My family is taking a big trip this summer to celebrate my niece’s graduation and my mom is nervous about the amount of walking involved, so she asked my opinion about hiring a personal trainer to help her get physically ready
She is 75 and walking that much is going to be a stretch for her
She is in great shape and doing fine, but she wants to be sure her legs are strong for the activities she wants to do
She has been walking on the treadmill at a local gym every morning, but she is considering hiring a personal trainer
The problem: the cost. She is worried the cost is too high
Here’s what I told her:
What would the cost be if you fell, broke a leg or hip, and ended up in the ER, hospital, cast and crutches for months?
The cost of the personal trainer is certainly far less than the costs of her body not being ready for this trip (and for life at 75).
People hire experts all the time to help them with things like their taxes, replacing a car engine, tailoring a suit, eating healthier.
So here's the question I want to ask you today:
Why should considering inspiration, coaching, and consulting for leading a school be any different?
The truth is, the most high-performing people in the world — athletes, executives, entrepreneurs — don't go it alone.
They invest in coaching because they understand something that too many school leaders haven't yet given themselves permission to believe:
You don't need a coach because you're struggling. You need a coach because you're committed to excellence.
As a school leader, you carry an enormous weight.
You're managing people, navigating culture, casting vision, responding to crises, and somehow still trying to grow — often without anyone in your corner asking the hard questions or helping you see what you can't see from the inside.
That's exactly where coaching comes in.
I've had the privilege of walking alongside school leaders at pivotal moments — not just offering strategies and frameworks, but helping them reimagine what their schools could be.
Here's what a few of those leaders have shared:
"Scott has been instrumental in our school's understanding of education in its current state as well as our ability to envision what could be. This goes beyond tactics, practices and strategies. It is an imaginative voice that calls us to reimagine ALL things new."
— Head of School
"Dr. Martin has been a generous and insightful guide in our journey to build Evergreen Academy. He offered thoughtful coaching calls and has been a consistent presence at key gatherings of educational innovators. His experience, humility, and heart for transformation make him a valuable partner for any leader reimagining education."
— Founding School Leader
“Dr Martin is one of the most passionate and motivated educators that I have had the privilege to know. He brings energy and innovation to his work and inspires other educators to excel beyond their own expectations. Scott is a leader in the field, encouraging his colleagues to incorporate new ideas and concepts in the classroom. Without a doubt, he is a tremendous asset to education” — School Superintendent
Your School Has a Dream.
Let's Build the Path to Make It Real.
Here’s what the clients I work with know:
The work of school leadership is too important, too sacred, and too challenging to try to do it all on your own
And yet, for far too many of us, that is exactly what we do
We think we have to show strength by just “toughing it out” which ends up with us feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted
But real leadership, transformative leadership, doesn’t happen in isolation
It happens in relationship
A good coach doesn't just tell you what to do.
They ask the questions that unlock what you already know. They challenge the assumptions you didn't realize you were making. They help you dream bigger than your current reality allows — and then help you build a path toward it.
Right now I’m working with a school leader in Bangladesh who wants the same thing my school leader client in Boston wants: strategy, inspiration, guidance, encouragement, and support for the big wins and tough calls
Just like a skilled trainer doesn't simply hand you a workout plan, great coaching is personalized, relational, and deeply invested in your growth over time.
I spend hours before and after each 90 minute zoom session crafting a highly personalized response and approach to the needs, worries, hopes, and dreams of my clients to ensure they get just what they need to approach the work with authenticity, courage, wisdom, and care
If you've been navigating the challenges of school leadership on your own, I want you to know: there is a better way.
I'd love to explore what coaching could look like for you.
My 1-1 School Leadership Executive Coaching is for the client who wants my full, undivided attention on their specific needs, desires, dreams, and goals.
This isn't a course. It isn't a workshop.
This is a relationship — built around you, your school, your dreams, your obstacles, and the specific season of leadership you find yourself in right now.
Each month, we sit down together for a dedicated 90-minute coaching session — your time, fully protected, with my complete and undivided attention. We get focused, rigorous, imaginative thinking about the things that matter most to you and your school
Reply to this email or visit my website to schedule a conversation.
There's no obligation — just an opportunity to think out loud with someone who is fully invested in you and the future of your school.
Imagine what’s possible when you show up each day with purpose, energy, and a heart set on transformation.
That’s where your best work begins.
Let’s get there together
Scott
Beyond the 1-1 high level coaching, I also offer three other levels of support:
Flourishing School Leaders Cohort: This is a group of school leaders that meets once a month for 60 minutes to engage a specific topic, break into small groups, build community, lean into collaboration, and walk out authentic strategy for the most pressing topics in education and school leadership.
Whole School Consulting: I work with entire schools to help them launch a vision, strengthen culture, deepen engagement, and pursue their desires and dreams for their entire school community. This is typically a one year engagement where we go deep, dream big, engage stakeholders, work with leadership team, guide faculty, and spark transformation
Professional Development Services: I have over 30 years leading workshops, presenting keynotes, and facilitating retreats for schools, educators, and leaders. I’ve spoken, presented, and led out at some of the most prestigious and engaging conferences and retreats in the world on topics related to school culture, transformative leadership, innovative education, and upstream leadership
Dr. Scott Martin
