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When we are little, adults love to ask us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For a while, the answers are usually a mix of fantasy, imagination, and whatever feels exciting in the moment. Astronaut. Singer. Veterinarian. Teacher. President. Broadway star. Professional athlete. Sometimes all of them in the same week. For me, the answer did not really begin to solidify beyond fantasy until middle school, when I met Mr. Clausen, my 7th grade science teacher. He taught s

The Gift of Beginning Again There is something powerful about a Monday in June. The school year is beginning to loosen its grip, but it has not quite let go. Calendars are crowded. Energy is uneven. Everyone is carrying the weight of what has been completed, what still needs attention, and what may have to wait. This is the kind of moment when it is easy to rush, react, and push harder than we need to. Mindfulness reminds us that beginning again does not always require a gran

This week, I was reminded (in the purest way possible) why relationships sit at the heart of education. Hand-drawn Valentines. Crayon hearts. Love notes written in the careful, crooked handwriting of children who wanted their teachers to know they mattered. No data point captures what those moments hold. But every child who takes the time to create something with love is telling us: You are safe with me. You see me. You matter to me. And when students feel cared for, they sho

Start with Care. Stay with Care. This week, let’s remember: Innovation doesn’t grow from strategy alone. It grows from trust. Trust only...

Care is the Catalyst: Rethinking Leadership for Innovation and Trust In the field of education, where the stakes are human, not just...