Leadership Development as Pilgrimage
In just a few days, we gather for the first time as the 2026 Flourishing School Leaders Community Cohort.
This is a group of brave, courageous school leaders leaning into community, collaboration, authenticity, purpose, meaning, strategy and hope!
And they are doing it not as “professional development”…but as prilgrimage
For centuries, pilgrims have set out on sacred journeys—not to acquire information, but to be transformed.
They walked the Camino de Santiago. They journeyed to Canterbury. They made their way to Mecca, to Jerusalem, to sacred mountains and holy rivers.
And always, the pilgrimage changed them.
Not because of what they learned along the way, but because of who they became in the walking.
That's what this cohort is.
Yes, we'll explore frameworks for future-proofing schools, sustainable leadership practices, building psychological safety, cultivating ecosystems of care, regulating the nervous system of your school, how to have difficult conversations…and much more
But the real work—the sacred work—is what happens inside you as we walk this path together.
The questions you'll ask yourself about who you are and who you're becoming as a leader.
The moments when you realize you're not alone in your struggles.
The slow, patient transformation that happens when you show up month after month, bringing your whole self into community with others who understand.
Leadership development, done right, is always pilgrimage.
It's a journey toward becoming more fully yourself—more grounded, more present, more whole—so that you can call forth the same in others.
And there is room for you on the trail!
The Flourishing School Leaders Cohort Begins Friday
Friday, January 30 at 2:00 PM CST, our first session will explore
"How to Lead a Future-Proof School: Future-Proofing Education Through Meaning, Purpose, Innovation, and Community"
We'll dive into the 36-month urgency, the shift from Memorization to Meaning Model, the Four Pillars of future-proof schools, and your sacred work as a leader who cultivates gardens, not factories.
Then small groups. Then live Q&A where YOUR questions get answered.
It's not too late to join us!
Can't Make Friday? Start in February.
The beauty of this cohort is that you can join us at any time and get a full 12 months of content, collaboration and community from there
Join us in February for "Leading From Your WHY: Recentering Purpose & Meaning in School Leadership"
You'll receive access to all previous session recordings plus 12 months of live sessions moving forward.
The journey is designed so you can jump in whenever you're ready.
What This Year Looks Like
Here's what we're exploring together in 2026:
January: How to Lead a Future-Proof School
February: Leading From Your WHY
March: Creating Ecosystems of Care
April: Beyond Burnout: Sustainable Leadership Practices
May: The Operating System of YOU
June: Hope-Filled Leadership
July: The Art of Difficult Conversations
August: Building Psychological Safety in Your School’s Nervous System
September: Design Thinking: Innovation and Wonder
October: Cultivating Gratitude and Resilience
November: Fully Embodied Education
December: Cultivating the Heart
Every month, you get 60 minutes of expert coaching, small group collaboration, live Q&A.
Every session recorded. Every framework provided. Every question honored.
Why Leaders Are Joining
"I got tired of feeling so alone as a school leader. This group is exactly what I’ve been longing for” — College Dean
"This community could be the difference between me staying in education or leaving. I need this." — First-Year Principal
"I was about to leave education. Then I saw this and thought, 'Maybe there's a way to stay and actually thrive.'" — Assistant Principal
Your Investment
Individual: $500 for 12 months (less than $42/month)
Compare that to a single conference day ($500-$1,000) or one consultant visit ($3,000-$5,000).
You get:
12 monthly live coaching sessions
A community of peers who understand your reality
Lifetime access to all recordings
The Flourishing School Leader's Field Guide
A tribe that won't let you quit
The Real Question
Do you want to keep leading alone, or are you ready to lead alongside a community that gets it?
Your students need you to lead with clarity and courage into an uncertain future.
Your teachers need you to model sustainable leadership.
Your community needs you to flourish, not burn out.
You can't do that alone.
Join Us On This Unforgettable Pilgrimage
Option 1: Start Friday, January 31 at 2:00 PM CST
Option 2: Start February 27 at 2:00 PM CST (get 12 months from there)
Let's make 2026 the year you invested in yourself.
Let's make it the year you refused to lead alone.
Let's build the future of education—together.
With deep respect for the work you're doing,
Scott Martin
P.S. Still have questions? Hit reply. I read and respond to every email.
P.P.S. Leadership teams of 3+: Email [email protected] for the team discount. Subject: "Leadership Team Enrollment"
P.P.P.S. Friday's session starts at 2:00 PM CST. Enroll today to receive the Zoom link immediately. Can't make it live? You'll have the recording within 24 hours.
