Dear Educational Leaders,

September's approaching faster than we'd like. I can picture you right now—stacks of summer reading on your desk, enrollment projections scattered across your computer screen, and that familiar mix of excitement and nervous energy building in your chest. I've been there more times than I can count.

Since retiring last June, I've had time to step back and think about what matters most in school leadership. Watching you prepare for 2025-26 from this new vantage point, I keep coming back to lessons learned during my most challenging years—particularly insights from mentors and colleagues I've had.

A couple of years ago, I attended a conference where Jerry Almendarez, a thought leader and former superintendent in Santa Ana, California, presented on "Reimagining School Leadership." His words hit differently - there was no sugarcoating the reality we all face, nor an offer of quick fixes wrapped in buzzwords.

Instead, Jerry introduced something that can help guide your thinking through complex decision-making: the VUCA framework—Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. He challenged us with this truth: "We must confront our biases, question our assumptions, and engage in courageous conversations that foster growth, empathy, and understanding."

Simple words, but they capture the essence of authentic leadership when the pressure's on.

Remember your first week as a leader? Everything changed by Thursday. Budget adjustments, staffing surprises, enrollment shifts—volatility isn't the exception in education; it's the baseline.

Here's what I learned after years of trying to predict every variable: build flexibility into your systems, not your calendar. Create space for the unexpected instead of cramming every minute with meetings that might become irrelevant by October.

I used to lose sleep over not having all the answers. Now I realize uncertainty creates the conditions for breakthrough thinking. When you don't know exactly what's coming, you pay closer attention to what's actually happening.

Your team will appreciate a leader who says, "I'm not sure yet, but here's how we'll figure it out together" more than one who pretends to have certainty about genuinely unpredictable situations.

Every "simple" problem in education connects to three others. That struggling reader also needs social-emotional support, which requires family engagement, which in turn depends on community resources, ultimately circling back to budget priorities.

We're asking students to evaluate sources and think critically, while adults can't agree on basic facts. This isn't a problem you'll solve—it's a context you'll navigate.

Model the behavior you want to see. Show your school community what it looks like to hold different perspectives simultaneously, to change your mind when presented with new information, and to remain curious rather than defensive when challenged.

Technology continues to advance, data systems become more sophisticated, and new initiatives emerge monthly. But here's what hasn't changed: relationships drive everything else.

That teacher who's struggling with classroom management? They need coaching, not evaluation threats. The parent who sends angry emails? They're usually worried, not hostile. Is your administrative team burning out by November? They need real support, not motivational posters.

I made my share of mistakes rushing to fix problems instead of understanding people. Don't repeat them.

Great leaders aren't lone rangers. They're coalition builders.

Start with your immediate team, but don't stop there. Identify staff who influence their colleagues, parents who bridge different community groups, students whose voices carry weight with peers, and community members who genuinely care about kids.

These relationships take time to develop, but they'll sustain you through the inevitable storms. When budget cuts hit or difficult decisions loom, you'll have people who trust your judgment because they know your heart.

From my new perspective, I'm excited to see how current leaders handle some emerging opportunities:

1. Post-pandemic learning recovery isn't just about test scores—it's about rebuilding kids' confidence and curiosity. Focus there first.

2. Mental health awareness has created openings for conversations that were impossible just five years ago. Take advantage of this shift.

3. Community engagement looks different now. Parents who never set foot on campus during distance learning are finding new ways to participate. Meet them where they are.

4. Technology integration finally has a chance to enhance learning rather than just digitize old practices. Be selective, not comprehensive.

As you prepare for another year, remember that your most important work won't appear on any data dashboard. It happens in hallway conversations with discouraged educators, in meetings with families facing impossible choices, and in quiet moments when you help a student see possibilities they couldn't imagine before.

I've been watching education evolve for decades, and I'm more optimistic now than I've been in years. Not because the challenges are smaller—they're not—but because I see leaders like you approaching them with wisdom, courage, and genuine care for the people you serve.

You're going to make mistakes this year. We all do. But you're also going to create moments of magic that remind everyone why they chose education in the first place.

That's the work that matters. That's the work that lasts.

Make it a great year. You've got this.

With deep respect and warm wishes for your 2025-26 journey, A Fellow Educator (Now Cheering from the Sidelines)

P.S. - Coffee's on me if you need someone to listen during those inevitable "what was I thinking?" moments. Every great leader has them.