“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 …
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 …
One of the most powerful ways to bring people together in education is through a shared learning experience—one where ideas are lifted, voices are honored, and collective priorities begin to take root in meaningful ways. That’s exactly what an educational book club can offer when it’s designed with purpose and intention. It becomes a space …
Continue reading Beyond the Book: Ideas to Bridge Theory and Practice Through a Book Study
The heartbeat of education lives inside the walls of schools. Within those walls live stories, stories of kids and teachers in the beautiful mess of learning. It’s a sentiment I share in my book The Leader Inside, and it holds more meaning for me each time I revisit it. As we celebrate the upcoming Teacher …
In education, embodying a coaching mindset is understanding that growth isn’t about giving answers, it’s about creating space for discovery. A coaching mindset is grounded in the belief that educators hold the capacity to grow, and our role is to support that growth through trust, curiosity, and intentional presence. It’s about asking, not telling. Walking …
Throughout the trajectory of my career, nearly two decades spanning classroom teacher, literacy specialist, instructional coach, building leader, and now district leader, I’ve experienced just about every form of professional development. I’ve devoured books, tuned into countless podcasts, attended energizing conferences, and participated in more professional learning experiences than I can count. But if I’ve …
This week, I found myself in some important conversations with administrators, with teachers, and honestly, with myself. These weren’t just check-in conversations or progress updates. They were real. They circled us back to the relationships we’ve built and reminded us of our shared why: we are a team, here to make teaching and learning better …
Continue reading Coaching and Leading with Curiosity, Courage, and Care
Thriving isn’t a finish line we cross, it’s something we move toward and through, again and again. I believe that our lives and our work aren’t lived on a straight line. They ebb and flow. We move through seasons that shift our priorities, stretch our capacity, and challenge us to keep showing up. And while …
The paths we walk present us with a collection of choices, some small, others life-changing. Each one opens the door for us to summon the momentum within ourselves, take action, and embrace the reality that growth and comfort cannot coexist. I share this sentiment in my book, The Leader Inside because it’s a truth I’ve …
Empower. Collaborate. Connect. 