As I sit in the airport waiting for my flight home, I find myself reflecting on quite a year of work. For those of you who are new to the blog, I’m a veteran educator turned leadership coach and speaker. After 26 years of teaching, being a principal, and being a superintendent, I chose to leave the day to day of the profession and lean into supporting leaders around the world. I just completed my final in-person day of this school year so I’m writing with my reflections for this post.

During this year, I have worked with nearly several hundred school and district leaders in various capacities. I have held workshops, led leadership retreats. group Coaching, as well as one-on-one coaching. I have worked this past year in California, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada (a LOT), Nebraska. Texas. New York. New Jersey, Virginia, and North Carolina. I have really piled up the frequent flier miles, hotel points, and free rental car upgrades. I have learned a lot about Travel, ways to eat smart (and to eat poorly), but that isn’t the point of this post.

I learned this year that leadership turnover at both the district and building level can be crippling to a system. I have worked with many leaders who are in systems that are on their fourth or fifth superintendent or principal in the last five to six years. I watched a couple of systems being led by strong leaders with clear vision still acknowledge the need for outside support for their leaders, and I really admire those leaders. I have learned that leaders who allow their ego to get in the way of the success of others lose the support of those around them, whether they realize it or not. I learned that teachers want a genuine connection with their leader and, if they have that, they work incredibly hard for that person.

What else have I learned this year?

I’ve learned that leaders in today’s schools:

• care deeply about their educators, kids, and communities.
• are being asked more today than at any time in our history
• need to be supported by their leaders; need to feel seen, heard, valued, and trusted by their leaders
• look forward to feedback, thought partnership, and talking shop

I’ve learned:

• my experience is quite valuable and is respected by those doing the work now
• my ability to listen, to paraphrase, to ask really good questions that drive reflection is even more important than my experience
• I’m still called to be in classrooms, and each leader I work with knows I want to go with them to see teachers in action
• I can and will continue to grow and improve as a coach, just as I did in my leadership roles

I learned the leaders I supported this year:

• grew as a result of our partnership
• have discovered that having a thought partner is an invaluable support that helps them make really good decisions
• believe in the importance of building supportive, inclusive cultures in their schools
• appreciate that I’m just a quick call or text away
• are better leaders today than they were to begin the year

You might wonder how I didn’t already know these things. Truth is, nearly all of this is just reinforcement of what I already knew and believed about school leadership.

Reflecting on our work is vital for personal and professional Growth. It allows us to assess our actions, identify successes, and understand areas for improvement. Through reflection, we gain deeper insights into our practices, fostering self-awareness and continuous learning. It helps us recognize patterns, avoid repeating mistakes, and make informed decisions. Reflection also nurtures emotional intelligence, enhancing our ability to empathize and communicate effectively. By regularly evaluating our work, we stay aligned with our goals and values, ultimately leading to more meaningful and impactful outcomes. Embracing reflection transforms experiences into valuable lessons, driving sustained progress and development.

Thanks for checking out this different blog post. I will resume next week with tips for leaders and ways new leaders can grow and improve in their first few years on the job.

Oh, and I learned I really LOVE what I do and I am making the impact I believed I was meant to make. Finally, I learned about hundreds of great leaders across this country, built a relationship with them that will last and I will value forever.

Have a #RoadToAwesome week

Darrin

Tune in this Sunday to “Leaning into Leadership” where my guest is Paul Gencarella, Jr.

Want to get a free copy of my awesome eBook Walk in Your Purpose? Click here

Need some help? Got a question? Reach out, let’s talk.

Learn more and sign up for our weekly newsletter, loaded with awesome content at roadtoawesome.net

Make sure you subscribe (button on the left) so you don’t miss any future posts.

Looking for that awesome speaker with an incredible message to build your staff culture? Look no further – connect with me here.

Darrin Peppard Dr. Darrin Peppard

Dr. Darrin Peppard is an author, leadership coach, consultant, and speaker focused on organizational culture and climate, and growing emerging leaders. Darrin is the best-selling author of the book Road to Awesome, and is the host of the Leaning into Leadership podcast. As a ‘recovering high school principal’, Darrin shares strategies and lessons learned from 26 years in public education to help leaders gain clarity, find joy in their work, and walk in their purpose.