The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any.
-Alice Walker

Federal Spending Freeze Does Not Apply to Student Loans and Pell Grants Students and parents panicked after news of the order, but the Education Department said the guidance would not stop the flow of money to students and schools.

www.nytimes.com/2025/01/28/b...

Chilly, but worth it to get outside

Sneaking in one last time this week to get outside before the Polar Vortex sets in.

Shut Out: High School Students Learn About Careers — But Can’t Try One That Pays Schools offer more career days and job shadowing than paid apprenticeships, internships: “It’s not a bad thing. It’s just not enough.”

www.the74million.org/article/shut...

Windy and a little chilly today, but still nice

Colorado doesn’t have enough teachers. Here’s how Cherry Creek schools are trying to solve the problem. “I always wanted to do something with kids,” Amaya Mills, 24, said, adding, “It’s something I wanted to do but I had no way to go about it without the program.”

How Cherry Creek schools are trying to solve the teacher shortage problem

Afternoon brain break…

Blue sky for bsky

When a particular idea grabs the attention of organizational leaders, it often gets either misused or applied in an oversimplified manner: resilience, grit, grace, etc.

Or designed a “strategic plan” 🙄

I am reading Neil Theise’s book and this made me smile: “The emergent phenomena of ant colonies do not arise because some leader in the colony is planning things.”

Imma use this line in my next meeting, lol

Expect strong resistance and denial from guardians of the status quo.

Overcome the addiction to being comfortable. The addiction to certainty. The perceived need to control everything.

Rigid hierarchies limit our ability to respond to change.

As a leader, I recognize that procrastinators are a drain on their team. Even if they always meet the deadline in the eleventh hour, they cause undue stress on their teammates which leads to tension and mistrust. It has to be addressed.

Observing lots of leaders within organizations using the current backlash as an excuse to not do the work that they never really wanted to do in the first place.

In whatever professional role I hold, throughout my career, students always reach out to visit when they are home for winter break from college/career 😊

The ability to navigate uncertainty is an undervalued skill.

Upon reflection, it’s been a year of continuous personal and professional growth which is always a good thing. I’ve learned a lot about myself and others as we all continue to navigate through the challenges, successes and changes in our lives.

Often, I see experienced leaders desparately holding onto ineffective, antiquated practices, scoffing at innovative ideas, primarily because they don’t believe in their own efficacy. Instead of building their capacity to work and lead differently, they defensively double down.

Every single day we have opportunities to live our commitment to equity & justice. Our daily actions and interactions within our spheres of influence, can be bravely and profoundly human, challenging the inequities that are deeply imbedded within systems.

As leaders, if we want to empower others to feel a sense of ownership, motive them to take initiative and drive the success of their projects, we must shift away from rigid structures and hierarchical decision-making. We must embrace collective decision-making.

Why Warblers Flock to Wealthier Neighborhoods In the unequal distribution of birds and other species, ecologists are tracing the impact of bigoted urban policies adopted decades ago.

In the unequal distribution of birds and other species, ecologists are tracing the impact of bigoted urban policies adopted decades ago.

A cozy, snowy morning to read, write and research.

Beautiful questions to ask when making decisions:

Did I take my WHOLE family to Casa Bonita for my birthday yesterday?

Yes, yes I did.

Was it worth every cent for the nostalgia alone?

Yes, yes it was.

Coolest thing I saw today: the firefighters at my local station using the ladder truck to put up holiday lights 🚒