Every year before 2014, I would select a "New Year's Resolution"  to start on January 1, and I would usually make a misstep and end up NOT reaching my goal. (In this study, less than half of participants reported success at sticking to their goals).  It was a tradition that I knew I needed to ditch, and in 2014 I learned of a practice by Chris Brogan that has proven to be beneficial to me both personally and professionally. Since 2014, I select three words at the beginning of the year that will set my intentions, drive my actions, and align my purpose throughout the year ..read more

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting TheCompelledEducator.com I'm a huge fan of Brene Brown. She's a researcher on shame, vulnerability, and courage. As an educator for almost 30 years and a person who is always trying to get and be better than before... I find that her lessons are extremely valuable and on point. I hope you enjoy this post and feel free to share your comments below about lessons you have learned from Brene Brown.  Brene's book, Dare to Lead, is full of lessons for leaders.  If you've been following this blo ..read more

Our core values are the guiding principles that shape our beliefs, decisions, and actions. They are the deeply held beliefs that drive our behavior, influence our attitudes, and define who we are.  Identifying our core values is an essential step in building a fulfilling life, a successful and rewarding career, and healthy relationships.  But how do we find our core values? In this post, I'll share some strategies to help you identify your core values.   How to find your Core Values Self-reflection Self-reflection is a powerful tool to identify your core values. Take som ..read more

My life’s mission has always been to empower others in their journey to becoming the best version of themselves, whether I was a teammate, coach, personal trainer, science teacher, high school administrator, or character coach.  One of the key reasons I started The Compelled Educator long ago was to create a space where I could share resources, ideas, and successful practices with others.  When I was a science teacher, my ultimate goal was to inspire creativity and curiosity in my students. I wanted them to walk away with a love for science!  I used inquiry-based lessons as muc ..read more

Technology is Always Evolving We had a conversation in our doctoral class a couple of weeks ago about ChatGPT, and it got me to thinking about ways to use ChatGPT as a school leader.  Technology is always evolving, and as I think back to when we started our one-to-one initiative at Hoover High School, we first made a turning point when our principal, Don Hulin, allowed our students to use their cell phones between classes, at lunch, and at other non-instructional times. This was at a time when most high schools were not allowing cell phones to be used at all during the school day.  ..read more

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting TheCompelledEducator.com Leaders shape the culture Now more than ever in education, positive workplace relationships are important. Teachers are leaving the profession in greater numbers, and fewer people are choosing education as a career. Positive relationships between administrators and teachers as well as all adults in a school are imperative in creating a positive culture.  When building a positive culture in an organization, it becomes a result of a collective effort by everyone in the organiza ..read more

As each year comes to a close, I reflect on the year with specific questions to help me prepare and build momentum for the next one.  Here are a few of the reflection questions I ask myself as the end of the year approaches: What has had the greatest impact and how can I do more to amplify that? What am I most grateful for? What am I most proud of and why? What did I learn this year, and what do I need to dive deeper into? What challenged me this year? The method In preparing for the new year, I use a practice I learned from Chris Brogan and one that has proven to be ..read more

Leadership is not about a position, it’s about a mindset.  All true leaders understand that they are in a constant state of becoming as they walk the path of the effective leadership process. Leaders come from different backgrounds and experiences, but they share one thing in common. They are perpetual learners who continue to grow themselves as well as others. There is too much to learn about leadership for a person to feel as though they have “arrived.”  A person may have a lot of experience dealing with different situations and people, yet that does not make one incapable ..read more

I'm a huge fan of most reality TV, and I especially love watching singing and talent competitions. The Voice has some incredible talent on it this season, and I was excited to have the return of Gwen Stefani as a coach. (Where are my No Doubt fans?!!?) There's a line I've heard Gwen say several times that also resonates with me and where I am in my journey as a former high school teacher (12 years) and administrator (15 years), and now current doctoral student, leadership consultant, and facilitator at a non-profit organization.  Several times, when pitching herself to be someone's coac ..read more

"Hire good people and get out of their way." Many school leaders believe in the quote above, and they do a good job of vetting candidates, checking references, and asking tough interview questions, all to find "peak performers" to fill openings.   What happens with the rest of the staff? Is the same diligence and care used to develop the entire staff as a team and create a caring, productive, and effective culture? Creating an exceptional culture means leading with integrity and with a team-focused mindset. It's understanding the characteristics of peak performers and tapping into the ..read more