August 28th was one of those special days that remind us all why we chose education. This year, I had the privilege of kicking off the school year at Lincolnview School District in Ohio, where I was invited by Curriculum Director Kelly Looser to deliver a keynote that set the tone for an incredible year ahead.
The theme? “Teachers are Legends.” This message resonates deeply with me because, in truth, educators are shaping the future, classroom by classroom. Lincolnview dedicated an inservice day to this important work, and I had the honor of delivering an inspiring keynote and leading breakout sessions focused on mindfulness, self-care, and leadership tailored for teachers, administrators, and the students they serve. Each person left with something powerful to bring back to their school year, their colleagues, and, most importantly, their students.
Keynote Presentation: “Teachers Are Legends”
The day began with an energizing icebreaker session led by Kelly Looser, bringing everyone together and creating an open, positive atmosphere. Shortly after, I took the stage to deliver the keynote, “Teachers are Legends.” In a world that often overlooks the dedication, skill, and heart it takes to be an educator, we emphasized the essential role that teachers play. I encouraged each educator to recognize the impact they make daily–not only on their students’ minds but on their hearts. I highlighted that our impact is often situational and at any given moment, when we step up, we can leave a lasting impact on a student’s life. I challenged everyone in the sports area to accept the challenge to see the greatness in every child and the greatness in every colleague.
Together, we explored the concept of intentional leadership and how it’s woven into every interaction teachers have. Teachers are heroes in a multitude of small, meaningful ways, and those actions compound over time. I invited each attendee to see themselves as champions, inspiring confidence and ambition in the students they teach. The energy was contagious, and it’s safe to say we all left with a renewed sense of purpose and pride in our work.
Breakout Sessions: Fostering Mindfulness, Self-Care, and Leadership
1. Mindfulness and Self-Care for Teachers (One for Elementary Grade-Bands and another for Secondary Grade-Bands):
Educators are all too familiar with the demands and stresses that come with the territory. In these sessions, we discussed the power of mindfulness–how taking a few moments to breathe, reflect, and reset can make all the difference. Self-care isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for effective teaching and sustainable joy in the profession. Teachers were given strategies to weave mindfulness into their daily routines and a toolkit for modeling self-care for students, promoting a healthier classroom environment. Teachers were also given a new perspective and questions in which to explore their learning environment and life. I leaned heavily on my work from my book Unthink Before Bed that helps everyone build the skills they need to confront and cope with anxiety, frustration and overwhelm.
2. Leadership for Administrators: Building Schools on the 6 Tenets of Leadership
Administrators joined a session focused on building and sustaining a powerful leadership culture rooted in the six tenets of leadership I discuss in my book, Along Came a Leader. These tenets–attitude, communication, tenacity, vision, authenticity, and accountability–are more than words; they’re guiding principles for meaningful change. We examined how school leaders can instill these values across teams, creating schools where everyone feels valued and empowered. We worked hard to on the perspective on empathy in helping build a learning environment that allows our staff and students to become their best. Leaders also face an incredible amount of pressure and workload; we worked on applicable strategies to help.
It was incredible to see teachers and administrators embrace these concepts and understand their ripple effect on students, families, and the community.
A Great Day of Learning, Inspiration, and Connection
The response from the educators and leaders at Lincolnview was touching. There was genuine excitement in the air, and a multitude of attendees lined up to get their copies of Along Came a Leader signed, eager to dive deeper into the six tenets of leadership. Many educators also picked up copies of Unthink Before Bed to bring mindful bedtime routines home to their families. It’s always a pleasure to see educators looking not only to inspire their students but also to enrich their lives and the lives of those they love.
The Lasting Impact of Intentional Leadership in Education
When a school invests in leadership development, mindfulness, and self-care, everyone benefits:
– Teachers gain resilience and feel appreciated, supported, and motivated.
– Administrators build cohesive, effective teams and nurture a positive culture.
– Students develop character, confidence, and a lifelong appreciation for learning.
– Families see the values of leadership and mindfulness reinforced in their children’s lives.
The work we do in education is challenging, yet every effort to uplift and empower educators has exponential rewards for future generations.
I’m passionate about helping school districts celebrate and elevate their teachers. If your district is looking for a powerful start to your year or would like to focus on building leadership and mindful practices, I’d be honored to bring this message to your community.
Visit www.kellycroy.com to learn more about my presentations, keynotes, and workshops, and let’s make this year legendary together!
If your school is ready to make the leap, let’s talk. Together, we can build the leaders of tomorrow while thriving today.
Always forward,
Kelly
I would like to speak at your event!
Order Kelly’s books, Along Came a Leader and Unthink Before Bed: A Children’s Book on Mindfulness for your personal library.
Educator, Author, Keynote Speaker
Twitter: @kellycroy
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Leadership isn’t just a buzzword here; it’s a practiced art. Under the guidance of Kay Ball, an amazing CFO/COO, the district made a powerful decision: to pause their daily work and routine, bring their team together, and focus on becoming better leaders. And please note… they are already extremely talented and effective leaders. They just wanted to get even better! Few do this. The BEST do this! I was incredibly honored and thrilled to lead the training.
Leadership transcends titles; it’s the courage to confront discomfort, collaborate on solutions, and take responsibility. Workplace culture thrives when individuals overcome the reluctance to be vulnerable and take risks for meaningful change. True leaders step into the unknown, acknowledging the need for improvement and saying, “Enough! I will give it my best shot.”
Here are five people I’d like to introduce to you to help you have a great year:
Every one of us has the ability and the power of making “good culture” the expectation, not just a pleasant surprise.
We’ve all heard the saying, “We become what we talk about.” So, let’s talk about creating positive, supportive, and fun experiences for ourselves and those around us. Sure, it might be challenging when exhaustion sets in or when the workload seems insurmountable. But here’s the magic – the more we consciously choose to infuse positivity into our interactions, the more it becomes a part of our daily narrative. We are building habits. We are training ourselves to deal with stress and difficulty with high levels of skill.