Across the country, there’s excitement in schools, districts, and policy circles about career pathways. Students are being offered internships, technical certifications, and “work-ready” programs that promise immediate employability. At first glance, it seems like progress—preparing students for the real world, meeting labor market demands, and giving young people skills they can use right after graduation. But I can’t help but feel uneasy. I can’t help but wonder if this foc

“Remember you must die.” — Memento Mori , Depeche Mode When Depeche Mode released Memento Mori , their haunting melodies transformed mortality into meditation. In the wake of a global pandemic, the phrase felt less like a warning and more like a whisper: Pay attention. None of this is forever. That whisper has echoed through my life in unexpected ways — in a classroom, in a hospital room, and in the quiet spaces between who I was and who I am becoming. When the Mirror Turned

I’ve spent years coaching, mentoring, and walking alongside leaders — the kind who care deeply, work relentlessly, and carry more than...

Photo by Riho Kitagawa on Unsplash In a parallel universe we are unbroken—but are we transformed? This reflection was inspired by The...

Photo by Srikanth Pettem on Unsplash I recently had an experience with someone I was coaching who hesitated to fully engage. Their...

Photo by Mesh on Unsplash That first bell of the school year? It’s as much for you as it is for the students. It marks the shift from...

For those of us who are women of color at the top of our organizations, there’s a weight we don’t often name. We carry the legacy of...

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow the dismantling of the Department of Education, I’ve felt a renewed urgency—not...

Author’s Note: David K. Cohen  was one of the sharpest, kindest, and most quietly radical minds in the field of education. He spent his...

Photo by Sarah Sheedy  on Unsplash There’s a conversation many of us are afraid to have out loud—especially those of us who are women of...

Photo by Luis Villasmil  on Unsplash Dear Leader, Let me start with the truth: You’re not imagining it. You really are carrying too...

Let’s be real: no one prepares you for the emotional whiplash of a layoff or unexpected medical leave. One day you're neck-deep in...

Illustration by Ana Yael Life rarely goes as planned. Sometimes, it doesn’t just gently shift our direction—it tosses us into the unknown...

Transition: Passing the baton This week I had much to celebrate: my birthday, my most recent bill of clean health, and the fact that my...

“Love is a form of death. Love is about lifting every voice..to be a person of integrity in a world that seems to be overwhelmed with...

Two weeks ago I moved my daughter into her college dorm. It was a culmination of many accomplishments that included being accepted to UC...

If cancer is a manifestation of a systemic failure   in our bodies, are children failing in schools also a manifestation of a systemic...

Let’s talk about medical diagnostic procedures and initial IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings.  When you are told by a doctor...

Each time I have experienced a transition in my career I often ask, "Should I stay or should I go?" There were always a million reasons I...