Mallika Stubbs l The Catalyst Coach

08/19/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | DAY 44

Plot twist: sometimes the joy of leadership has absolutely nothing to do with work. 😂

As I celebrated my birthday, I had the opportunity to do something that simply makes me HAPPY—attend a BTS concert.

Yes… this Assistant Principal is ARMY. 💜

And somewhere between the music, the screaming, the light sticks, and thousands of people sharing the same excitement, I found myself thinking about leadership.

Because apparently, even at a BTS concert, the educator in me refuses to completely clock out. 🤷🏾‍♀️

One of the things I appreciate most about BTS is that beneath the performances, success, and global recognition is a message that resonates far beyond music:

Love yourself.
Use your voice.
Keep going.
You don’t have to become someone else to belong.
And you don’t have to walk through life alone.

Those messages matter in schools, too.

As a high functioning type A leader, I spend a lot of time thinking about achievement, instruction, data, improvement, expectations, and how we create opportunities for students.

But education is ultimately about people. Students need spaces where they feel like they belong. Teachers need leaders who see the human being behind the work. Teams need trust before they can truly collaborate.

And leaders need permission to be human, too.
That’s something I’m learning in this season.

You cannot build a life around pouring into everyone else and forget to experience your own joy.

Read the book.

Take the trip.

Buy the ticket.

Go to the concert.

Wear the merch.

Sing way too loudly.

Celebrate your birthday.

Do the things that remind you who you are when nobody needs you to lead anything.

Because protecting your joy doesn’t make you less committed to the work.

It gives you something meaningful to bring back to it.

Maybe that’s another lesson hidden inside Leaders Eat Last: leadership is about taking care of people and leaders are people, too.

I’ve return to the work with a fuller cup, a grateful heart, and probably a squeaky voice. 😂

The joy of leadership is remembering to build a life that brings you joy, too.
💜 Love yourself.
🐾 Find your people.
🌱 Protect your joy.
🎯 Use your influence for something bigger.

08/13/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | YEAR 48

48.

Today, the number isn’t just my age.

It’s a reminder of the journey.

At 48, I’ve lived long enough to know that success looks very different than I once thought it did.

I’ve earned degrees.
Built a career.
Worked at the state level.
Supported schools through transformation.
Coached teachers and leaders.
Facilitated difficult conversations.
Analyzed more data than I care to count. 😂
Experienced successes.
Made mistakes.
Started over.
And now, at 48, I’m beginning again as a new Assistant Principal of Instruction.

And strangely enough, I don’t feel like I’m starting over.

I feel like everything before this was preparing me for this.

My years in school improvement taught me how to solve problems.

Coaching taught me to listen before giving answers.

Working with struggling schools taught me that numbers never tell the whole story.

Leading without authority taught me that influence will take you places a title never can.

And becoming part of a new school community is teaching me something else:

You can have years of experience and still have the humility to be a beginner.

That’s why Leaders Eat Last has been such a meaningful read during this season of my life. Simon Sinek’s work reinforces something I’m understanding more deeply at 48:

Leadership isn’t about how many people know your name.

It’s about how many people are better because you knew theirs.

It’s creating environments where people feel safe enough to speak, supported enough to struggle, challenged enough to grow, and valued enough to stay. So, I’m walking into 48 with three words that have followed me throughout my leadership journey:

🤝 Collaborative — because the best work is never accomplished alone.

🧩 Problem-Solver — because challenges aren’t always roadblocks; sometimes they’re invitations to think differently.

📚 Learner — because experience should never make us believe we’ve arrived.

This birthday feels different.

I’m not asking, “What else can I accomplish?”

I’m asking:

Who can I serve?
Who can I develop?
What can I learn?
What can we build together?
And what kind of impact can I leave behind?

At 48, I don’t need to be the smartest person in the room.

I want to help build rooms full of brilliant people who trust one another enough to do extraordinary things.

I’m grateful for every chapter that brought me here and genuinely excited about the one I’m writing now.

48 years of becoming.

And somehow, I feel like I’m just getting started.💜

Happy Birthday to me. 🎂

❤️ One Team.
🎯 One Vision.
🐾 One Mission.

The joy of leadership is realizing that the higher you climb, the greater your opportunity to reach back, reach across, and make room for someone else.

08/07/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | DAY 35
Every Student Has a Story

As educators we often see grades first.

Attendance.

