It is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation which give you happiness. – Thomas Jefferson

We all know wealthy people, people who live lives of splendor that are seemingly unhappy. We know those who have climbed the mountain, reached the pinnacle, and are yet to be satisfied.

When we compare our lives to others, when we encourage students to compare their performance to the performance of others, we will never be satisfied.

Happiness is about balance. It is about living with purpose and finding tranquility in the journey. We are compelled to enjoy the ride . . . to embrace the journey of change. It isn’t about earning wealth nor splendor; it’s about growth and purpose.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is not education at all. – Aristotle

Our mission as public educators is to ensure that every student is Ready for Tomorrow. We are preparing the next generation of America’s leaders. Our task is monumental and our purpose is at our core. Education today is changing; we must embrace what is required of us.

Education is no longer solely about static facts or acquisition of knowledge. We can no longer measure our effectiveness utilizing simple assessments. The complexity of today’s challenges, the diversity of student needs, demands multifaceted analysis and solutions.

Public schools are obligated to educate both hearts and minds. We are required to inspire commitment to continued learning for today’s students, tomorrow’s leaders, will be required to continually learn, grow, and change. We are all students of life; we continue to seek alignment of heart and mind. We are compelled to stir the love of learning in the hearts of children for a life of educating the mind.

All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up. – Pablo Picasso

In our preschool and primary classrooms, all of our students are artists. They all color, draw, and express themselves free from fear of judgement. From the hand drawn depiction of vacation to the holiday drawing on the refrigerator, children are joyful creators.

As children grow and mature, those who develop their talent continue to live an artistic life. Those who fail to excel, who fail to be recognized for exceptional talent, seemingly abandon this form of creation and expression.

As educators, we must cultivate the inner artist in each student. The joy of creation, the process of expressing oneself with freedom and creativity, mustn’t be extinguished in any child. Educating the whole child, preparing students to be ready for a tomorrow of balance and happiness, requires us to sow a love of all the arts in our classrooms.

I never expect to see a perfect work from an imperfect man. – Alexander Hamilton

None of us is perfect . . . we should never expect perfection from anyone. When we expect perfection, either from people in public life or people with whom we have personal relationships, we are only setting ourselves up for disappointment. We all make mistakes; if we aren’t making mistakes, we aren’t trying new things.

What we can expect is honesty and values; we are compelled to expect alignment to a shared vision and purposed. Our district has been intentional, purposeful in aligning our values and behavior. We talk about, and more importantly strive to model, our focus and commitment to our culture. We all fall short from time to time, but our commitment to team inspires support and caring.

I never expect to see perfection because we are all imperfect. It’s easy for people to be critical – especially when they are hiding in anonymity behind their keyboards in the safety of their home. It’s easy to point out other people’s flaws. It takes work, it takes effort to learn from mistakes and live our Power of the Team. We accept our Stand Up and Own it approach to leading a district and learning in classrooms. We own our behavior, learn from failing-fast, and live our lives in humble imperfection.

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony. – Thomas Merton

We all know people, perhaps it is how you live your own life, that seem to be on a constant rollercoaster. People who are either extremely happy, or the exact antithesis, exceedingly despondent. For these folks there never seems to be balance; these people seem to completely miss content. They are either the life of the party or in need of consolation.

Living a happy life isn’t about maximizing the high-points while minimizing the canyons. Life is about creating balance; it’s about intentionally keeping our life in rhythm and harmony. When we are true to our values – when we live our lives guided by principles – we keep our priorities in order.

Passionate people don’t wear their passion on their sleeves; they have it in their hearts. – Eric Schmidt and Jonathan Rosenberg

I know many people who talk about their passion; it is in their words, on posters in their office, and sticking on the window of their car. You know these people too . . . they talk the talk and are enthusiastic about the work.

I also know people who live their passion. It is more than words . . . it is action, dedication, and hard work. It is a commitment to the journey . . . it’s a desire for continued growth and improvement. The passion is a gift . . . it is fuel for life . . . it is at the core.

What is your passion? Is it in your heart or on your sleeve? When you wake-up in the morning, are you willing to work for it? To embrace the journey to elite?

Cultivate your passion. Plant the seed, do the work to grow your skills, and let others see it on your heart.

Negative leaders attack their team when there’s a problem. Positive leaders work with their team to attack the problem. – Jon Gordon

I am consistently befuddled at leaders who look to place blame. I’m surprised by those who’d rather point a finger at someone else rather than take the responsibility to find a solution.

We live in a world of distractions; we encounter detractors throughout our day. With our Stand Up and Own It value, we take responsibility for our response to others. As a leader, I can’t control what others do – all I can do is control me, my response, and my behavior.

Don’t let others suck you into the abyss of blaming and complaining. Don’t let the misbehavior of others take you below the line . . . take you to lower levels of effectiveness. Rise up . . . solve problems instead of placing blame. Tune out those who only seek to pull down the organization – trumpet teamwork and own the solution.

As this holiday weekend comes to an end we prepare to return to work and school for a couple of weeks before our winter break. Over the next several weeks, don’t lose your Thanksgiving spirit. Take the time to thank those in your lives that make you a better person, recognize people who push you to be a better version of you, and recognize friends or colleagues that bring joy to your life.

Don’t let Thanksgiving be limited to a single day or a long weekend. We are more joyful when we give thanks every day. We are happier when we recognize those around us who make our lives better. We are more productive and successful when we live, work, and learn in environments of gratitude.

It is completely up to you . . . it can’t be left to other people. Take the initiative, step up, and give the gift of thanks every day during this holiday season.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John Fitzgerald Kennedy

On Thanksgiving Day we take time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. We spend time with family and friends; we enjoy annual traditions and celebrate the start of the holiday season.

It’s easy on Thanksgiving Day, during the holiday weekend, to keep what’s most important on our minds and in our hearts. What’s difficult is to keep what’s most important in the forefront when we return to the daily grind of life and school.

On this day of giving thanks, don’t only utter words of thanks, but make the commitment to live your life in a spirit of thanksgiving. We must keep what’s most important on our minds and in our hearts every day of the year.

Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. – George Bernard Shaw

Too often, we paint a confusing picture for young people. Too often, we make it sound like passion and innovation alone will lead to future success and happiness. Too often, we promote creativity and permit voice and choice as the foundation for education. Why is this a faulty proposition? It’s only half the equation . . . it is missing a key component.

Life isn’t only about discovering your passion . . . it is about the work it takes to live your passion at an elite level. Once you discover your passion – and for many the journey is as important as the destination – you must work to cultivate the required skills into future success.

Finding yourself is only the starting line . . . creating yourself is the journey to success. Students today need to develop the foundational skills, instill a work ethic grounded in pride in one’s self and hard work, and perpetuate a desire for lifelong learning and growth.