iLead Education Services

30 days in.
Still listening. Still learning. Still encouraged.

Last week marked my first 30 days as Interim Superintendent in Tuba City Unified School District and I’ve spent most of that time doing one thing:

Listening.

So far, I’ve hosted:
✔️ One-on-one listening and learning sessions
✔️ Teacher leader conversations
✔️ Classified staff sessions
✔️ All district parent meeting
✔️ Ongoing focus groups across school sites
✔️ More still ahead with our ESS team

And here’s what I’ve learned:

People already want to do what’s right for kids.

In one meeting a member of our maintenance team shared something simple but powerful:
“We’re here to make sure students are comfortable.”

That moment said everything.

It reminded me that strong systems don’t begin with new initiatives.
They begin with honoring the people already doing the work.

These listening sessions haven’t just helped me understand the district better—they’ve helped the district understand me as a leader:
• what I value
• what I notice
• what I prioritize
• and what I’m committed to learning alongside them

I also had the privilege of meeting two employees who have served this district for more than 40 years. Their stories carry history, pride, and perspective you can’t find in a report or spreadsheet.

Here’s what 30 days has confirmed for me:

When leaders listen first, people lean in.
When people feel seen, they step forward.
And when teams step forward together, students benefit most.

I’m doing exactly what I said I would do—listening and learning—and the message across the district is clear:

People are working hard.
People care deeply.
And people want strong leadership to move forward together.

If you’re leading a school or district right now, ask yourself:

Who still needs the chance to be heard before the next decision is made?

iLeadEducationServices

These watermelons reminded me of something important about leadership.

Every school year has a harvest season.

It’s the time when leaders step back and ask:

What actually worked?
Who stayed connected to the work?
Which efforts produced results?
And just as important… what are we not planting again next year?

At our house, we decided not to replant watermelons next season. And we will make sure the grandsons don’t either. 😂🥴🤦🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️

Not because they didn’t grow.
Not because the effort wasn’t worthwhile.
But because we realized it’s not where we want to invest our time moving forward.

Schools and districts face the same decision right now.

Strong leadership isn’t about continuing everything.
It’s about sustaining what works, strengthening what matters, and releasing what no longer serves the system.

As this school year comes to a close, this is the moment to ask:

✔ What produced real results?
✔ Where was implementation consistent?
✔ What depended on individual effort instead of strong systems?
✔ What are we ready to stop so something stronger can grow?

Sometimes progress begins with deciding what not to replant.

If your team is preparing for next year and working through what to sustain, scale, or release, I’d love to connect. This is exactly the work I support districts with as they plan for stronger alignment and clearer priorities.

Thanking God today for another year of life.

No fancy parties.
No traveling across the world.
No extravagant dinners.
No amazing spa day.

Just me and my husband today.

Blessed to just be alive.
Blessed to be at home.
Blessed to choose the simple life.

Happy 59th birthday to me 🎉🙏🏾❤️

Today I walked into the conference room to meet the consultant working with our district. And was totally surprised to see . It was great meeting him in person and sitting in on his session with our middle school educators.

If you’re in Phoenix, stop by and see me on Saturday as I share my latest book with the community.

Leadership didn’t start with me.

This week, I stepped into a new role as Interim Superintendent.

But the truth is, my leadership story began generations ago.

My great-grandmother traveled across Mississippi and Louisiana teaching in one-room schoolhouses as a school administrator. She carried education from community to community long before leadership titles looked the way they do today.

She built access.
She built opportunity.
She built legacy.

And now, I have the privilege of continuing that work in my own way.

Leadership isn’t just about the position you hold.

It’s about the legacy you inherit… the legacy you build… and the legacy you leave behind for someone else to carry forward.

Every leader is shaping something that lasts longer than their tenure.

I’m stepping into this role with gratitude, responsibility, and a deep awareness that I’m walking a path that was prepared long before me.

Strong leadership always honors what came before while building what comes next.

What legacy are you building where you lead?

I lost my job… and we lost a watermelon.

In early February, I was laid off from my nonprofit role. Weeks earlier, I had been reassured everything would be fine.
It wasn’t. 🤷🏾‍♀️

At the same time, we noticed a small split in one of our growing watermelons. It didn’t seem like a big deal.
But as it grew, the crack widened… and eventually opened, with bugs inside.
We were wrong about that too.

Two very different situations. Same lesson.

➡️ Not every role is the right fit—and that’s okay. Alignment matters. (We still have 12 more watermelons growing.)
➡️ Keep growing, learning, and preparing for what’s next. (I’m still watering the other plants.)
➡️ A loss doesn’t define your value. It often reveals your next opportunity. (The inside of the watermelon was still good, only the split area was affected.)

Sometimes what feels like a setback… is actually a setup for something better.
I’m choosing to trust the process.
💬 If you’ve ever experienced a setback that turned into something better, I’d love to hear your story.
🔗 And if you’re in a season of transition and need support getting aligned with your next step—let’s connect.

You’re either on Spring Break or returning to school within the next week or so.
What will student behavior communicate to your staff?
More importantly, how will the system answer back?

What boundaries are in place on your campus?

Are the boundaries aligned to a system?

Have the boundaries been communicated to all adults so that
implementation is consistent across the campus?

Have the boundaries been communicated to students?