Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the privilege of visiting eight incredible schools across our state to present them with their School on the Rise banners and certificates, and each visit has filled my heart in ways I didn’t expect. You can’t walk into these buildings without feeling the energy... that mix of purpose, pride, and pure joy that lives in every hallway, classroom, and gym.
Most of these schools have mantras that echo through the walls: accountability, care for others, and respect. But the magic is in how those words come alive. There’s nothing cuter or more powerful than a group of kindergarteners shouting in unison that everyone is welcome here. It’s not just a chant; it’s a culture being built right in front of you.
And that culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s shaped intentionally and unapologetically by principals who believe that schools should feel like safe harbors for everyone who walks through the door... students and adults alike. These leaders don’t just talk about belonging; they design it, model it, and protect it.
At one school, I met Creed, a service dog who works alongside the school’s Solutions Officer. Together, they’ve redefined what discipline looks like. Here, they don’t do suspensions; they do solutions. It’s about helping students regulate, repair, and reconnect.
Each principal I visited was so excited to share the work their kids and staff were doing. Every story was bursting with pride, from student-led assemblies to staff appreciation projects. The district leadership even attended each presentation, not to evaluate, but to celebrate. It was a community lifting itself from the inside out.
And then came the moment I’ll never forget.
I watched a teacher at Panther Lake Elementary welcome two new students from Afghanistan. They were so small, maybe six years old, stepping into a brand new world with wide eyes and nervous smiles. Before the teacher could even finish her sentence, another little student walked over and began translating for her. The teacher knelt, smiled, and met them with such warmth and humanity that I had to step aside to compose myself. I was preparing to present an award to the whole school, and suddenly, my eyes weren’t cooperating. 🥲😂
That simple, beautiful moment captured everything right about education. Compassion. Connection. Community.
Because this is what’s really happening in our schools. Not just test scores and attendance charts, but daily acts of grace and courage. Teachers and leaders who show up with heart. Students who model empathy and acceptance. Staff who believe in solutions, not suspensions.
Every time I step into a school and witness this kind of magic, it fundamentally changes me just a little. It softens me. It reminds me that hope is alive and well, and that the work we do in education is about so much more than systems and standards... It’s about humanity that will last long after those students are gone...
To every educator out there, from the classroom to the central office, thank you for being the lighthouses. You’re guiding more than students; you’re guiding each other. You remind us that leadership isn’t about hierarchy, it's about humanity.
So let’s keep celebrating the joy, the connection, and the relentless hope that live in our schools every single day.
Because make no mistake, magic is happening. And it’s powered by educators who refuse to let anything dim their light.