HELPING FLOURISHING LEADERS LEAD FLOURISHING SCHOOLS

Creating a community of practice for school leaders

Author

Scott Martin
August 28, 2025

School leadership can be exhilarating

It can also be isolating

As school leaders, we carry the weight of expectations from every direction — students, staff, parents, boards, and policymakers

Too often, we’re expected to have answers for everyone else, yet we rarely have a space to ask our own questions

Research from the RAND Corporation paints a stark picture when it comes to the lifespan of a school administrator:

  • 85% of principals report job-related stress — higher than teachers (73%) and far higher than other working adults (35%).

  • Nearly half (48%) are experiencing burnout, and 28% report symptoms of depression.

  • Between 20–30% of principals leave their roles within five years, with burnout cited as a major reason.

In the 2022 State of the American Teacher and Principal survey, researchers concluded that school leaders report worse well-being than any other working adult

One school leader I talked to summed it up this way:

I’m just tired of feeling alone

This isn’t just a personal crisis. It’s an educational one

When school leaders burn out, the entire school community feels the ripple effect

I’ve spent years working alongside visionary educators who are reshaping what school can be. And one thing has become clear:

Leaders need communities just as much as they need strategies

Community for school leaders isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline

That is why school leaders, perhaps more than anyone, desperately need a community of practice—a group of leaders just like them who understand the unique challenges, special burdens, and particular weight of leading schools and shaping lives

For school leaders, a community of practice can be a safe space for those who are drawn together by their common passion to see lives changed through the power of education.

A strong community of practice isn’t about one more meeting or another webinar

It’s about creating a trusted circle where leaders can:

  • Share what’s really happening behind the scenes, without judgment.

  • Learn from peers who understand the same challenges and stakes.

  • Access tools, frameworks, and coaching to stay energized rather than burned out.

  • Design schools that help everyone — leaders, teachers, and students — flourish.

Leadership is too complex, too human, and too high-stakes to be done in a vacuum….especially school leadership!

That’s why I believe every school leader needs a community of practice—a space where you can be honest, vulnerable, creative, and inspired.

A space where you can be reminded that you're not crazy, you're not alone, and you're not the only one trying to lead with heart in a system that is daunting at best

That’s why I’m building The Recentered Flourishing School Leaders Community — a network of bold, purpose-driven leaders committed to thriving personally and professionally while leading schools where students and staff do the same.

But here’s the thing: I don’t want to build this in isolation

I want to design it with you and for you

I’ve put together a short survey to better understand what you most need right now as a school leader. It is completely anonymous and confidential

Your input will directly shape the resources, gatherings, and coaching opportunities we launch first.

When you do, you’ll be among the first to get access to the tools, guides, and leadership frameworks I’m creating — and you’ll receive an invitation to join our growing community of practice

This isn’t just another email list

It’s the beginning of a movement to rekindle purpose, passion, and joy in school leadership — and to create schools where everyone can flourish

I’d love for you to be part of it

Looking for a resource to help you lean into your own deepest humanity as you lead flourishing schools?

Written for school leaders, this resource distills decades of leadership wisdom into actionable strategies you can start using immediately.

You’ll walk away with fresh insights, clear tools, and renewed confidence to lead your school toward greater purpose, passion, and flourishing

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

The Flourishing School Leader Field Guide is your essential guide to leading with vision, hope, and humanity—without losing yourself in the process

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