First Impressions Matter
First impressions matter. Whereas good first impressions can serve as the foundation for a strong relationship, bad first impressions are...
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10 Thoughts: National Supt's Conference
This past week I had the opportunity to join more than 4,000 superintendents and educational leaders in San Antonio for AASA’s National...
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Treat Teachers as Professionals
“Treat teachers as professionals.” Very often, this phrase is used in education. Treating teachers as professionals means faculty are...
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Build Relationships with Staff
When I began my administrative career, I was required to attend an orientation for new assistant principals. As part of the two-day...
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10 Things I Learned in 2022
As a lifelong learner, I believe it’s important that we take time to reflect on new learning. So as 2022 comes to an end, I'd like to...
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9 Steps for Leading Change
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...
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Can You Handle the Truth?
One trait of effective leadership is the ability to accept criticism. Rather than fear constructive feedback, the best leaders actively...
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Rock You Like a Hurricane!
In The Four Disciplines of Execution, Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling suggest, "The real enemy of execution is your day job!...
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Birthday Postcards
One of my favorite professional practices is to handwrite birthday postcards to students. I started this habit as a high school principal...
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Turning Points: Chapter One
“It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.” -FROM Run to Daylight By Vince Lombardi “You’re just not ready.”...
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Highlights & Lowlights
When I was growing up, my mom had a tradition where she asked my siblings and I to share our "highlights and lowlights" during dinner....
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Love ... Actually?
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of The Year” Those are the words that begin Andy Williams’ famous 1963 song. Regardless of what you...
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Get Fit at Any Age
Whereas my previous blog outlined ten general principles for healthy living, this article provides a comprehensive overview of the diet...
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Fountain of Youth
One day in 2013, my buddy Monterio and I were lifting weights at the gym. During this particular workout, Monterio and I had low energy...
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The 3% Rule
Walk into any bookstore and you'll find countless personal finance books promoting specialized budgets. In these texts, authors provide...
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Discipline = Freedom
Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. In his 15 seasons in the NBA, Jordan won six NBA titles...
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Take a Look. It's in a Book.
“The person who stops studying merely because they have finished school is forever hopelessly doomed to mediocrity, no matter what their...
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To-Do or Not To-Do
As a beginning school administrator, I thought I had everything figured out. Rather than commit to lifelong learning and implement “best...
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Living With Anxiety
During my first day of work as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools in 2007, all 60 faculty members gathered in the auditorium. As is...
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The Pursuit of Happiness
“When I have a car, I’ll finally be happy!” “When I go to college, I’ll finally be happy!” “When I get a girlfriend, I’ll finally be...
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School's Out For The Summer
Ahhhhh ... the last day of work. Kids are gone, grades are submitted, rooms are packed, and summer break is imminent. On this final day,...
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Six Tips for Passing a Bond Referendum
One of a school leader’s most important responsibilities is guiding the community through a process of asking money for building...
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"Oh My God - It's Happening!"
Today’s school leaders are dealing with more bureaucracy and political pressure than ever before. For example, during the COVID-19...
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Systems of Communication
Amazing things happen in schools every day. Each building is full of support staff, teachers, and administrators who pour energy into the...
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