Behavior.

Assessment scores.

But behind every number is a story.

The best leaders remain curious.

Before asking, “What’s wrong with this student?”
Ask, “What has this student experienced?”

Empathy changes instruction.
Relationships change lives.

❤️ One Team.
🎯 One Vision.
🐾 One Mission.

08/05/2026

08/01/2026

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

🫶

07/31/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | DAY 30

Thirty days ago, I began a new journey as Assistant Principal of Instruction.

This month has reminded me that leadership is not about titles.

It’s about service.

It’s about listening before speaking.

Learning before leading.

Building trust before expecting change.

Brené Brown writes that strong ground is built through values, courage, and connection.

As I look ahead to the new school year, I remain committed to these three things:

🎯Solve problems with people, not for people.
❤️Collaborate with purpose.
🐾Remain a learner first.

The greatest joy of leadership isn’t leading.
It’s helping others discover their own capacity to lead.

Here’s to a year of growth, courage, and impact.

07/29/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | DAY 29

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned throughout my leadership journey is this: The strongest leaders don’t have to be the smartest person in the room.

They build rooms full of brilliant people.

Now, as Assistant Principal of Instruction at Rock Hill High School, that lesson means even more.

I don’t measure success by how much I know.

I measure it by how well I help others shine.

Brené Brown reminds us that grounded leaders choose courage over ego. Courage is creating space for others to lead, celebrating expertise wherever it exists, and recognizing that leadership is not diminished when someone else excels—it is strengthened.

I’m proud to be part of a team where everyone’s strengths matter, every voice has value, and our shared commitment to students is greater than any individual accomplishment.

Because the best school cultures aren’t built by one great leader.

They’re built by great teams that trust one another, challenge one another, learn from one another, and win together.

The joy of leadership is discovering that our greatest impact comes from helping others become their very best.

❤️ One Team.
🎯 One Vision.
🐾 One Mission.

Together, we can do great things.

AssistantPrincipal WeAreBearcats RelationshipsMatter StudentsFirst LeadershipMatters

07/27/2026

Today is more than the first day of school—it’s the beginning of new opportunities, new relationships, and new possibilities.

As we welcome our Bearcats back, we are reminded that greatness is never a solo effort. It grows through strong relationships, shared purpose, and a commitment to helping every student succeed.

This year, let’s create classrooms where every student feels seen, every educator feels supported, and every voice matters.

❤️ One Team.
🎯 One Vision.
🐾 One Mission.

Here’s to a year filled with learning, leadership, and making a lasting difference.

Together, we can do great things!

StriveForExcellence BearcatPride FirstDayOfSchool BackToSchool EducationLeadership SchoolCulture

07/26/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | DAY 26

One More Sunset Before the Staff Arrives

There’s something special about the last day of summer vacation.

As I prepare for my very first school year as an Assistant Principal, I find myself reflecting on what makes this profession so meaningful.

Tomorrow, we’ll welcome staff back with fresh opportunities, new goals, and endless possibilities. Every handshake, every smile, every conversation, and every classroom moment is a chance to make a lasting difference.

I’m grateful to join a school community that believes in strong relationships, high expectations, and putting students first.

❤️ One Team.
🎯 One Vision.
🐾 One Mission.

To our teachers and staff: thank you for the countless hours you’ve invested in preparing for this year.

To our students: I can’t wait to see all of you next week, I’ll be cheering for you, and I can’t wait to see all you’ll accomplish.

Here’s to a year of learning, leadership, growth, and celebrating every Bearcat success.

07/22/2026

🥰THE JOYS OF LEADERSHIP | DAY 22

One lesson I’ve learned throughout my educational journey is this: People support what they help create.

Whether facilitating CALL leadership teams, Cognia reviews, or strategic planning sessions, the strongest outcomes always emerged through collaboration not a top down approach.

Simon Sinek reminds us in Leaders Eat Last that the best leaders create a Circle of Safety where people feel trusted, valued, and protected. When people feel psychologically safe, they are more willing to innovate, take risks, ask for help, and invest in a shared vision.

As an Assistant Principal, my role isn’t to have all the answers.

This year, my hope is that every teacher, student, and family experiences a school culture where they feel seen, valued, safe, and empowered to contribute.

Because the joy of leadership isn’t standing at the front. It’s building a team that is willing to stand beside one another.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” — Simon Sinek