Let’s face it—as an administrator, the days often blur together. You wake up, drive to school, and sometimes don’t even remember the ride that brought you to the building. You pull up, brew a cup of coffee in your office, glance at the calendar, tackle the never-ending to-do list, and dive straight in.

As we begin this new school year, I want to take a moment to challenge each of us—teachers, staff, students, and families—to embrace a mindset that will define not just what we do, but how we do it.

When building a house, the very first—and arguably most important—step is laying a strong, stable foundation. Without it, the entire structure is at risk, no matter how beautiful the design or how skilled the workers who bring that design to life. A solid foundation not only supports the weight of the home but also establishes a reliable base that sets the stage for expert teams—framers, electricians, roofers, and more—to do their best, highly skilled work with efficiency, confidence, and purpose.

"To me, a leader is a visionary that energizes others. This definition of leadership has two key dimensions:a) creating the vision of the future, andb) inspiring others to make the vision a reality."— Vince Lombardi

Leadership as a Symphony: The Role of a Leader as a Conductor of Music

Strengthening Our School Community - a message to faculty from a school leader

Leadership isn't just about making decisions or delegating tasks—it's about setting the tone for the entire organization. As a leader, your mindset, energy, and attitude shape the environment you work in. And while there are many qualities that make a great leader, perhaps one of the most important is the ability to remain positive, even when challenges arise.

When we think about building a strong team, it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that the foundation of a successful team is built by simply setting up systems, hiring the right people, providing resources, and ensuring that everyone does their job. While this approach might get your team off the ground, it’s not enough to create a team that can thrive in the face of challenges or change. The true essence of a sustainable and high-performing team goes beyond these surface-level structures.

"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18

As a school leader, it's easy to fall into the trap of micromanaging. We are deeply invested in the success of our students and staff, and sometimes, in our desire to ensure everything runs smoothly, we try to control every detail. But I've learned over the years that this approach can stifle creativity, innovation, and ultimately, the growth of both our teachers and students. Instead, what we need is a shift in mindset: we need to coach, not micromanage.

As a school leader, one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned over the years is the importance of embracing new starts. In education, we often talk about lifelong learning, but if we truly mean it, we must acknowledge that growth comes not from perfection but from the mistakes we make along the way. Unfortunately, many of us—myself included—fall into the trap of being overly critical of our own missteps. We don’t always offer ourselves the grace we need to learn from them, and in turn, we forget that it’s okay to be imperfect.