A New Season and A Renewed Mission
One thing life continues to teach me is that our stories rarely unfold the way we script them. Instead, they move in seasons. Some are joy-filled, some are challenging, and some quietly reshape us from the inside out.
As many of you know, I retired from Hoover High School on July 1. When I re-joined Hoover in 2023, I fully expected to stay much longer. I loved the work, the people, the students, the culture. My two years there were rich with connection and purpose, and I still carry those relationships with deep gratitude.
But when my parents’ needs increased, I knew my plans had to shift. Stepping away from Hoover was not easy, but it was the right decision. It was a values-aligned decision. And because of that choice, I received one of the greatest gifts of my life: the chance to be with my mom during her final months.
Those days were filled with laughter, stories and quiet moments, with a kind of presence that only becomes possible when everything else is laid down. I will forever be grateful for that time. And now, I’m thankful for these days with my dad as he navigates his own health journey.
This season has brought my core leadership beliefs into even sharper focus. Not long ago, I spoke with a group of master’s students about the Nine Essentials for Creating an Exceptional Culture, and I shared a truth that has guided me for years:
When your values are clear, your decisions become easier, even when they are hard.
Settling Back Into Work I Love
When I retired, it was also shared publicly that I would be returning to the Hope Institute as a Senior Character Coach. Now that some time has passed, it feels right to share a bit more about what this season has felt like and the work I’m grateful to do again.
Returning to Hope Institute isn’t a new beginning so much as a continuation. It's a return to meaningful, mission-driven work that has always felt like home. Supporting school leaders and helping schools strengthen their culture through character development is work that stirs me. It challenges me. It fulfills me.
And in this season of personal transition, it has been an anchor.
Communities of Character: Season 4
Another bright spot has been restarting the Communities of Character podcast. After taking a pause during a year of doctoral work, principalship, family, and transition, pressing “record” again felt both vulnerable and energizing.
And y'all, the guests this season have been incredible.
They’ve shared stories of courage, resilience, service, and leadership that have strengthened my own heart. Their insights remind me why this work matters, why character matters, and why community is so essential in every space we lead.
I can’t wait for you to hear each conversation.
Lessons I’m Carrying Into This Season
As the holiday season approaches, I'm reminded that it is a time of gratitude, reflection, and slowing down. I’ve found myself holding onto a few lessons this chapter has reinforced:
Gratitude changes everything.
Even in grief. Even in transition. Even in the unknown. There are blessings tucked into every corner when we pause to look for them.
Patience is a form of strength.
It asks us to breathe, to trust, and to release our timeline in exchange for a bigger one we can’t yet see.
Faith steadies us.
It reminds us that we never walk alone, even in seasons that stretch us.
Your core values will always tell the truth.
When life becomes noisy, values become a compass: quiet, steady, and clear.
Moving Forward With Hope
I miss Hoover greatly. I miss the kids, the staff, the rhythms of school life, and the joy of leading alongside incredible educators. But I also know this is exactly where I’m meant to be right now.
This is a season of caring, of guiding, of rebuilding, of listening, of serving. And I’m grateful. I'm deeply grateful for how the story is unfolding.
Thank you for continuing to walk alongside me. Thank you for reading, listening, and encouraging. And thank you for believing, as I do, that character and compassion can change not just schools, but lives.
Here’s to this season, and the next one, too.
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