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 […]
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 […]
I had the most interesting conversation this week over coffee with two different district-level leaders. In both conversations, they talked about how they have concern with some of their leaders not being focused on the ‘big picture’. We talked about how some leaders will fall into the trap of chasing ‘getting things done’ at the […]
That moment when the call comes and you hear, “Congratulations—you’re our new principal,” is unforgettable. I remember it clearly. I closed the door, hugged my wife, and said, I did it. Ten minutes later, reality hit: I’m the principal. The dream meets the weight of responsibility—and it’s humbling. Whether you’re stepping into your first building […]
