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 …
Coaching is a vehicle to creating lasting impact in educational organizations, especially when districts are fully invested in allowing a coaching mindset to flourish. From my perspective, if you work in an educational setting, you are a coach and an instructional leader for the kids, colleagues, and communities you serve. What I have come to …
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
“I believe that everyone is born with the desire to do something beyond themselves.” I recently heard this sentiment shared by entrepreneur and college professor Ed Zschau, on an episode of Tim Ferriss’ podcast. This insight reminded me that there will be moments in our lives that confirm that we are destined for things we …
Continue reading Embracing Coaching Principles in Leadership
This blog series will take you on a journey where we'll delve into six foundational practices that embody how leaders can embrace a coaching mindset. Each practice serves as a stepping stone, guiding us towards instructional change and student success. Together, we'll explore how coaching builds will, skill, knowledge, and capacity, breathing life into the …
Continue reading Leading Through a Coaching Mindset: Lean into Learning – Part 2
In the realm of education, leading through a coaching mindset has proven to be a guiding force that gently steers dialogue, instruction, and ultimately, impacts student growth. Leading and learning is a privilege and as I have navigated over eighteen years in education, I have been fortunate enough to be able to explore many roles, …
There are several aspects about education that ignite my passion and inspire me to reflect on the leader I am continuously becoming. My primary focus lies with the most important stakeholders in our schools: our kids. Regardless of the role you are gifted to serve in, if you are in education, you are a leader …
Continue reading Coaching Leadership: Two Ways to Make Others Feel Truly Seen
"The journey to shatter the ceiling is truly admirable. However, there's another perspective or formula that we should consider– raising the floor. It's not always about reaching higher. Sometimes it's about adding your best to what you have." This beautiful sentiment was shared in Laura McDonnell’s latest blog post, Raise Your Floor where she delves …
I was recently asked about the impact an instructional coach can have on an organization by a well-respected colleague. My first physical response, a genuine smile. My first internal thought, now THIS is a thoughtful question and a meaningful conversation I can’t wait to be a part of. Then, the words from my grateful heart …
Continue reading Celebrating Instructional Coaches Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Always
Reflecting on Observations This is my 16th year in education and it is safe to say that my growth and development as a human being and educator rests on the shoulders of those who generously took the time to ask me about what worked well and what didn’t. They gave me the time and space …
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 