Hope is the belief that tomorrow can be better than today, and we are the ones who can make it so. Are we creating environments that inspire hope in our young people, our educators, and our communities?
Nourish the Blooms
A Nod to Otherful
Every moment in schools- whether we intend or not- is spent sending messages of safety and belonging or lack thereof. The more consistently we model the good, the better schools and classrooms feel. When we show up in our humanity and with our best, it’s more accessible for students and staff to do the same.
Signs
When I was trying to decide whether to stay in an elementary principal position, I remember looking for signs on my daily walks after work. I kept seeing cardinals. So many, in fact, that it felt like it had to be sign. Now, there are people who say that cardinals represent guidance from people who have passed away. I remember telling myself on these walks that my dad and mother-in-law were showing up to guide me. Whether they were or they weren’t, believing this was an indication of what I needed: love and support.
Do Less with More Intention
In a fast-paced world of strategy and innovation, what if the most “edgy” thing we can do is to simply be grateful for this beautiful life, this meaningful profession, and the good people inside of our schools? What if instead of adding more to plates this school year, we filled our conversations and our work with more love and appreciation? What if we remained steadfast in our focus on those simple things that matter most instructionally?
I try to carry that lesson with me into schools. No job is below me. No detail is too small. It’s about honoring the work and the people who do it. It’s about the culture we’re building—one choice at a time.
I worry about this so much that I wrote about it in Legacy of Learning, “You are giving others the strength to move forward, the strength to believe in themselves, the strength to try to make this world a better place. Knowing this makes being an educator so meaningful. But we don’t have to suffer while we make this kind of impact. In fact, the more we can live well and be well, the more our impact will grow.”
The Show Goes On
It dawned on me today that if I want this in our school district, the best way to get it is to see the little kid inside of others. When they are yelling, unreasonable, seemingly unfair, they are afraid of something or longing for something too. Picturing their little self allows me to approach them with more compassion. It’s not that I will “treat them like a kid” but I will love them in the ways I needed love then and need it now.
Stay Curious
There’s a fine line between being selfless and about others and about the work without being too small.
Why Leaders Need Novels
This may be the most obvious but underrated way we change our schools, our communities, and ultimately the world.
Rest Starts with Space
But if we continue to do more and more, there is less space. Emotional space. Space for mental clarity. Space for joy. Space to reflect not just on what we want to achieve but space for how far we’ve come.
MEGHAN LAWSON 