The Work Between the Conferences
People often ask what it's like to attend education conferences. The answer is usually the same. You come home with pages of notes, a suitcase full of ideas, and enough inspiration to carry you into the next school year.
This year was different.
I came home with something even more valuable. Validation.
Over the past two weeks, Dr. Stephanie Nardi and I have traveled thousands of miles, beginning at the Innovative Schools Summit in Las Vegas, where we had the privilege of presenting "From Toxic to Thriving: How to Rebuild Culture First So Learning Can Follow." Sharing our journey with educators from across the country was both humbling and energizing. It wasn't simply about presenting strategies for school turnaround. It was about telling the story of our students, our staff, and a community that chose hope over excuses. It was an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work happening inside our school every single day.
As school leaders, we spend so much time thinking about what still needs to be done that we rarely stop to appreciate how far we've come. Standing in front of that room reminded me that our story matters. More importantly, the people in our building deserve to have their story told. Every success belongs to the teachers who refused to lower expectations, the students who chose to believe in themselves, and the families who trusted us enough to walk this journey alongside us.
We're still waiting for our official state accountability results, but we have a pretty good idea of where we're headed. I won't spoil the announcement before it's official, but let's just say the preliminary picture is incredible. The score matters because it reflects the relentless work of our students and staff. But the score isn't the story. The story is a staff that rebuilt trust, students who began believing school could once again be a place where they belonged, families who gave us another chance, and a community that slowly started believing in us again. The numbers simply help tell a story our people have been writing every day.
One of the most meaningful parts of the conference wasn't standing on stage. It was sitting in the audience. Session after session, we listened to educational leaders discuss rebuilding trust, strengthening school culture, increasing student engagement, and leading through relationships. I found myself smiling because so many of the presenters were describing the very work we've committed ourselves to over the past year. It was reassuring to hear leaders from across the country reinforcing what we've experienced firsthand. Lasting improvement begins with culture. Relationships come before rigor. Belonging comes before achievement.
At the same time, every session stretched our thinking. We left with practical strategies, fresh perspectives, and new ideas that we'll bring back to our team as we continue building on the strong foundation that was laid last year. School improvement isn't about chasing the next new initiative. It's about learning, reflecting, refining, and continuing to grow together.
Of course, school leadership doesn't pause because you're attending a conference.
Between sessions, we conducted interviews from an empty conference room at Caesar's Palace. The Las Vegas airport became another interview room. Some people might think that's an unusual way to spend a conference, but I see it differently. Finding exceptional educators before students return is simply too important to wait until we're back in the office. Every interview represented another opportunity to find someone who believes in kids, embraces our vision, and wants to be part of building something special. The people we hire today will shape the experiences our students have tomorrow.
I've also spent nearly two weeks traveling with my boss. Some people might hear that and immediately think it sounds exhausting or uncomfortable. Honestly, it's been one of the greatest gifts of this trip. Back at school, every five minutes someone needs something. A discipline referral. A parent phone call. A teacher question. A meeting. A bus issue. While those responsibilities are part of the job, they rarely leave uninterrupted time to think strategically. Traveling together has given us the opportunity to dream, reflect, challenge each other's thinking, refine systems, discuss hiring, plan professional learning, and continue shaping the vision for the coming school year. Those conversations have been just as valuable as the conference sessions themselves because strong schools are built on strong leadership partnerships.
Don't get me wrong. We've had plenty of fun, too. After wrapping up in Las Vegas, we traveled to Orlando for the National Schools Leadership Conference powered by NAESP at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, where we're presenting "Reigniting Student Engagement Through Voice, Choice, and Purposeful Design." After a few unexpected travel adventures, we made it with enough time to explore EPCOT before diving into another week of learning. Walking around the World Showcase, laughing, and simply enjoying the moment was a reminder that joy belongs in leadership, too.
One message surfaced repeatedly throughout the sessions in Las Vegas. Educators, and especially school leaders, cannot continue pouring into others if they never take time to refill their own cups. The work we do is deeply meaningful, but it's also emotionally demanding. We encourage our teachers to care for themselves, celebrate successes, and find balance. As leaders, we have to model that same commitment.
Sometimes filling your cup looks like learning from inspiring educators. Sometimes it looks like sharing your own story and realizing it resonates with someone else's. Sometimes it looks like spending an evening laughing with a trusted colleague after a long day of travel, knowing that those moments of connection make you a better leader when you return home.
As I prepare for another school year, I'm bringing home far more than conference notes. I'm bringing home new ideas, new connections, new friendships, renewed energy, and an even stronger belief that culture first leadership works.
The foundation was built last year.
This year, we continue building on it together.
I can't wait to see where our students, our staff, and our community take us next.
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