A Fall Luncheon and the Quiet Work of Presence The other day, Kelli—my wife—and I walked into the Delaware State Education Association–Retired Fall Luncheon. About thirty of us gathered around round tables, catching up, laughing, and telling stories. From the outside, you might’ve seen what looked like “thirty old folks” enjoying lunch together. But if […]
Holding Space: What It Means and Why It Matters Read More »
Series: This post is part of Policy in the Classroom. See the full series → I still remember the knot in my stomach one Tuesday morning when the assistant principal slid into the back row of my classroom, clipboard in hand. It wasn’t the first time I’d been observed, but that day I knew
Testing, Trust, and the Teacher’s Voice Read More »
The first Tuesday without a bell The first Tuesday after I retired, I still woke before the sun. Old rhythms don’t disappear overnight. The coffee steamed, the street was quiet, and somewhere a school bus sighed at the corner the way buses do—a soft exhale that used to set my day in motion. My calendar
The Shift from Doing to Being: What Retirement Is Really Teaching Me Read More »
Teaching has never been a solo act. The best lessons, the best stories, the best wisdom — they all come from conversation. That’s true here, too. Each week I share reflections from my own journey, but this space is really about us. I’d love to hear from you. What would serve you best in the
Your Voice Matters: Help Shape the Next Season of Perspective Shifts Read More »
Discover the quiet curriculum teachers carry into every classroom. Learn how spiritual reflection, mindfulness, and presence shape the inner life of teaching.
The Teacher’s Quiet Curriculum: Why Spiritual Reflection Belongs in Education Read More »
Series: This post is part of Policy in the Classroom. See the full series → There’s a rhythm to August that teachers know well. The school building hums with fresh paint and polished floors, bulletin boards bloom with new colors, and we sit down with our lesson plans — hopeful, a little nervous, and always
The Weather of Policy Read More »
It was the third week of September, and I remember walking into class already tired. A young man in the front row had his head down on the desk, earbuds in. Another student was scrolling her phone under the table, not even bothering to hide it. I felt the familiar rise of frustration—why won’t they
Finding presence in the middle of upgrades, glitches, and shifting systems It was the third day of the semester. I had my lesson lined up, the students were settled in, and I clicked open the brand-new attendance system our college had just rolled out. And of course—nothing. The screen froze, the system wouldn’t load, and
Technology: Tool or Barrier to Connection? Read More »
Kelli and I just returned from a week in Scotland. I had to relearn driving on the left of the road, from the right side of the car, manual shifting with my left hand, and making sure to stay in the center of roads half the width of ours. Let me tell you, it took
Grading Isn’t the Goal: Rethinking Assessment Through a Spiritual Lens Read More »
We are just leaving Germany for Scotland after a full week with our exchange student, Sabrina, and her family — celebrating a beautiful wedding for her younger sister and enjoying long conversations with her parents and extended family. As usual, education found its way into our discussions, especially how politics and policy shape what happens
When Policy Meets the Classroom: What We’ve Learned Over 25 Years Read More »
