Leadership in Motion | Stop Chasing the Snake
Healing, Not Hunting, Is How Leaders Protect Culture There is a story I return to whenever frustration starts to rise. A man is walking through the woods when a snake bites him. The bite hurts, but it is not fatal. If he walks back to the village for treatment, he will recover. Instead, anger takes over. He chases the snake down the path, determined to make it pay. Before long, the venom…
Leadership in Motion | Deposits, Withdrawals and Dividends
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture and Driving Impact Opening Reflection January has a way of pulling school leaders into reflection whether we plan for it or not. The first semester is behind us. The pace of fall has slowed just enough to take a breath, but not enough to forget how heavy it felt at times. At this point in the year, the most important leadership question is not what initiatives are next…
Leadership in Motion | Roots Before Branches: Building What People Cannot See
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture and Driving Impact Some leaders focus on what everyone can see. They chase immediate results, quick wins and public-facing success. But meaningful, sustainable impact in a school does not begin with the branches. It begins with the roots. Just like a tree, the strength of your leadership is determined by what lies beneath the surface. The public often pays attention to the visible branches of school leadership: test…
Section 27h Mentoring Grants Are Being Released: What Principals Need to Know
Districts that applied for Section 27h Mentoring and Induction funding will begin receiving individual notifications from the Michigan Department of Education starting Monday, November 17 and continuing through Friday, November 21. The Department needs to send these notices manually to all applicants, so districts may learn of the decision at different times throughout the week. A statewide press release from MDE will follow once all notifications have been sent. Payments for awarded…
Leadership in Motion | Intent vs. Behavior: Closing the Leadership Credibility Gap
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture and Driving Impact Opening Reflection Last month, we explored how trust multiplies speed, how it lowers friction and accelerates progress in every corner of a school. But speed without credibility doesn’t last. Stephen M. R. Covey writes, “We judge ourselves by our intent, but others judge us by our behavior.” That line stopped me in my tracks because it perfectly captures the leadership tension every principal faces. We…
Leadership in Motion | Trust Is the Speed Multiplier
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture, and Driving Impact Opening Reflection Every principal knows what it feels like to be buried under competing demands. A parent is waiting outside your office. A teacher emails asking for clarity about grading practices. Central Office sends another directive. Meanwhile, the cafeteria is short-staffed and buses are late. In moments like this, speed matters. Schools can’t afford to get bogged down in suspicion, second-guessing, or endless loops of…
Leadership in Motion | Leaning Into Friction: Lessons From the Field
Last week I reached out to a colleague and was met with a response that spoke to the heart of what so many school leaders are carrying: “Thank you for reaching out … Right now my main concern is the blatant racism that is directed at my school and my student. The emails and phone calls are overwhelming. We stand alone in this fight and my students are feeling the weight of…
Leadership in Motion | The Season Isn’t Over: Writing the Next Chapter of Your Leadership Story
Navigating Change, Shaping Culture and Driving Impact Opening Reflection The first bell has rung. The halls are full. The plays you planned are now in motion. But the season is long. A great opening drive does not guarantee a strong finish. The real work begins now, in the daily grind where culture is tested, not just celebrated. The Detroit Lions know this well. Their transformation wasn’t defined by one draft, one press…
Leadership in Motion | From Plays to Practice: Making Culture Stick
Opening Reflection The first weeks of school feel like game day. The hallways are buzzing, classrooms are full, and all the preseason planning is finally in motion. But here’s the truth: The real test of leadership isn’t what you launch in August, but what is still alive in October, January and beyond. The Detroit Lions learned the same lesson last season. Their transformation didn’t happen because of one great draft class or…
Leadership in Motion | Built to Last: Embedding Culture That Survives the Scoreboard
Opening Reflection As the Lions’ incredible season came to a close, I couldn’t help but see the parallels between their transformation and the work we’re doing in schools. The Lions are still becoming, not yet where they want to be, but far from where they started. Their playoff loss was disappointing. But their season? It was a masterclass in transformation. Over four years, they didn’t just shift their record. They reshaped their…