Permission Granted

Spring has sprung! And lately, I’ve found myself doing a lot of reflecting.

This academic year has truly come and gone, and now we’re already in the throes of planning for the next one. At the beginning of the year, I told our entire faculty and staff it would be a great year but a hard year. I knew we would face necessary and important changes across our system. Because of that, I kept reminding them, and myself, to take care of you.

Sometimes, we convince ourselves that putting ourselves first is selfish. Let me be transparent: I’ve been one of those people. I was raised, both personally and professionally, to put others before myself. And I don’t regret that. I still believe my life is rooted in service above self. But if I’m honest, that mindset has also led to some unhealthy habits and behaviors. Keepin’ it real!!!!

There were times I felt like I had to stay in the office just to prove I cared, like being present meant always working. Times when my calendar was so full, I didn’t have time to eat, let alone make healthy choices. In education and, honestly, in our country I think we’ve created a culture where we believe we must always be grinding and busy to make a difference.

I’m not saying we don’t work hard. (Just take a look at my calendar and you’ll see it’s still always full). But I am saying that in the midst of that grind, we have to make wiser choices.

I talk often about self-care, boundaries, and priorities. And as I’ve matured in age, I’ve realized a few things are non-negotiable: I need sleep. I need movement. I need to fuel my body with healthy foods. Period!

That’s not extra…that’s essential!

If we truly want to make a difference, we have to be able to function on all cylinders. We are living and leading in challenging times in education, and this work, this honorable work, requires the best of us. That means we must be willing to prioritize ourselves in order to have a lasting impact. You’ve heard it before, but it’s true: you cannot pour from an empty glass.

If we want to truly impact our classrooms, schools, districts, and communities, we must, without exception, take care of ourselves. So this is your reminder… and mine. We have to commit to ourselves. Make the time to drink the water. Eat the balanced meal. Take the walk. Ride the bike. Read the book. Step away when you need to.

And if you’ve been waiting for permission…this is it. Permission Granted! Here’s your wake-up call to take some “me time” in the midst of this work. I often share a simple but powerful truth with my team: I know I am appreciated and loved by my team, my board, my district, and my community. But I also know that if I were gone tomorrow, they would grieve and then they would post my job. There is only one you.

Love yourself. Take care of yourself. Invest in yourself. I’m committing with you to prioritizing myself as I continue to serve my students, staff, families, and community. As we finish this school year strong, I hope you pause and reflect on what you need to prioritize. Remember you’ve got this. And we’ve got this, together. Challenge a colleague or a family member to join you on this journey of self-discovery and self-care.

Continue to #InspireExcellence