I’m done with virtual meetings.

Just the other day, a civic leader from the Columbus Community reached out to schedule a meeting. When we agreed on a time and date, I received a calendar invite; I was disappointed to see it was a Microsoft Teams meeting. I responded to the email, saying, “I don’t do virtual meetings with local leaders. Please let me know the nearest Panera to your location, and I will meet you there at our agreed-upon date and time.”

We are now meeting in person for coffee.

Humans are social beings. We function best in families, teams, and groups. We thrive in authentic relationships with skilled colleagues who bring divergent approaches.

Our district has scheduled meetings—with planned agendas—to conduct the organization’s business. Our Cabinet meetings are on Mondays, the academic team on Wednesdays, and the Student Services team on Thursdays. These meetings are valued because they provide clarity, support, and accountability. Scheduled meetings are necessary for consistent operations.

In my extensive nineteen-year tenure as a superintendent, I’ve come to cherish the most unexpected and valuable meetings- the impromptu conversations leaning against the threshold of a doorway. These meetings, sparked by a simple question about a colleague’s children, often lead to gaining invaluable perspectives about ongoing district issues. The magic happens when these conversations pull in another colleague just walking past or when an intentional text message requests another leader to join the discussion. The real solutions are found in these meetings, characterized by high trust and problem-solving.

The pre-and post-meeting conversations about your weekend or family event are not just small talk-they are the building blocks of connections and trust. These connections, forged in the real world, not on Zoom or Meets, are the strong foundation for authentic trust. Our ability to absorb non-verbal cues and respond with feeling is a unique aspect of in-person interactions that cannot be replicated virtually.

Lean into each other, build real relationships, and improve culture and behavior. When we trust each other and know each other as people, we push each other to improve. When we are safe to share our own fears and faults, we lift each other up as a team. The real conversations, the impromptu meetings, are where the magic happens. We aren’t virtual beings—we are the real deal.