I recently wrapped a workshop at the Innovative Schools Summit in Nashville, where I spent three hours with school and district leaders diving deep into what makes leadership teams truly great. Not just functional—but exceptional. This is work I’ve been doing for years, but over the past few months it’s intensified. From coast to coast, […]

I’ll never forget what a client said to me earlier this week. We were talking about one of his team members who had stepped into a leadership role months ago but was still hesitant, still easing into the work like they were waiting for someone else to make the first move. Then he said it: […]

I’ll never forget what a client said to me earlier this week. We were talking about one of his team members who had stepped into a leadership role months ago but was still hesitant, still easing into the work like they were waiting for someone else to make the first move. Then he said it: […]

I’ll never forget what a client said to me earlier this week. We were talking about one of his team members who had stepped into a leadership role months ago but was still hesitant, still easing into the work like they were waiting for someone else to make the first move. Then he said it: […]

I remember July 4, 2012 like it was yesterday. Not only was it Independence Day, but it also marked a new beginning for me. It was the unofficial start of my second year as a high school principal. Year one had been… a bit of a mess. I spent most of it reacting—fighting fires, running […]

Over the past week or so, I have been working with a couple new principals. One has experience in previous principal roles but not at the scope of their new role. Another who has been an assistant principal twice, but the new role is quite different from any role they’ve had before. I have told […]

This blog originally was posted last year at just about this time (June 20, 2024). And while I am away on vacation, I still want to bring quality content and support to leaders everywhere. Enjoy this incredibly well received and timeless post for new leaders. _______________________________________________________________ I had the best conversation today with my friend […]

One of my favorite safety features that nearly all newer vehicles have is the blind spot warning. There might be a sound, a light on the side mirror, or some other method that alerts you, but the message and purpose is the same. To let you know there is a vehicle next to you that […]

This past week, I had the privilege of working with a group of passionate, dedicated school and district leaders in Virginia. Over two full days together, we explored one central idea: when school leaders gain clarity and lead with intention, everything changes. We talked about the realities of the job—the constant demands, the never-ending list […]

This upcoming week, I will be working with a large leadership team in Virginia. The district leadership has tasked us, and me specifically, with increasing the focus on high quality teaching and learning. Pushing school leaders to dig deep as the instructional leaders of their campuses is really important work, but where I will really […]