We all have stories we tell about ourselves that form a narrative about who we are and how we show up in our lives. When that story is painful, yet you continue to tell it without examining or questioning it, your self-identity feels like an anchor that sinks you with no way out.

You may exhibit certain characteristics or personality traits, but the great news is that you get to choose your identity out of thin air. How you think about yourself is changeable, and the stories you tell about your self-identity will either hold you back or propel you forward. Your job as a school leader requires you to re-evaluate and make new decisions about your identity, and I’m showing you how to start.

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Do you know your boundaries? Are you able to clearly articulate them? Why do you feel unsure of yourself in setting and upholding your boundaries? And how can you do so effectively?

In a world where you’ve been led by what other people tell you to think, feel, or act, you’re not alone if you’ve found yourself a little lost, unsure of your personal boundaries. Grounding ourselves in our boundaries is especially challenging for people socialized as women for various reasons, so this week, I’m showing you how to know your boundaries so you can promote self-responsibility and empowerment as a school leader.

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Antiracism is a topic I don’t personally speak on because it’s not my area of expertise as a white educator. However, it is something I feel extremely passionate about. I believe antiracism is a daily mindset practice that is always growing and evolving with us. To guide us through what it means to lead an antiracist school, this week, I’m speaking to Dr. Daman Harris.

Daman Harris, Ph.D., is a trailblazing expert in educator retention and antiracist leadership. Dr. Harris is an experienced teacher, coach, principal, district administrator, adjunct professor, speaker, writer, and consultant. His first book, The Antiracist School Leader, articulates a big-picture framework and research-based actions for bringing the power of antiracist education to your school, and he’s here to show us how to have courageous conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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I’ve been coaching many school leaders just like you on the fatigue, dreariness, and lack of motivation they have been experiencing recently. The winter dip is real, and most of you are in testing season and conducting teacher observations right now, looking ahead to the end of the school year when you can finally take a breather.

Before we reach those warmer, brighter, and longer days, you first need to address your end-of-year planning. Whether you’re someone who loves planning so much that you get caught up in the details or someone who intends to plan but gets overwhelmed by the busyness of your job as a leader, I’ve got you covered this week.

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This week, I’m diving into a powerful but deceptively sneaky thought most school leaders carry around with them every single day, and it’s this: “I want to make the right decision.”

Wanting to make the ‘right’ decision is a thought we hold very tightly onto, and it drives our actions in unhelpful ways that you might not see right now. It’s no surprise that believing you have to make the ‘right’ decision is leaving you frozen. So if you find yourself spinning in indecision, procrastinating, and worrying about whether or not you’re making the right decision, this episode is for you.

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