Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes learning, leading, and educational ecosystems thrive. Over my two decades of serving in many roles in education, I have been witness to receiving change, implementing change, and leading change. All are hard. As Richard Gerver shares in his book Change, “You cannot thrive alone. Innovation and …
I was scrolling through social media the other day when I came across this quote: “Something I’ve thought about a lot: the people who helped me the most never asked for anything in return. And because of that, I’ve wanted to do more for them than I would have if they’d kept score. Generosity without …
In education we live in a sea of choices and resources. Each day can bring a new strategy to consider, a digital platform to explore, or a framework to unpack. As educators, we care deeply about getting it right for our students, so we read, we listen, and we reflect on what will continue to …
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 …
Last year, I stepped into a journey I wasn’t sure, at one time, was in my future. I became a doctoral student. It’s the first time I’m writing about it, not because it hasn’t mattered, but because I hadn’t yet given myself permission to name it. That first semester was filled with internal questions. How …
Continue reading Nothing Feels All the Way Right in the Beginning
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 …
At the beginning of the week, I was driving into work thinking about my long to-do list. If you work in education and are reading this, you know exactly what I mean. I was thinking about projects that matter and need to be lifted the right way. Communications that needed to go out so people …
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
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 