Have you ever felt like your days are moving from one item to the next? Meeting to meeting. Task to task. Conversation to conversation. I am going to assume that no matter what field you are in, this happens. There are times when I feel fully present, savoring the moments and appreciating what is unfolding …
“The right conversation, at the right moment, can change everything.” — Charles Duhigg, Supercommunicators Recently, I started reading Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg. It’s been sitting in my “to be read” pile for a few months. In some cases, I consider myself a “slow reader.” What I mean by that is I can read several books …
I believe one of the most important responsibilities we share in educational leadership is creating the conditions for others to do important work. Creating systems and structures may not always be the most inspiring part of leadership, but it is the work beneath the work. It doesn’t always feel visible or highlighted on a social …
What helps you lead well when the days feel full and the expectations feel high? If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you care deeply about your work. You care about doing it well. You care about the people you serve. You care about growing, even when growth feels uncomfortable or unclear. And while many …
I’ve been sitting with a question from George Couros’ new book, Forward, Together: “After all, isn’t true growth measured by our ability to look back on who we were and appreciate how far we’ve come?” What I keep returning to is not the looking back, but how that pause creates space for what comes next. …
I want to start by saying that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s because the only gifts we are expected to give are the ones that matter most…our presence, our attention, and our gratitude. And as we head into the week, I’ve been thinking a lot about where we choose to shine our “flashlight,” where …
Every day in schools, our relationships are built one conversation at a time. You know these moments well: the hallway hellos, the quick “Do you have a minute?” at the door, the whispered check-in with a student after class, the after-school email to a parent you want to reassure. When you look closely, these aren’t …
Continue reading The Space Between What We Say and What We Do
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
“Whether or not you are conscientiously following your destiny, your destiny is always following you.” – Martha Beck I have said this before, and I’ll say it again, education is a busy place. Some weeks feel like a whirlwind. Can you relate? It’s like that feeling when you’re driving to work, and suddenly you put …
“Lauren, I know you’re busy, but can we talk for a few minutes?” That’s a text I received from several teachers this week. Was I busy? Of course. I was in the whirlwind of meetings, professional learning sessions, phone calls, emails, and dealing with the impromptu events that inevitably come up. It’s busy. But here’s …
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 