I will admit it, I love a good back-to-school moment. The night before school starts, my four children still line up their backpacks by the door, zippers checked, pencils packed, excitement and nerves neatly tucked inside. That quiet ritual never fails to get me all the feels.
As my years in leadership pass, I will also confess to a small, secret worry. What if one year, the butterflies do not come? That nervous and excited flutter in my stomach has always been my personal barometer, a sign that I am still fully invested in this work for our students, faculty, and the communities we serve. Thankfully, they always show up. And with them comes that same sense of anticipation and hope that first drew me to public education.
There is something about this time of year, hopeful, charming, and full of promise, that still gets me, no matter how long I have been at it. For those of us in public education, whether in a classroom, a boardroom, or somewhere in between, this season is more than a restart. It is a recommitment. To learning. To growing. To one another.
For six hours a day, we have the privilege of educating students. For the other eighteen, families and community members continue that work in different, equally meaningful ways. That is what makes public education so unique. We do not just share buildings, we share responsibility.
Education That’s Academic and Human
In every district I’ve served, and in conversations with fellow educators, one theme always rises to the top: student outcomes matter. We care deeply about academic success, strong fundamentals, and preparing students for their next steps.
But we also know success doesn’t stop at academic metrics. It includes whether students feel connected, supported, and confident in themselves and their future.
At Lake Forest, we’re proud to model that balance through programs like personalized ACT prep at LFHS, where staff-developed resources are tailored to student needs. In District 67, our CHAMPS behavioral expectations and house families promote a sense of belonging and foster strong relationships, ensuring that students are emotionally supported while growing intellectually. These aren’t extras. They’re essential to helping students succeed as whole people.
A Culture of Collective Leadership
The work of public education is too complex to be led by one voice alone. Whether you’re a superintendent, principal, department chair, or classroom teacher, your perspective matters. Equally, our students, parents/guardians, and local residents have perspectives that matter.
In Lake Forest, we operate with a deeply ingrained culture of collective leadership, where expertise is trusted and ideas flow from the people closest to the work. That’s not just an internal leadership style. It’s a belief about how our public school system should work: that the best ideas often come from those who work (and live) with students every day. It’s what allows us to respond with courage, innovate with clarity, and serve with purpose.
This shows up in ways big and small, such as when building leaders shape school culture, when teachers pilot new instructional strategies, or when families weigh in on decisions that impact their students’ experience.
What the New School Year Asks of All of Us
Families and educators everywhere are navigating big questions about expectations, balance, belonging, and readiness. Everyone is returning with a mix of hope and uncertainty. That’s natural. But it also presents us with an opportunity.
This year, let’s remember that no one carries the full weight of student success alone. Our greatest impact comes when we work together, assuming positive intent, engaging with respect, and keeping the focus on what matters most: our students.
This is a year of possibility. A year to come together with fresh eyes and renewed energy, even amid uncertainty. Because our students are watching—not just what we teach, but how we work together.
A 2025-2026 Challenge to Be Present
Let’s be present at the table, not just when things go wrong, but when things go right. Let’s provide feedback, ask questions, and engage openly, while also acknowledging the dedication of the individuals who do the work every day. When we lead with integrity and stay focused on the outcome, students benefit the most.
And may we each find our own version of those first-day butterflies. The ones that remind educators we are still called to this work, and parents of the hope and anticipation that comes with the unknown future and growth ahead. The ones that tell us we are ready to show up, give our best, and believe in what is possible. If we can keep that feeling alive, then no matter how many years we have been in this profession or in parenthood, the first day of school will always hold the same promise it did when we first began.
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