Hello Insightful Educators

One of my favorite things to do is grab coffee with someone and catch up on the books, podcasts, TED talks, articles, shows, and people influencing them.

So, alongside the full newsletter, I push out a weekend edition of insights I think you will find influential in your journey as an Insightful Educator.

Think of it as you and I grabbing coffee and jamming on what’s influencing us at this time.

Feel free to reply with what you are finding helpful and invite a friend to subscribe! The more people around the table…the better!

Amy Lisa Jarvi

In her compelling article, “What Students Lose When School Moves,” author Amy Lisa Järvi invites educators to consider the hidden costs of shifting the fabric of schooling—not just physically relocating classrooms or campuses, but the more subtle re-arrangements of schedules, routines, and relationships. She argues that as schools pivot, students often bear losses in belonging, continuity, and the relational scaffolding that supports thriving learning environments.

The line that haunted me was this: To heal schools, slow them down.

She writes: “If we want students to grow into thoughtful citizens, we have to give them time to practice being human”

For school leaders committed to flourishing, this piece is a timely reminder that design decisions are never neutral.

When we restructure, repurpose, or reposition our spaces and rhythms, we risk eroding the trust, identity and informal connections that sustain growth.

The article asks us to foreground the human side of change—prioritizing voice, community, and stability—so that our innovations strengthen rather than thin the web of relationships that help students flourish.

I’m a big fan of Peter Attia, author of Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, (affiliate link) and have found his work pivotal in creating my personal Physical Operating System. In this episode of his Drive podcast,Dr Attie hosts a strength and conditioning roundtable with three experts in the field—Gabrielle Lyon, Jeff Cavaliere, and Mike Boyle. Together they explore why maintaining muscle mass, strength, and power is essential for healthspan and longevity, and examine how resistance training supports metabolic resilience and injury prevention across the lifespan.

Take a listen:

For too long, we have come to see students merely as brains on sticks, as tests scores and GPAs, as numbers

Rather than as the fully embodied human being they are

And that, to me, is the difference between education and schooling

Schooling is about content dissemination while education is, and always has been, about human formation

As you know by now, my heart is to see schools become healthy ecosystems where everyone flourishes

You also know my heart bends towards school leaders, as I believe that the health of the learning community is directly tied to the health of the school leader

That is why I wrote the The Flourishing School Leader Field Guide, your roadmap to leading with vision, hope, and humanity—without losing yourself in the process.

Blending practical tools with soul-nourishing reflection, this resource equips school leaders to thrive personally and professionally.

Inside, you’ll find self-assessments, thought provoking practices, mini-retreat guides, and proven strategies to rekindle passion, restore purpose, and create an ecosystem of trust and flourishing in your school community.

It is the guide I use to work 1-1 to coach school leaders, and you can grab a copy for only $40!!

My passion and purpose is to help see education reimagined so that everyone flourishes and thrives

I have vast experience leading professional development workshops, retreats, keynotes, plenary sessions, and conference breakouts

And I do 1-1 coaching and whole school consulting

If I can be of any help to you on your journey towards flourishing in education, just let me know!

You can book a free call with me at anytime