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“I think the success of my work stems from being truthful.” ~Catherine O'Hara There’s a quiet kind of power in honesty. The kind that builds trust, deepens relationships, and creates work that actually matters. In leadership, education, and life, truth isn’t always the easiest path, but it’s almost always the one that lasts. When we lead with authenticity, we give others permission to do the same. That’s where real growth begins. #ThoughtfulThursday #AuthenticLeadership #Trut

“A good answer is worth reinventing from scratch, again and again.” ~ Richard Powers In education and leadership, the goal isn’t to find one perfect solution and cling to it forever. The real work is in returning to our questions. Reflecting, refining, and responding to new learners, new contexts, and new challenges. What worked yesterday may need to be reimagined today, not because it failed, but because growth demands responsiveness. Strong leaders and educators don’t just

School board members who are also parents hold a uniquely powerful place in our school communities. At their best, they model the highest ideals of public service, demonstrating integrity, accountability, stewardship, and a commitment to students rather than self-interest. These board members understand the gravity of their role. They know that leadership is not about access or advantage. It is about trust, ethical governance, and the public good. The board members who serve

For years, the phrase “21st Century Skills” has been championed like a breakthrough revelation; as if collaboration, creativity, empathy, or problem-solving suddenly emerged in the year 2000. I have never embraced the term. In fact, I’ve challenged it every time it was presented as something new, shiny, or revolutionary. We are now 26% of the way into this century, and the truth still stands: The most essential learning skills are not bound to a century. They are (and always

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

“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

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

When Classroom Management Becomes Emotional Exhaustion There is a quiet exhaustion that can settle into even the most seasoned teachers....

Fundamental Friday: Becomes, Not Outcomes In education, we often hear the term' outcomes.' Test scores. Graduation rates. College...

I received (not once, but twice) the end-of-the-year “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” award from an organization I worked for. On the...

In the fall of 2020, I remember walking past the local playground. The swings were wrapped in yellow caution tape. The climbing structure...

Leading in Education by Lifting Others If you’re in educational leadership (or aspire to be), remember this: you didn’t get here alone....

Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action."  — Peter Drucker In the...

How many times have we waited for the “right moment,” more confidence, or the perfect conditions before taking action? In schools and...

“If we want our children to move mountains, we first have to let them get out of their chairs.” — Nicolette Sowder So here’s the real...