I want to thank the retired Head of School, Derek Logan, for recommending this book to me. This book is over 20 years old, and it still packs a punch. The authors take their lessons and learning from the theatre, from being consultants of The Ariel Group, and from their experiences working within larger companies,…
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Book Review: The Power of Mattering by Zach Mercurio In The Power of Mattering, Zach Mercurio makes a compelling case for why cultivating a sense of mattering is not only a deeply human act, but a critical leadership skill—especially in schools and educational institutions. Drawing from neuroscience, sociology, psychology, and wisdom traditions, Mercurio advances the…
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Leading through Strategy brings to life the role of a Head of School in the Independent School world. Thomas Olverson is the former Head of School of Rivers School, outside of Boston. This is the retelling, by him, of his learning, growth and development as Head of Rivers, alongside it’s growth and development into one…
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Book Review: 10-25 by David Yeager David Yeager’s 10-25 is an insightful guide that bridges generational divides, offering educators and parents profound insights into understanding, communicating, and mentoring young people. He was once a middle-school teacher, and was inspired by all of the challenges and tension he witnessed within the educational system. “I felt that…
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How have I not reviewed this book before? Having known Grant Lichtman for almost a decade, as a friend, thought-partner, thought-leader and incredible author, I’ve picked up this book again, because he will be a guest in the upcoming Season 3, of my podcast with Jason Rogers: Lassoing Leadership. Thrive is as close to a…
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Book Review: Day One by Drew Dudley I first met Drew Dudley in 2011 at a TEDx event in Toronto, where we were both speakers. I was drawn to his story telling, and his conception of leadership, and this book does not disappoint. It shows that his understanding of leadership has been consistent over the…
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The Smartest Person in the Room I’ve long believed that the smartest person in the room is the room—that is, the collective wisdom, curiosity, and experience of the people gathered together. As educators and leaders, we know this intuitively. We’ve seen the magic of collaboration when ideas spark across difference, when someone says “me too,”…
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Thanks to my friend and colleague in Experiential Education, Mike Massingham, for gifting me this book. As educators and leaders, we often look outside of education for insights into how we can improve our schools, our leadership, and our communities. Will Guidara’s Unreasonable Hospitality is exactly the kind of book that offers those insights in…
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Book Review: How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing is not a guide to idleness but a thought-provoking exploration of how we can reclaim our attention and agency in a world that constantly demands our productivity. For educators, this book offers an essential critique of the attention economy and…
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Thanks to Adam Grant for this recommendation ~ I picked this book up because of its subtitle: “Why We Fight about Morality and Politics, and How to Find Common Ground.” The idea of “Common” is of great interest to me, and I found great meaning in this book of the power of commonality. His thesis…
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