We’ve all heard them. We’ve all used them. Words that sound powerful in meetings or presentations but often mean very different things to different people. Collaboration. Accountability. Engagement. Professional Development. These are what I call leadership buzzwords. The problem isn’t the words themselves—it’s the lack of clarity behind them. Without definition, buzzwords can frustrate our […]
Early in my leadership career as a principal, I often engaged with teachers or staff members who made a poor choice or missed a deadline in a rather authoritative manner. My default was to open with questions like “Why did you do that?” or “Why isn’t this finished yet?” Those questions immediately put people on […]
As a building-level principal, I often felt like I was moving in and out of different roles and having to lead very situationally. I might find myself in classrooms one moment serving as a coach, a supporter, or even a cheerleader for my staff. At other times, simply by being present and visible, I was […]
When I look back on my time as a high school principal, I can clearly see the days when our culture was thriving—and the days when it wasn’t. What made the difference wasn’t a program or a new initiative. It was the way our people—teachers, staff, and students—felt about being part of the school community. […]
As a building-level leader, I found that the start of the school year often brought me incredible energy. During the first couple of weeks, I was in every classroom, greeting students in the hallways, and having conversations with staff that deepened our relationships. Those were the moments that mattered most — building trust, reinforcing expectations, […]
There’s nothing quite like the first days of school.The hallways are buzzing with conversation, classrooms hum with energy, and even the coffee tastes better. The start of a new year brings a wave of optimism, fresh ideas, and a sense that this is the year when everything clicks. But here’s the reality: momentum is fragile. […]
A few weeks ago, I asked a leadership team I was coaching a seemingly simple question: “What does success look like for your school this year?” Five people.Five very different answers. That moment—awkward, eye-opening, and important—reminded me of something I’ve seen again and again in schools across the country: we can’t assume clarity. We have […]
A Leadership Story That Still Sticks With Me A couple of years ago, I worked with a leadership team that continually frustrated me as their coach. They were passionate, had great ideas, and clearly wanted to do right by their staff and students. But they were also notoriously noncommittal when it came to action. Time […]
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 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 […]
