Educators wear numerous hats, including safeguarding the well-being of the students under their care. While it is commonly understood that prioritizing self-care enables us to better attend to the needs of those around us — be it family, students, or colleagues — finding the time for self-care within the demanding workday or at the conclusion of an exhaustive day can be a challenging endeavor for some. Unfortunately, the notion of self-care can even be misconstrued as selfish by some individuals...

It’s time for a paradigm shift. Will we allow the burnout lurking within teachers and administrators to escalate, or will school districts prioritize and actively support educator well-being? Drawing from my extensive experience leading various educational settings and guiding colleagues through challenges, I understand the pivotal role happy and healthy educators play in our system's success. Burnout was a concern pre-COVID, and the past year and a half has only intensified the need for substan...

My educator friend, that there is magic in this world and you have it! You have the magic, you have the mindset, willpower, grit, and tenacity to lead everyone through the storm. You are relentless and you are a survivor. 

At the end of the school year, I encouraged you to FINISH STRONG. Now you are gearing up for a new year without really stopping since the last one. Remember, you aren't here to survive, you are here to thrive! 

At the beginning of the school year and especially at times like thi...

If you are like me, you spent the weekend watching press conferences, reaching out to friends and family to ensure they have everything they need and making necessary plans for upcoming weeks and following CDC guidelines. It's a lot to process.

Last week I wrote "Let us all come together in calm support of one another as a community for the highest good for all. Supporting our fellow citizens and the values of our nation during good times and tough times is part of the magic we all have within us...

CHANGE. 

Humans have an innate ability to focus on resisting change, fighting the old fight. But, have you noticed? There is a massive opportunity right in front of us to focus on building something new!

Change can bring out the best or it can bring out the worst in people. Everyone responds differently to change. Being aware of that and sensitive to the underlying emotions connected to change is powerful. 

Have you done a self check and considered how you respond to change? Have you considered how...

Wisdom is born from crisis, challenge and difficulty. Wisdom is born from recognizing and learning from the curriculum of life. 

I’ve learned that hard times create a set of circumstances where you can train your mind to look for and create opportunities. If you haven’t already developed an outlook and a mindset to maintain a calm, centered approach to crisis (while looking for ways to grow and improve your life and the life of those around you) start today! Encourage others to do the same. 

C...

I believe in making small adjustments in how we approach life for a big impact. As I was writing this piece I was watching the I Heart Radio Living Room Concert. I was lucky that one of my favorite musicians and musical heroes came on, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters.

Immediately, because I love Dave Grohl and his song "My Hero", I stopped everything I was doing to listen to Dave, who said...

"If you love someone tell them. If you are thankful for someone tell them." 

He then proceeded to play one...

I’ve loved reading since I was a little girl. Books were an escape for me and allowed me to learn about the world beyond my circumstances. Books gave me hope and rallied me when I was down. Books helped me envision a life of vacations to exotic places with beautiful palm trees. Books inspired me to consider a different way.

Since my early years of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys mysteries, I’ve used some of the 49 books on this list to facilitate faculty book talks, host professional development...

A foxhole is a hole in the earth that is used by a soldier as a small fort. From the safety of a foxhole, troops are protected somewhat against enemy fire.

An administrator I work with said to me "You are the person I want next to me in the foxhole! You get it!" I really appreciated this compliment because the people in your foxhole (aka work, school, and life) should always lift you up and protect you from the enemy. The enemy in this case being people (‘negative nellies’ or ‘emotional vampire...

Make today great!

Do it for yourself, your friends, and your family. It’s so easy to get caught up in a negative mindset and pulled into the minutiae of what is going wrong in our lives, or at the job, or in the world. Instead of focusing on the plight of all that is wrong, focus on what is going right! Live your life in the ‘Positivity Zone’.

Eckhart Tolle said “Every ego wants to be special. If it can’t be special by being superior to others, it’s also quite happy with being especially miser...