For the educators
When I was a classroom teacher, I had a postcard on my fridge that read as follows:
“𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴.”
I believe there is something truly special about the heart of an educator. It expands to hold more than most of us can bear.
If ever I fall into worry about the state of affairs or the fate of our future, I remember that classrooms carry on regardless of the challenges and circumstances that come their way.
This year, I had the privilege of partnering with The Holdsworth Center, serving as an executive coach to a cohort of incredible principal leaders working in the beautiful borderlands of Laredo, Texas.
Founded by Charles Butt, in honor of his mother who was a school teacher, The Holdsworth Center is a transformational leadership institute focused on fueling support and learning for educators throughout Texas.
My principal leaders showed up, week after week, in their full commitment and full humanity. We held coaching sessions in tense and tender moments, sometimes during 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 that they were navigating.
I wish everyone could know the work of their schools as intimately as I have come to know it this past year, and I humbly offer you these lessons from my Laredo leaders as inspiration for the challenges you are expanding to hold.
⭐️ There’s always a way forward. If you can’t see it, it’s likely because you’re actively building it.
⭐️ A courageous conversation with candid feedback changes the game when it pairs truth with belief in what’s possible.
⭐️ To truly take care of others, begin by taking care of 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. Modeling the expectation has an undeniable ripple effect.
As we complete this powerful year together, I celebrate my Holdsworth leaders for who they are and for how they walk this world. May they always know their work makes a life-changing difference in the lives of so many.
I thank Tiffany O'Neill for recommending I apply for this partnership, Liz Garcia, PhD, PCC, CDTLF for interviewing and hiring me, and the Holdsworth coaching team for their loving support and accountability (Hilary Simon, Sharon Foley, ACC, CPCC, Patricia McKee, and Esther Marsden).
I also celebrate my fellow Holdsworth executive coaches, brilliant leaders themselves, who created a community that uplifted each other while raising the bar for the caliber of coaching we could provide.
At the exit gate of the Holdsworth Center, there is a quote from Charles Butt engraved in stone. It reads:
“𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
For whatever walls you face, and for whatever dreams you tend, may you always remember you have the power to ascend to the next level.
Look up, look within, and climb.
*This post is dedicated, with love, to Michelle Lopez, Erika Ramirez, Lori Moreno, Michelle Gonzalez, and Sandra Garcia. 🪅
