Recently, I was having a conversation with an educator that stayed with me long after we finished talking. It was grounded in her being so passionate about her work, in caring so deeply, but she was unsure if her efforts were being seen. By others. She was expressing that in some spaces her work feels …
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 …
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’ll never forget what learning looked like when I stepped out of the walls of my own classroom, into new learning spaces, and into various leadership roles. It quickly became clear that this was a unique opportunity to cross-pollinate ideas, share the magic happening inside classrooms with others, and witness how curiosity, creativity, and connection …
As I celebrate my 200th blog post, I’m reminded that every word, idea, and story shared here has been shaped by the people who have encouraged me to keep going. This post is for them and for all of us who believe in the power of lifting others. Five years ago, my good friend George …
This week, as I sat in meetings and one-on-one conversations, I noticed something. There were moments where it felt like educators and leaders didn’t need another initiative or plan. They needed space…space to talk, to process, and to be heard. In my book The Leader Inside, I share that “the people who cross your path …
One of the most unsettling thoughts I continue to have as a leader is that I might drift too far from the classroom, too far from what’s real, what’s possible, and what’s happening in the moments that matter most. Sure, I can do my classroom visits and walk-throughs, and I do, intentionally. I can conduct …
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
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 