Students are the evidence of our impact, but if we want lasting change, we have to start focusing on the teachers. Kids rotate every year. But when you pour into great teachers, they'll stay, they'll grow, and they'll build something that lasts.

If you're a leader who can rattle off every student demographic stat, but can't tell me how many of your teachers are in years 1–3, who's new to the building, or who's never been coached, you're looking at the wrong data. Teachers are the change agents.

Great leadership in schools means keeping students at the center—always. What’s best for kids comes first… everything else follows.

We all know that one teacher... The one who could take a kid straight off a wanted poster and still have them thriving academically. That’s how we know the difference isn’t the kids… It’s you, the teachers.

Are you taking the temperature of your classroom or setting it?  If we let prior expectations define our students, we’ve already given up the thermostat. Set the tone. Lead the climate. #BeAThermostatTeacher #SetTheTemp

Let’s stop dressing bias up as “data.” When you say “low kids,” what do you really mean? Words matter. Beliefs matter more. #UnfoldTheSoul #StartWithTheCrown #RuthlessEquity

What you focus on grows. If you walk in already convinced this year’s a loss because of your student population, it will be. But if you commit to making it work - no excuses, no way out but through - you'll find a way forward. Every time.

Before we ask students to engage, we’ve got to ask ourselves: What engages me as a learner? Because just like us, every student has their own spark. The more we recognize that, the better we can light it.

Big change starts small. Focus on the systemic shifts you can make today because small wins stack up. Over time, they become the foundation for real, lasting impact. Keep going. Keep building. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Once the initiative is in place—go. Don’t tiptoe or wait for perfect conditions. Step in with purpose, lead with clarity, and model what it looks like to go first.

Renaming your current leadership team a guiding coalition without changing who is on it, without changing what’s on your agendas, without focusing on learning and PLC concepts, doesn’t mean you have a guiding coalition. To lead change, your team must first change. Solution Tree

Learning is voluntary. That’s a sobering thought when you consider it. So our goal is to create a classroom environment where the students think the learning is worth the effort and worth the risk.

Effective teachers are not just “gifted educators.” They work hard to plan meaningful lessons. They work hard to connect with their students and inspire them. Their level of commitment always matters. And I’m so grateful for it!

Before SEL and belonging training: chaos, sarcasm, and finger-pointing (literally). After? Teachers realized they were already doing most of it, but now they name it, own it, and do it with intention. Turns out, saying “hello” and smiling actually works.

💯

The best way to honor your staff isn’t by lowering the bar, it’s by expecting follow-through. Track the work. Ask for deliverables. When we don’t, it becomes all talk and no outcomes.

When grade-level mastery is the only option, we rise to the challenge. The moment we give ourselves exits and excuses, we drift from equity. Aim high. Stay there. That’s how all students win.

If we keep grouping students by perceived ability, we’ll keep getting limited results. The moment we decide every student deserves grade-level or better instruction, we unlock our best teaching and their best learning.

There’s only one crown. One set of essential standards. One expectation for all kids. That crown doesn’t shift based on zip code, language, or reading level. We coach every student toward it.

If all we do is judge a school by what the kids do, we’ve missed the point, and made ourselves obsolete. The real measure? What we do with the talent in the building. Put the mirror on the adults. That’s where the change starts.