Best Practices
The Role of Well-Being in Academic Excellence
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” We say it all the time. But do our professional development systems actually believe it? Recently, I was
May 27, 2025
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.” We say it all the time. But do our professional development systems actually believe it? Recently, I was
For years, I believed in the power of professional development. And I still do—just not the way it’s always been done. When I first started
When I was little, I had a pair of roller skates I absolutely loved. One summer day, one of the wheels fell off—but I was
Teachers don’t ask for much. They never did it for the money. They didn’t sign up for summers “off” (because we all know those are for catching up and healing from the chaos). What they do want is to feel supported. To have tools that work. To be seen as human. To make a difference and have a life. We can give them that.
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all workshop. It’s a complete professional learning system that strengthens your people and your culture—without draining your budget or your time.
Traditional PD is broken—and not just broken like a flat tire. It’s broken like a system that’s hurting the people it’s supposed to help. This isn’t just frustrating. It’s a huge waste of time, money, and opportunity. And let’s be honest: most of us already know this. Staff leave those sessions feeling even more frustrated, more disconnected, and more certain that PD is just another hoop to jump through.
Right now, the world of education feels incredibly uncertain.
Budgets are shrinking. Expectations are growing. Teachers are burning out. And leaders are being asked to do the impossible—make heartbreaking decisions while somehow still being a source of strength, calm, and inspiration.
There are days you walk into your classroom feeling empty—depleted, disrespected, unseen.
And yet, you show up.
You dig so deep you surprise even yourself.
You smile, you lead, you love. You pour from a well that feels dry, and somehow—miraculously—your students bloom.
The gray zone is the most dangerous place to be—not because it’s unbearable, but because it’s bearable enough. It keeps us from taking action. It tricks us into thinking we’re surviving, even when we’re slowly draining ourselves.
Drop the Rope: Avoiding Power Struggles in the Classroom It’s that time of year. The honeymoon period is long gone, students are testing limits,
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