This past weekend, I came across a post on social media that caught my attention.Someone considering a move into school leadership asked a simple but powerful question:“Is there joy in the job?” The responses poured in. Most were a resounding yes — with a few honest replies from individuals who, at least for now, aren’t […]
When I was a high school principal, the final stretch of the school year always made me a little uneasy. After months of hard work, it was natural for some people—staff and students alike—to start easing off the gas. Energy would dip. Focus could wander. The finish line was in sight, and with it came […]
When I was a building principal, much of what we had going was working pretty efficiently. Our systems were dialed in, and the culture felt strong. But then we ran into a challenge around building security and safety. We realized our evacuation procedures needed to change. We had to ensure every person—staff, students, and visitors—was […]
I spend a great deal of time working one on one with leaders. One of my primary goals is to help them spend time reflecting on their current practices, growth, and areas for continued improvement. One of my favorite questions to ask related to self-reflection actually comes from something my friend and fellow leadership coach, […]
On a recent visit to one of the school districts I support, an elementary principal asked me the following question, “how do you motivate and inspire teachers this time of year without it feeling like toxic positivity?” Let’s be honest, spring has arrived, and while that means warmer days and brighter skies, it also signals […]
As a school leader, how often do you start your day with the best of intentions, only to find yourself consumed by urgent crises and unexpected interruptions? If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. Far too many leaders find themselves trapped in reactive mode, dealing with what author Stephen Covey famously termed the ‘urgent but […]
In less than two days my new book (co-authored with Katie Kinder), Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools will officially launch. This moment has been months in the making—filled with early morning writing sessions, late-night revisions, deep conversations with educators across the country, and a powerful collaboration with 24 incredible contributors […]
Leadership is about choices—the daily decisions we make that shape the culture of our schools and the experiences of our teams. Too often, however, leaders get bogged down in the reasons why something won’t work or why it’s too risky to try. This tendency to lean on caution can stifle innovation, frustrate staff, and ultimately […]
TL;DR: Why Every Leader Needs to Lead Like a Coach Leading like a coach means developing and empowering your team instead of just directing and evaluating them. Coaching leadership builds trust, ownership, and continuous growth by focusing on listening, asking better questions, and recognizing progress—not just results. Simple shifts like asking more than telling, celebrating […]
A few days ago, I was facilitating a leadership workshop with a group of school leaders when the conversation turned to what makes leadership teams truly effective. Very quickly, the discussion landed on trust. It wasn’t surprising—when a team is struggling, trust (or the lack of it) is often at the core of the issue. […]
