My Leadership Story
Service. Purpose. Belief in what education can become.
INTRODUCTION
Every leader has a story.
Mine is rooted in family, shaped by students, strengthened by challenge, and guided by an unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives.
This is not simply the story of my career.
It is the story of why I lead.
Where it Began
I was raised in a home where education was not a profession — it was a calling.
Both of my parents were high school guidance counselors, and conversations about students, opportunity, and responsibility were part of everyday life. As a fifth-generation educator, I grew up believing that helping others discover their potential was one of the highest forms of service.
From an early age, I learned that education is not about systems alone — it is about people. About listening. About believing in someone before they believe in themselves.
That belief still guides my leadership today.
THE CLASSROOM FOUNDATION
My career began in classrooms and rehearsal halls, where I learned the power of relationships, relevance, and high expectations.
Teaching taught me that students rise when they are challenged with care and supported with intention.
Those years grounded me in empathy, patience, and purpose — lessons that continue to shape every leadership decision I make.
LEADERSHIP THROUGH FAMILY
Some of my most powerful leadership moments came when I served as a principal while my own children attended my school.
In those moments, leadership became deeply personal. If a decision was not good enough for my children, it was not good enough for any child.
That perspective permanently changed how I viewed equity, access, and responsibility. It reinforced that leadership must always protect the most vulnerable and expand opportunity for all.
GROWTH INTO SYSTEMS
As my leadership journey expanded into district roles, I began to see how systems either protect opportunity or unintentionally limit it. I became passionate about building pipelines — pipelines for teachers, for leaders, and for students.
I learned that sustainable impact requires intentional design, courageous conversations, and collaborative ownership.
Leadership is not about control.
It is about alignment.
TALENT AND OPPORTUNITY
My recent work in Talent Development has deepened my commitment to growing people from within.
Teacher shortages, leadership gaps, and inequitable access demand solutions that are both innovative and human.
I believe that when we invest in people, we invest in students. When we build leaders, we build futures.
WHAT I BELIEVE TODAY
Today, I believe:
- Education is the most powerful force for opportunity
- Leadership is an act of service
- Students deserve both excellence and compassion
- Educators deserve trust and support
- Communities deserve honesty and partnership
I believe schools should be places where students feel seen, challenged, and prepared to thrive.
WHY I LEAD
I lead because I believe in what is possible.
I believe in students who have not yet discovered their voice.
I believe in teachers who change lives quietly every day.
I believe in communities who place their trust in public schools.
And I believe that leadership, when done with humility and courage, can change the future.
LEADERSHIP STORY
As part of the AASA Aspiring Leadership Academy, I was asked to prepare a leadership story to share with a community organization.
CLOSING
My story is still being written.
And I am grateful for every opportunity to write it in service of students, educators, and communities.
Stories build connection. Leadership builds trust.
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