1. THIS TOO SHALL PASS In 2024, I faced a period of intense criticism that tested my confidence. While scrutiny comes with my position,...

One trait of effective leadership is the ability to embrace criticism. Embracing criticism is the willingness to listen to and consider...

When I became a school administrator, I immediately found myself leading many meetings. Although I had led meetings in the past, most of...

Among all the things leaders are expected to do, one duty has risen to the top in terms of most difficult to accomplish with great...

In education there is a long-standing belief: The more hours you work, the better you are at your job. Consider the following:...

A few years ago, I discovered that one of our administrators was being courted by a nearby district for an open position. The neighboring...

When asked to share the biggest challenge facing today’s schools, one answer has risen to the top: the teacher shortage. As is the case...

In previous blogs we have discussed the importance of teacher evaluation and employee management. However, there is one type of school...

Look at any principal job posting and you’re likely to see the following essential duties: Manage the supervision and evaluation of...

High-performing schools create a culture where teachers enjoy coming to work every day. High-performing schools also create a culture...

When I accepted my first job as school superintendent, I wasn’t sure what to expect. To prepare for the role, I reached out to several...

Do you recall sending your first email? Perhaps you were one of the earliest adopters, using America Online to send your first email in...

The best leaders all have one thing in common: they are skilled communicators. Leaders who effectively communicate improve culture. When...

"Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability."— Patrick Lencioni from The...

This story begins in 7th grade. At 12 years old, I became deeply involved in the world of school-sanctioned tackle football, a right of...

Several years ago, a community member approached me at a wrestling meet. The individual had questions about property taxes and they came...

In 2016 I landed my “dream job.” As the head principal of a building with 200 staff and 1,600 kids, I was asked to lead one of the...

Pop Quiz! What is the single most important leadership trait? Determination? Confidence? Courage? Intelligence? While those are great...

I once worked for a distracted boss. This boss was constantly working on “important matters” and never had time for employees. When staff...

In Search for Excellence, Tom Peters and Robert Waterman chronicle a number of successful Fortune 500 companies, seeking for common...

When I was a building principal, a teacher asked for a week off from work to take a family vacation. Although visibly nervous, she did a...

My first day as an assistant principal was a whirlwind. The day began at the district office where I completed paperwork and met district...

“We’re looking for someone with experience.” Aspiring school leaders hear this all the time when trying to move up the administrative...

I spent eight years as an assistant principal. Those eight years provided a great learning experience. I handled all of the “typical” AP...