What will your students and colleagues remember about you years from now and how will you know it mattered? This week, two unexpected moments stopped me in my tracks…moments where my past met my future and reminded me why I chose, and continue to choose, this work. The first moment came at my son’s basketball …
I’ve been reading two books this summer that speak directly to the important work we’ve been doing, while also sparking new thinking and reaffirming what it means to be in education. Fearless Instruction by Creative Leadership Solutions highlights research and high-impact practices from an all-star group of leaders and educators, and Instructional Innovation: Cultivating Teacher …
Continue reading It Starts With Us: Four Leadership Moves to Elevate Teaching and Learning
On January 1st, I sent a message that had been years in the making. I told my fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Roth, that 2025 would be the year I’d give her a hug and finally make a long-overdue visit to my teacher. If you’ve followed my writing, you know Mrs. Roth has been more than just …
In an evolving world that is starting to be shaped by the rise of artificial intelligence, our classroom spaces must remain places of curiosity, connection, and thoughtful creation. At the recent ASCD + ISTE 2025 Conference, the Profile of an AI-Ready Graduate was introduced by Richard Culatta, not as a checklist of tech skills, but …
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
This post is a special collaboration between Lauren Kaufman and Dr. Sonia Matthew—two educators reflecting on their parallel journeys, defining moments, and the lessons that continue to shape their work as leaders in education. I'm about to begin my 20th year in education.Yes, 20 years. As I was driving to work the other day, the …
Some leaders manage. Others direct. But the ones who have left a lasting imprint on me are those who coach…not once, not only when asked, but as a way of leading in all they do. This year, I had the privilege of onboarding our new literacy coach. From the outside, her transition from classroom teacher …
There’s a phrase I’ve been carrying with me lately: You’re already on your way. Sometimes we just need some open space, a word, a gesture, or a reflection from the past to recognize it. This week, I stopped by a classroom and chatted with two co-teachers. One of them shared that she felt sad she …
As we wrap up the school year, plan for summer learning, and simultaneously look toward the fall, it can feel like we’re living in three seasons at once. Educators are carrying a lot and trust me, their plates are full, and they are not hungry. And yet, here we are, still showing up, still dreaming …
There is great work happening in our schools. Learning and leading isn’t a linear process. Our learning ecosystems are hubs, active spaces where the magic of growth, failure, and reflection unfolds daily. And while there’s so much goodness living within those spaces, do you know what’s even better? The people. The goodness of people is …
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 