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“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ~ Zora Neale Hurston At the start of a new school year, we tend to think about what the year will bring. What if the more important question is what kind of year we will help create? Will this be a year that asks students to stretch, wonder, struggle productively, and discover what they are capable of? Will it be a year that gives them answers, not simply in the form of content, but in the form of confidence, belongi

In retirement, my “start of the school year” looks different than it did for most of my career. I am not reviewing opening-day schedules, preparing for faculty meetings, checking staffing lists, worrying about transportation, troubleshooting technology, or wondering what completely unexpected issue might appear before the first bell. My mission and purpose have not changed. I still believe deeply in the work of schools. I still believe in children, in educators, in the power

“Breathe the sweetness that hovers in August.” ~ Denise Levertov The last few weeks before school starts carry a sweetness all their own. There is excitement building, but also a quiet sense that summer is beginning to slip away. The calendars start filling. The school supplies appear in every store. Families begin shifting bedtimes, making plans, and preparing for new routines. But before we rush into the backpacks, schedules, meetings, and first-day expectations, August rem

Day One Leadership: More Than a Welcome Back The first day of school is more than a calendar date; it’s a tone-setter. For students, it...