INSPIRE The Professional Learning Community (PLC) work of Richard and Rebecca DuFour speaks to building the kind of culture that supports the important and impactful work of adult learning and ultimately, our endgame, student success. Specifically, they address the kind of leadership that some may think of as an either/or choice - either building a... Continue Reading →

INSPIRE I distinctly remember the first time I addressed the 70+ people who would now be calling me their principal. Not only was I brand new to the role, but I'd recently moved to the area and was new to the district. These people didn't know me and I didn't know them. Whatever I communicated,... Continue Reading →

INSPIRE When your school culture is all about positivity and that magical mixture of love and high expectations, there needs to be a certain amount of healthy conflict to combat artificial harmony and ensure the forces of mediocrity aren't winning. In the last several years, our school has developed compelling and connected core values, vision,... Continue Reading →

INSPIRE Great leaders are, without exception, great communicators. They find effective ways to communicate in a language and manner that not only paint a crystal clear picture of their vision, but also give those they serve the information, feedback, and motivation they need. Effective communication is ultimately about connecting people and bringing them together towards... Continue Reading →

LEARN It's official. The honeymoon is over. Deep into October, the newness of the school year has worn off and it's easy to feel overwhelmed with all of the awesome things we wanted to be and accomplish this year. We remember August's passion and energy around our vision of being a better version of ourselves... Continue Reading →

INSPIRE The four pillars that Solution Tree suggests are necessary for an effective PLC, or Professional Learning Community, are the same that all effective organizations are built upon. The vision, mission, core values, and goals all align to keep everyone focused and committed on the most impactful and important work. Our school team has done... Continue Reading →

This blog is co-written with my husband, Mike Stacy. Mike is currently the superintendent at Beechwood Independent Schools in Ft. Mitchell, KY. INSPIRE What does great leadership look like? The answer to this question, in some ways, has many answers. As many endless variations of personalities as we humans have, there are just as many... Continue Reading →

LOVE As we wrote in our special post for our Mom, 10 Things Our Mom Taught Us About Being a Teacher, one defining characteristic of our family, in addition to an abundance of love and humor, is education. All of our immediate family, including our husbands, are educators. As you might imagine, all things teaching,... Continue Reading →

REFLECT A positive leader, in the purest form, is someone who influences the people and environment around them for the better. In John G. Miller's book, QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, he explores and outlines how to eliminate blame, victim thinking, complaining, and procrastination and walks through how you can apply this both in... Continue Reading →

INSPIRE In a recent post, 6 Tips to Get You Through Mile 20 Like a Champ, I reflect on how the school year is like a marathon. Through this journey that requires perseverance, everyone hits "the wall" at some point. After breaking through this challenging moment, one might be tempted to stop and celebrate. After all,... Continue Reading →