In K–12 leadership, we work with a lot of vendors. Some are responsive. Some are innovative. Some are persistent. But very few are true partners. And in this moment, the difference matters more than ever. District leaders are navigating AI, cybersecurity, interoperability, enrollment shifts, staffing shortages, board politics, and community trust, often all at once….
There’s a moment I still think about. I was standing in front of our school board. Slides ready. Data polished. Language precise. Huge, impactful initiative ready to share. I said the word interoperability, and I watched the room go still. Not confused. Disconnected. In that moment, I realized something uncomfortable: It wasn’t that they disagreed…
There is a moment in almost every leadership day when you realize: The work itself isn’t the hardest part. The explaining is. And explaining poorly is expensive. I felt this acutely when I discovered one of our coaches had created a “rogue” Facebook page because he was frustrated that practice schedules weren’t getting posted quickly…
It’s December, which means I’m running on a cocktail of holiday adrenaline, strategic planning energy, and the creeping realization that something’s got to give. . Can you relate? Here’s my mid-year truth: I’m tired. Not the “I need a vacation” tired. The “I’m not sure this pace is sustainable” tired. And the tricky part is,…
