Anti-Racism Leadership Institute

Harvard Square today. Beautiful afternoon, good coffee, and one of those small moments that sneaks up on you.

I wandered into the Harvard Book Store and did the thing every author secretly does. I went looking for my own book. And there it was. On the shelf. In an actual bookstore.

Here is the funny part. We have sold thousands of copies since 2019. I have personally ordered boxes of author’s copies over the years. But I had never once seen it out in the wild, sitting on a shelf, waiting for a stranger to pick it up. I just stood there and grinned like a kid.

Only one copy left, too. Somebody out there is about to make a very good decision.

And that lonely little copy will have company soon. My second book, Antiracism Phobia, is on the way from Harvard Education Press this October. Five years in the making. 🙂

https://hep.gse.harvard.edu/9798895571149/antiracism-phobia/

Grateful today. Truly.

It’s official: my newest book, "Antiracism Phobia: Overcoming the Fear and Getting to Work," is now available for preorder!

The fear of saying the wrong thing, of being labeled, and of losing relationships or standing is a common barrier. This fear often keeps well-intentioned leaders and educators on the sidelines of antiracist work.

This book addresses that fear, explores its origins, and provides a practical roadmap for overcoming it. Drawing on psychology, leadership theory, and my decades in education, it is designed for anyone ready to engage in antiracist work.

Publishing in October 2026 with Harvard Education Press — reserve your copy today:

🔗 Harvard Education Press: https://lnkd.in/gpEtcP3g

🔗 Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gTtcKExN

Preorders are significant for authors as they signal demand and help this important message reach a wider audience. If this work resonates with you, I would appreciate your support and shares.

I look at this image and think about a simple truth:
No student walks into school hoping to be seen as a statistic.
They walk in hoping to belong.

They hope someone notices their strengths. They hope their voice matters. They hope the adults around them believe in their potential before they've fully learned to believe in it themselves.

When schools get equity right, it's not about checking boxes or creating perfect optics.

It's about creating environments where every student, regardless of race, background, language, identity, or circumstance FEELS valued, challenged, supported, and capable of success.

Imagine a school where every student knows they belong.
Imagine a school where opportunities aren't rationed.
Imagine a school where every child is seen, heard, and encouraged to thrive.

Now imagine the impact that would have on a generation of young people.

The question isn't whether this vision is possible.

The question is whether we're willing to do the work to make it a reality.

Think back to your own school experience.
What is one thing an educator did that made you feel like you truly belonged?

I'd love to hear your story in the comments.

When I became a principal, I thought my job was to keep the school running smoothly.

I focused on schedules, budgets, staffing, discipline, operations, and making sure the building functioned efficiently. Those things matter. They always will.

But what I didn't fully understand was that a well-managed school and a school that changes student outcomes are not necessarily the same thing.

Early on, I spent a lot of energy solving adult problems. Over time, I learned to ask a different question:

How is this decision improving outcomes for students?

That question changed everything.

It changed how I spent my time.
It changed what data I paid attention to.
It changed the conversations I had with staff.
It changed how I defined success.

Instead of measuring whether things were running smoothly, I started measuring whether students were learning, belonging, and thriving.

The best principals aren't simply managers of systems. They're leaders of student outcomes.

Looking back, I wish I had learned that lesson sooner. But once I did, it transformed not only my leadership...it transformed the impact our school could have on young people.

What's one lesson you learned as a leader that completely changed how you approached your work?

For quite some time, I've been working on a project behind the scenes that has challenged me, inspired me, and deepened my understanding of what it takes to create meaningful change.

I'm excited to finally share the cover of my new book, Antiracism Phobia: Overcoming the Fear and Getting to Work (Harvard Education Press, October 2026).

Drawing on psychology, leadership theory, and decades of experience in education, this book explores the fears and barriers that often prevent meaningful antiracist action; and provides a practical roadmap for overcoming them.

I look forward to sharing more about this journey in the months ahead and continuing these important conversations with educators, leaders, and communities across the country.

In March of 2021, somewhere above the clouds, I opened the Notes app on my phone and started typing. Right there, between a grocery list and a password I will never recover, an idea took its first breath.

Five years later, that idea has a spine, a cover, and a publication date.

I am overjoyed to share that my second book, Antiracism Phobia: Overcoming The Fear and Getting to Work, arrives this October from Harvard Education Press.

For perspective: an elephant takes 22 months to be born. This book took nearly three elephants. Some ideas simply refuse to be rushed, and I have learned to thank them for it.

At its heart, this book is an invitation. An invitation to talk about racial liberation not as a political position to defend, but as a humanitarian imperative to embrace. Not left versus right. Human to human.

The seatbelt sign is off, friends. You are now free to move about the conversation.

Cover reveal and pre-order details coming soon. October, I am ready for you.

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

What keeps you inspired to continue this work, even on the days when leadership feels the heaviest?

Educational leadership has never been more complex.

School leaders are navigating staff retention, student well-being, political pressures, community expectations, and the relentless pursuit of better outcomes for every student.

The challenges are real. But so are the opportunities.

That’s why I’m grateful for the work my associates and I get to do every day through the Anti-Racism Leadership Institute.

Across the country, we are partnering with districts, coaching executive leaders, facilitating courageous conversations, and helping organizations build cultures where students and adults can thrive.

What inspires me most is that the leaders we work with haven't stopped believing that schools can be transformational places. They continue to show up, ask hard questions, and do the work.

The best educational leaders aren't looking for easy answers. They're looking for meaningful progress.

To the superintendents, principals, cabinet members, and leadership teams we have the privilege of supporting: thank you for trusting us to be part of your journey.

The work matters. The students matter. And together, we can create schools where every child has the opportunity to succeed.

So tell me: What keeps you inspired to continue this work, even on the days when leadership feels the heaviest?

People don't leave organizations because leaders don't have all the answers.

They leave when they don't feel heard.

In my coaching work, I've found that listening is often the most underutilized leadership skill.

Before your next meeting, ask yourself:
"Am I preparing to respond, or am I preparing to understand?"

The answer may change the conversation.

The best leaders I coach aren't asking:
"How do I get people to do more?"

They're asking:
"How do I create an environment where people can do their best work?"

That might mean:
• Creating psychological safety
• Reducing unnecessary barriers
• Clarifying priorities
• Celebrating growth, not just results
• Making people feel seen, heard, and valued

Leadership isn't about extracting performance.
It's about creating the conditions for performance.

What's one thing you've done recently to improve the environment for your team?

What’s the leadership question you haven’t asked yet?

The one about burnout.
The one about culture.
The one about equity.
The one about whether your leadership is truly reaching every student.

Too often, educational leaders carry difficult questions in silence.

This month, you don’t have to.
Ask me anything.
No scripts.
No perfect answers.

Just honest dialogue about the realities of leading schools today.

Drop your question in the comments, send a LinkedIn message, or email [email protected].

Someone else is probably carrying the same question too.