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There’s a photo I snapped on Saturday that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s of my daughter standing at the edge of the gym floor, eyes fixed on her teammate who was out there performing her routine. It’s not the twirling, the costumes, or the lights that stand out in the picture; it’s her face. She looks happy. Proud. Deeply caring. The kind of expression you can’t stage or rehearse. The kind that emerges only when someone you love is out there giving everything they’ve got.

In an old television series from 2011, a line cuts through the noise of conflict: “When did helping your neighbor turn into a character flaw?” It’s a question that still echoes in leadership spaces today. The remark arises from an argument between two people: one intent on helping a struggling family, the other convinced they had earned their hardship through poor choices. The exchange exposes a deeper truth about leadership in schools, organizations, and communities. We ofte

Every now and then, I stumble on thoughts, moments, and stories that don’t quite fit into my professional blog categories. They aren't polished enough for a leadership post, structured enough for a workshop idea, or tidy enough to tuck into a Mindful Monday or Thoughtful Thursday. This space, Unscripted, is where they’ll live. Unscheduled, unplanned, and honest. When an idea shows up, I’ll explore it here. I'll share when life offers a small lesson or a surprising moment. No

On Unexpected Beginnings “My first semester, I got a D in creative writing.” — Conrad Hall There’s something quietly powerful about this confession from this celebrated cinematographer. A reminder that early grades, early judgments, and early stumbles are not prophecies. They’re simply moments (sometimes humbling, sometimes frustrating) that ask us to choose who we will become next. A “D” doesn’t define creativity. A critique doesn’t seal potential. A setback doesn’t close th

Mindful Monday: Birthday Weekends Birthday weekends have a way of slowing life down just enough for us to notice what matters. They’re part celebration, part reflection, and part quiet realization that another year has shaped us in ways we didn’t always see in the moment. Between the plans, the messages, and the candles, there’s usually a pause, a moment where we ask ourselves: Who did I become this year? What did I carry that I can finally put down? What do I want more of as

Innovation Mindset: Onboarding Is Not an Event; It’s a Relationship I remember sitting in a conference room years ago with my leadership team, surrounded by folders, post-its, and laptops, as we tried to outline what “onboarding” really looked like in our district. We started listing the immediate things new employees needed to know (ID badges, email setup, class lists, keys, curriculum documents, HR paperwork). The list grew quickly, but so did my concern. When we stepped ba

Fundamental Friday: Building the Fundamentals of Inquiry Learning In every classroom, inquiry begins the moment a student wonders. That spark (small, curious, sometimes messy) is the first step in a cycle that shapes deeper thinking: Wonder → Explore → Investigate → Create → Reflect → Share. Inquiry isn’t a strategy you sprinkle on top of instruction; it is the structure that brings learning to life. It gives students a reason to think, a purpose to explore, and an authentic

“I did not clip her wings.” – Ziauddin Yousafzai When Ziauddin Yousafzai spoke these words about his daughter Malala, he wasn’t talking about rebellion; he was talking about freedom. The freedom to think, to question, to lead, and to rise beyond the limits that others set. As educators, parents, and leaders, we often talk about helping children soar, but sometimes our systems, expectations, or fears quietly clip the very wings we claim to nurture. Take a moment to reflect: wh

The Courage to Begin The first time you do something new in public, your heart beats a little faster. Maybe your voice trembles. Maybe your hands don’t quite know where to go. It’s the moment when preparation meets vulnerability, and courage steps in. There’s a certain beauty in that first try. It’s imperfect, raw, and real. You learn what worked, what didn’t, and what to try next time. Most of all, you discover that growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone; it occurs in the

The Line Between Friendship and Relationships in Leadership The Human Side of Leadership Leadership is inherently relational. We spend more waking hours with our colleagues Monday through Friday than we often do with our own families. These shared hours naturally build familiarity, shared humor, and trust; the ingredients of connection. Leaders must balance connection with clarity. There is a critical difference between knowing your staff and being part of their emotional bei

The Urge to Connect Educators are relational by nature. We thrive on connection, conversation, and community. In schools, where the lines between personal and professional often blur, it can feel natural to share pieces of our lives with colleagues. We talk about our families, our frustrations, our health, our exhaustion, and sometimes, our opinions about leadership or coworkers. What begins as a harmless conversation can quietly cross into oversharing, altering how we are pe

“Autumn leaves don't fall, they fly. They take their time and wander on this, their only chance to soar.” — Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing There’s something quietly powerful about this reminder. We often think of change as loss (leaves falling, seasons ending) when in truth, it’s a transformation. Autumn teaches us that even in moments of letting go, there’s beauty, grace, and purpose. The leaves don’t rush to the ground; they glide, they dance, they soar. What if we ap

Mindful Monday: Creativity Creativity isn’t reserved for artists; it’s an everyday act of noticing, connecting, and reimagining. It’s what happens when curiosity meets courage. Whether you’re solving a problem, crafting a lesson, or finding a new rhythm in your day, creativity reminds you that possibility is always present if you’re willing to see differently. Pause. Look again. What could this become? #MindfulMonday #Creativity #InnovationMindset #AddorationInnovation

We live in the age of the immediate. Groceries arrive in an hour. Movies stream instantly. Search engines feed us answers before we finish typing the question. Parents expect a call back at 7 p.m. because “it can’t wait.” The culture of now has become the measure of responsiveness, of care, of competence. What gets lost in this immediacy is the quiet wisdom of eventually. Art takes time. Composing music takes time. Writing an epic novel takes time. Learning takes time. Buildi

Fundamental Friday: Approach with a Candle “Some will see your flame and want to blow it out… others will approach with a candle.” —...

Thoughtful Thursday: The Gift of Being Terrible at First "There’s nothing like being really bad to make you want to be better." — Bill Murray Bill Murray once said this about his early improv days with John Candy. Back then, no one wanted to share a scene with them. They were awkward, unpolished, and unpredictable. Within that discomfort lived the spark of something extraordinary. Those rough beginnings became the foundation for the artistry and timing that made them icons. I

Cold Mornings in the Fall The first breath outside bites a little, and everything slows; the porch step, the car’s defrost, the sun taking its time. Cold reminds the body to notice: the warmth in your mug, the weight of your scarf, the way the air wakes your lungs. This is a season that invites gentler starts and deliberate choices. Try this today Pause at the door for three deep breaths before stepping out. Wrap your hands around a warm mug and name one thing you’re grateful

There’s a special kind of damage that happens when someone unready for leadership gains power. It’s not always loud or visible. Sometimes it’s whispered in group chats named “sabotage.” Sometimes it’s measured on a dry-erase board that reads, “Days since someone cried.” Sometimes it’s hidden behind a smile and a stolen credit for another person’s work. I have seen all of it. Leaders who weaponize control, who hoard information, who keep mental (and sometimes literal) files on

Fundamental Friday: Reimagining Tradition in Public Spaces Every October, schools across the country prepare for costume parades, themed...

The Stories We Wear “Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.” – Mason Cooley Every day, we choose what story to tell through our words, actions, and even our presence. What we wear can be a reflection of who we are, what we value, and how we want to show up in the world. In education and leadership, our “costumes” go beyond fabric. They include the roles we take on, the confidence we carry, and the authenticity we bring to every interaction. Uniforms, badges, and tit