I had the honor of speaking to my colleagues at a conference last week and shared a few thoughts on the best kind of professional development: experience. Sure, we’ve all earned our degrees, collected a few credentials, and sat through our share of slide decks. But let’s be honest—none of that truly prepares you for […]
One of my favorite things about being a superintendent is getting out of meetings and into schools. There’s just something grounding about walking the halls, chatting with kids, and checking in with principals that reminds you why you do this work in the first place. We put these visits on the calendar months in advance,
School Visits and A Little Contraband – You Can’t Make It Up! Read More »
Graduation ceremonies are packed with unforgettable moments—the grand march, the inspirational (and occasionally nap-worthy) speeches, and, of course, the dramatic tossing of caps that somehow always results in at least one flying into a ceiling rafter, never to be seen again. Every now and then, though, a student gets a bright idea to really leave
How to Leave Your Mark on Graduation (Preferably Without Blood) – You Can’t Make It Up! Read More »
It’s graduation season again. The halls are buzzing, calendars are packed with end-of-year events, and families are planning parties that mark one of life’s biggest transitions. Seniors are racing to the finish line, and schools are carefully putting the final pieces in place as the academic year comes to a close. And every year around
An Unexpected Graduation: Showing Up Matters Read More »
I was chatting with a principal who’s opening a new school this fall. He was in the middle of shopping for school picture vendors, and suddenly, I had a flashback to the year I had an entire building full of little angels—at least in pictures! Picture Day! Every child gets excited for school picture day.
My Little Angels – A School Picture Day Miracle! Read More »
Most You Can’t Make It Up! moments involve some level of humor. But sometimes, there are those moments that are just as unexpected—just without the punchline. That was certainly the case when I recently met a colleague from another state facing the unthinkable: closing multiple schools next year. Not just one or two. TEN. SCHOOLS.
The Hardest “You Can’t Make It Up” Moments: Closing Schools Read More »
It is cold in the Midwest! This morning, as I bundled up to walk my dog, my phone informed me it was 5 degrees. FIVE. Naturally, this is the time of year when any break in the calendar has people dreaming of beaches, sunshine, and escaping frostbite. Such was the case when I was a
Cruise Ships and Guilt Trips: When Rules Take A Vacation Read More »
It’s that time of year when love is in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches—or Valentimes Day if you’re in first grade. We all remember that moment when we realized it’s actually an “n,” don’t we? Typically, Valentine’s Day makes everyone feel just a little sweeter and more loving, but that was not the case
Have A Heart – It’s Just a Cookie Read More »
What do you do when the needs of one child threaten the safety and learning of an entire classroom? This is the impossible question educators wrestle with every day. Should they send the child home, knowing they may face neglect or reinforcement of negative behaviors? Or should they keep them in school, providing the interventions
Sending Them Home or Staying at School – Part 2 Read More »
The holiday season is perfect for catching up with old friends, swapping stories, and even stealing a quiet moment away from the holiday chaos. Over the break, I had the chance to sit down with a friend who’s an experienced elementary school principal. As we chatted, she mentioned she’d read my recent article, When Did
You Can’t Make It Up: Extreme Behaviors – Part 1 In a Series Read More »
