questions: What are you good at? What do you like to do? Is someone willing to pay you for it? They also talk about the challenge of moving from isolated success to scalable systems, and how Oakland Schools is building a first-of-its-kind K–12 nanotech, AI, and synthetic biology lab designed to make learning relevant to the real world.

Key Moments

01:18 Jarrad’s path from student to teacher to district leader

03:03 Why early career challenges pushed him toward leadership

04:16 The conversation that shifted him from building work to district work

05:21 How family guidance influenced his leadership decisions

06:15 The biggest challenge in education: scaling excellence

07:04 Why making every student career ready is his core mission

08:28 Moving from pockets of excellence to consistent systems

09:03 Using clear, measurable targets to drive districtwide progress

11:11 Funding and supports available for district experiences

12:48 Awareness, exploration, and preparation as a continuous cycle

14:24 Why educators need industry experiences to teach real relevance

18:09 Teaching human skills like communication and collaboration

20:12 Using real problems instead of symbolic examples

23:02 What systems must shift to ensure true career readiness

Why You’ll Love This Episode

This episode gives a practical and clear look at what career readiness should mean today. Jarrad shares a simple but powerful framework that blends relevance, industry alignment, and repeated student experiences so districts can help learners connect their strengths to real opportunities. His examples show how to make learning stick and how to redesign experiences so students can understand what is possible for their futures.

You will also hear a thoughtful perspective on systems change. Jarrad explains how teacher externships, industry partnerships, and meaningful curriculum shifts can help districts scale what works. Whether you are a teacher, principal, or district leader, you will find concrete steps to elevate student agency and future readiness.

Connect with Jarrad Grandy | Executive Director of Student Services, Oakland Schools

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrad-grandy/
Website: https://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/

Connect with Fran Kenton and Autonome

Fran Kenton
Founder and Creator, Autonome
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fran-kenton-a0a7969a/

Autonome
Website: https://www.autonome101.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/autonome101/

About Autonome

Autonome is the podcast where district leaders share practical, scalable ways to build students’ foundational life skills—wellbeing, identity and purpose, relationships, and executive function—so they can manage life today and be ready for what’s next.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Autonome for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of student success.