Why I Stepped Back Into the Arena

Whoa! Is it good to see you or what!? 👋🏼

So… I’m back.
Not just back in your inbox.
Not just back with another Progress Report.

Back where the real work is.
Where every decision counts.
Where the outcomes don’t live in slide decks — they live in kids’ futures.

This summer, I made the move.
I stepped away from the national stage and the non-profit work…
And stepped back into the school building.

Back to being a principal.

And honestly? I’ve never felt more clear about why I lead.

The Moment That Brought It All Home

This summer, I stood in the Colosseum.
Rome.
Thousands of years of stories carved into stone.
And all I could think of (as a former history teacher) was The Man in the Arena.

You know the quote:

You don’t forget those words when you’re literally standing in the arena.
Because they’re not about perfection.
They’re about presence.
They’re about showing up — even when it’s hard, messy, and thankless.

And that’s what school leadership is.

It’s the work that happens when the doors close and the pressure’s high.
It’s late-night calls, early mornings, and every hard decision in between.

That quote?
That arena?
That’s the job.

And that’s exactly why I came back.

The Why Behind the Return

The work I was doing was good work. Strategic work.
But I missed the stakes.
I missed the kids. I missed the teachers who are grinding every day.
I missed leading teams that move mountains with limited time, tight budgets, and sheer determination.

More than anything, I missed:
🍏 Building systems that actually solve problems
🍏 Coaching people who believe in students and action
🍏 Living the tension of leadership — every single day

I didn’t want to just talk about the work.
I wanted to do the work again.

And now, I’m All-In.
(That’s not a slogan — that’s culture we’re building. More on that soon.)

What to Expect From The Progress Report (Now That I’m Back In It)

This version of The Progress Report is personal.
It’s practical.
It’s written by a leader in the arena — for others in it too.

Here’s what stays the same:
- No fluff
- Real leadership moves
- Sharp strategies you can actually use

Here’s what gets even better:
- Fresh lessons from my work in real time
- Brutally honest reflections on what works and what doesn’t
- A renewed focus on helping you lead better

Final Thought: The Arena is Where the Work Happens

To every school leader reading this:
Whether you’re in year one or year twenty —
Whether you’re feeling fired up or burnt out —
Whether you’re coaching others or crawling toward summer —

You’re in the arena.

And this work is not for the faint of heart.
But it is for the ones who believe that every student deserves a school that works.
A leader who won’t give up.
A team that refuses to settle.

That’s why I’m back.
And I’m bringing everything I’ve got with me.

📬 What’s keeping you in the arena this year? Hit reply — I’d love to hear what’s fueling your fire.

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