Before I stepped into a formal leadership role and even before my career in education began as a teacher, I thought a leader's role was to be a manager. I believed their work was about organization, structure, and oversight. It wasn’t until I encountered leaders who inspired me to become the best version of myself …
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 …
“The heartbeat of education lives inside the walls of schools. Within those walls, you’ll find stories of kids and teachers in the mess of learning.” This sentiment, one I share in my book, The Leader Inside, speaks to the essence of what we strive to build—a learning ecosystem brimming with curiosity, collaboration, creativity, and growth. …
Leaders are often challenged by countless priorities and limited time, but knowing when to focus and when to lean on others can make all the difference. Yet, when there are too many priorities and only one you, what do you do? When the weight feels heavy, it's easy to get overwhelmed. In those moments, we …
Learning is a gift. It’s not just something you do; it’s an opportunity to grow your skill set and elevate the social, emotional, and intellectual capacity of learners. Yes, I said learners because whether you are a student, teacher, coach, or administrator, everyone in an educational organization is both a teacher and a learner. In …
Who is the leader you wish to become, Lauren? My answer is, I wish to become the leader I always needed. This is a question I continuously ask myself as I navigate the ebbs and flows of education and leadership. These sentiments are woven throughout my book The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire …
Continue reading Coaching Aspiring Leaders: A Pathway to Growth
“The best champions for change are experts in aspects of the initiative being implemented—those who combine emotional intelligence, expertise, humility, and ambition for improvement.” As I was reading the ASCD article by Jim Knight titled, The Problem with Nominal Change, it brought me to deeply reflect on the constantly evolving landscape of education. Education is …
“You think you're too small to make a difference?” I keep rereading this line over and over again from a short passage titled, “Advice From a Raindrop'' by Kim Stafford. Dan Reichard shared this brilliance in a Legacy of Learning:Teaching For Lasting Impact by Meghan Lawson Voxer book study group I am facilitating. It reminds …
A Moment of Reflection As I returned to the office after a much-needed summer break, ready to embark on my 18th year in education and third year of administration, I felt a mixture of excitement and nostalgia. I parked my car, sorted out my school ID from the depths of my car console, unpacked items …
The trajectory of my career has been a journey filled with unexpected surprises, leading me to places I could have never anticipated or imagined. My purpose of bringing out the gifts in others while keeping kids at the heart of decision-making has always remained steadfast. However, every path I’ve walked has presented me with a …
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 