top of page
Driving Into the Storm
The sky opened up on my way to work, and I could barely see the road ahead. It was one of those unusually dark Arizona mornings when the desert looks unfamiliar. Rain hammered the windshield. The wipers struggled to keep up. I slowed down, tightened my grip on the steering wheel, and focused on what I could see. And somewhere in that downpour, it hit me: this drive felt a lot like leading a turnaround school. Limited visibility. Uncertainty around the next corner. The respons
Melissa France
Oct 74 min read
A Fresh Box of Kleenex Is Not a Mental Health Plan
Today Was Hard Today was hard. Not because my calendar was full, discipline issues needed attention, or emails were piling up. Today was hard because our youth are hurting. And some of them are hurting themselves. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA, 2026) reminds us that connection, community, and access to support are critical parts of prevention. Thankfully, my conversations today did no
Melissa France
Sep 36 min read
When Turnaround Holds Its Breath
Tonight, my chest feels tight. My emotions are swirling. Not because it is the night before another week of school. Not because I do not know what to do tomorrow on Day 1 of testing. But because I know exactly what is at stake. As a TOSA and the leader of our AZELLA testing team, my mind keeps circling the same questions again and again. Did I do enough to prepare them? Are the teachers ready? Are the students ready? Are they all prepared to do their best?Could I have done mo
Melissa France
Feb 223 min read
When the Needs Are Bigger Than the Staff: The Hidden Strain of Middle School Turnaround Work
In many high-need middle schools, the challenge isn’t just academics. It’s doing emotionally complex, relationship-driven work with too few adults, core classes of 38–40 students, and fewer student support roles than ever. When counselor positions are cut and staffing is stretched, prevention turns into triage. Turnaround work is still possible, but it cannot be built on minimal staffing. Adolescents need support systems, not just systems on paper.
Stephanie Nardi EdD
Feb 155 min read
Connection is the Work
There are parts of educational leadership that never show up in preparation programs. No syllabus. No case study. No neat framework. They live in the quiet moments, the hallway pauses, the unscheduled crises, and the emotional weight you carry home long after the building is empty. The last couple of weeks have been heavy. Not the “busy” heavy that we like to romanticize in leadership. The real kind. Last week we were notified that a parent in our community was shot and kille
Stephanie Nardi EdD
Jan 244 min read
bottom of page