What does it truly mean to prepare students for the future? It’s a question that’s bigger than any one curriculum, assessment, or instructional strategy. It’s a question that calls us to pause and reflect, both as educators and as lifelong learners. As our leadership team began exploring the New York State Portrait of a Graduate, …
Continue reading Layering Learning: A Protocol for Educators to Deepen Reflection and Connection
Some leaders manage. Others direct. But the ones who have left a lasting imprint on me are those who coach…not once, not only when asked, but as a way of leading in all they do. This year, I had the privilege of onboarding our new literacy coach. From the outside, her transition from classroom teacher …
“If we want something to matter to them, they must first believe they matter to us.” —Zac Mercurio, The Power of Mattering Over the last few weeks, I had the opportunity to read through several end-of-year reflections from teachers. Do you know what was beautiful? Each one carried a story of care, creativity, and commitment …
There’s a phrase I’ve been carrying with me lately: You’re already on your way. Sometimes we just need some open space, a word, a gesture, or a reflection from the past to recognize it. This week, I stopped by a classroom and chatted with two co-teachers. One of them shared that she felt sad she …
“It’s easy for people to be critics or cheerleaders. It’s harder to get them to be coaches. A critic sees your weaknesses and attacks your worst self. A cheerleader sees your strengths and celebrates your best self. A coach sees your potential and helps you become a better version of yourself.”– Adam Grant, Hidden Potential …
As we wrap up the school year, plan for summer learning, and simultaneously look toward the fall, it can feel like we’re living in three seasons at once. Educators are carrying a lot and trust me, their plates are full, and they are not hungry. And yet, here we are, still showing up, still dreaming …
The heartbeat of education lives inside the walls of schools. Within those walls live stories, stories of kids and teachers in the beautiful mess of learning. It’s a sentiment I share in my book The Leader Inside, and it holds more meaning for me each time I revisit it. As we celebrate the upcoming Teacher …
In education, embodying a coaching mindset is understanding that growth isn’t about giving answers, it’s about creating space for discovery. A coaching mindset is grounded in the belief that educators hold the capacity to grow, and our role is to support that growth through trust, curiosity, and intentional presence. It’s about asking, not telling. Walking …
Throughout the trajectory of my career, nearly two decades spanning classroom teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, building leader, and now district leader, I’ve experienced just about every form of professional development. I’ve devoured books, tuned into countless podcasts, attended energizing conferences, and participated in more professional learning experiences than I can count. But if I’ve …
This week, I found myself in some important conversations with administrators, with teachers, and honestly, with myself. These weren’t just check-in conversations or progress updates. They were real. They circled us back to the relationships we’ve built and reminded us of our shared why: we are a team, here to make teaching and learning better …
Continue reading Coaching and Leading with Curiosity, Courage, and Care
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 