How to avoid toxic sacrifice with the Plimsoll line of leadership
Sometimes, the most responsible thing a leader can do is ask someone on the shore what they see.... Read more.
How to avoid sending out mixed leadership messages
Leaders create waves of meaning; not only through formal speeches or written communication, but through what they emphasize, repeat, tolerate and reward.... Read more.
How to take the bento box approach to leadership
When leaders understand the boundaries of each compartment, they are better able to empower others to own their space without constant interference.... Read more.
Why antifragility is the next evolution of schools post-ChatGPT
At FETC 2026, Kelsey Behringer and Quintin Shepherd will cover how antifragility enables districts to learn, adapt, and improve through disruption.... Read more.
If everything is a priority, then nothing is
You cannot have multiple firsts. You cannot have several things that are the main thing.... Read more.
Why the hardest fought gains matter the most
The "Weber–Fechner law" describes the relationship between stimulus and human perception. Simply put, our ability to notice change is not linear.... Read more.
The eff-ing problem: When efficiency and effectiveness collide
In leadership, harmony isn’t about splitting the difference. It’s about choosing the melody first, then finding the rhythm that supports it.... Read more.
Seasons of the superintendency: A year in the life of a district CEO
For those of us who sit in the superintendent’s chair, the year is not a straight line. It is a series of cycles, each with its own tempo, tone and tension.... Read more.
Baking a better system: How recipe cards solve chronic absenteeism
The work of district leadership is not just doing the hard things, but capturing how they were done so others can do them too.... Read more.
Boldness and discipline: Here is how to make real progress
In governance, as in leadership, movement without balance does not create progress; it creates circles.... Read more.