Education Insights: Empowering Leaders, Teachers, and Students

 As we step into a new school year, I’m reminded of the tremendous privilege and responsibility that comes with serving in education. Each of us, teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, bus drivers, food service workers, support staff, administrators, plays a vital role in shaping the daily experience of our students. The work we do is rewarding, but it’s also demanding. There are the visible tasks of lesson planning, supporting families, keeping classrooms and buildings safe and welcoming. And then there’s the invisible work: the encouraging word in the hallway, the quiet reassurance to a student having a tough day, the extra phone call home after hours. It all matters, and it all adds up. One of my favorite examples comes from Coach Mike Krzyzewski, who spoke about the power of “feel it” moments while coaching the USA men’s basketball team. He reminded his players that their purpose was not only about plays or wins but also moments that carried real meaning, moments they could...

Over the past two decades in education and leadership, I’ve watched the term growth mindset travel from the pages of research studies into classrooms, boardrooms, and even dinner table conversations. While its popularity has helped raise awareness about the power of believing in one’s ability to learn and improve, I’ve also seen how it can become oversimplified into a slogan, something we say rather than something we live. A growth mindset is not only about believing “I can get better.” It is about deliberately putting yourself and those you lead in situations where discomfort becomes the gateway to development. In my work with students, teachers, and fellow leaders, I’ve learned three truths about a growth mindset that go beyond the posters and presentations. 1. The Right Kind of Struggle Matters Not all struggle leads to growth. Struggling without direction or support can break confidence rather than build it. In schools, this means we do not simply hand students a more challengi...