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 …
“If we want something to matter to them, they must first believe they matter to us.” —Zac Mercurio, The Power of Mattering Over the last few weeks, I had the opportunity to read through several end-of-year reflections from teachers. Do you know what was beautiful? Each one carried a story of care, creativity, and commitment …
“It’s easy for people to be critics or cheerleaders. It’s harder to get them to be coaches. A critic sees your weaknesses and attacks your worst self. A cheerleader sees your strengths and celebrates your best self. A coach sees your potential and helps you become a better version of yourself.”– Adam Grant, Hidden Potential …
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 …
As educators, we are constantly evolving. We are learning, unlearning, and relearning to meet the needs of our students and the ever-changing landscape of education. The best professional growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens when we engage with and think about new ideas, challenge our thinking, and apply what we learn in meaningful ways. …
Continue reading Four Books Shaping My Thinking (and Why They Matter in Education)
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about this: What truly keeps students engaged in learning? Not just busy, not just compliant, but deeply engaged - curious, questioning, and thinking beyond the task right in front of them. Have you ever stopped to wonder the same? To me, the question feels even more vital in an …
Continue reading 4 Ideas to Keep Students Engaged and Thinking in an AI-Driven World
"If you embrace the idea of being a continuous learner, you will always be relevant. Once you think you are the expert in the room is the moment the world might start passing you by.” - George Couros One of the most important facets of my role is to thoughtfully plan professional learning experiences for …
Last week, my good friend Lainie Rowell reminded me that it’s the six-month anniversary of the release of my book, The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within. How could that be? I asked myself. It all feels like a whirlwind, like a dream I didn’t know I was capable of accomplishing. …
“In life, you don’t sore to the level of your hopes and dreams, stay stuck at the level of self-worth. You don’t rise to what you believe is possible, you fall to what you believe you’re worthy of.” – Worthy by Jamie Kern Lima (p. 9) As I write my last blog post of 2024, …
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 