Every season of life brings something new to grow. Some arrive with fresh energy and opportunity, others ask us to slow down and reflect, and most are a blend of both. In every season, we learn, stretch, and discover new parts of ourselves. In education, this cycle is always present. We celebrate milestones, navigate obstacles, …
What do instructional coaches do? That’s a question I’ve heard a lot. Why? Because I’ve lived it. Over the course of my career, I’ve served as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal, and now, district leader. Each role has shaped me, but stepping into the role of instructional coach allowed me to see beyond …
This post is one of my most shared and read blogs, and as I step into my 20th year in education, I find myself reflecting on why it still resonates. I first shared these ideas when I was an assistant principal, co-presenting with my former colleague and principal at a popular local conference on shifting …
Continue reading Observing Through a Coaching Lens: 8 Ideas That Continue to Transform Practice
What will your students and colleagues remember about you years from now and how will you know it mattered? This week, two unexpected moments stopped me in my tracks…moments where my past met my future and reminded me why I chose, and continue to choose, this work. The first moment came at my son’s basketball …
I’ve been reading two books this summer that speak directly to the important work we’ve been doing, while also sparking new thinking and reaffirming what it means to be in education. Fearless Instruction by Creative Leadership Solutions highlights research and high-impact practices from an all-star group of leaders and educators, and Instructional Innovation: Cultivating Teacher …
Continue reading It Starts With Us: Four Leadership Moves to Elevate Teaching and Learning
On January 1st, I sent a message that had been years in the making. I told my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Roth, that 2025 would be the year I’d give her a hug and finally make a long-overdue visit to my teacher. If you’ve followed my writing, you know Mrs. Roth has been more than just …
In two decades as an educator, I’ve attended countless workshops, devoured professional books, articles and podcasts, and engaged in powerful learning experiences. But the learning that shaped me most? It came from coaching cycles, hallway conversations, and intervisitations where educators opened their doors, their hearts and minds, sharing what worked, wondering aloud, and learning alongside …
Continue reading Layered Coaching: A Lens on the Portrait of a Graduate
I recently read the new book, Am I Cut Out for This? by Elizabeth Dampf in two days flat. Not because I planned to, but because I couldn’t put it down. From the very first page, it felt like she was saying all the things so many leaders think, but few ever say out loud. …
I usually start my Saturday mornings by reading blogs, articles, or newsletters I subscribe to. Some may think there are other ways I could begin my day, but for me, I carve out that time for learning and growth. With coffee in hand, it’s my way of sparking thinking for the week ahead and generating …
Continue reading 20 Education Blogs That Are Making a Difference
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
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 