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I still remember those long rectangular lunch tables, the buzz of conversation, the sound of someone trading pudding for a juice box. I remember the laughter echoing across the playground, the shouts of “you’re it!” during tag, the way we ran until the bell rang and we had to tumble back inside, cheeks flushed and […]

By Dr. Brad Johnson If there’s one area of leadership we struggle with most, it’s conflict. Not instruction. Not vision. Not strategy. And especially in education, conflict is often labeled as bad.It’s whispered about. Avoided. Watered down.Why? Because this profession tends to attract highly agreeable people—compassionate, service-oriented, deeply relational.The kind of people who struggle with

Great businesses know that creating great teams takes time, and the purpose is to build them for the long haul. This same principle applies to schools, especially in countries with low turnover and attrition of teachers. When there is consistency in staffing, teams can gel, relationships strengthen, and school cultures thrive. However, in districts plagued

by Dr. Brad Johnson Let’s be honest: most communication isn’t communication at all—it’s miscommunication. We assume people get the message because we said it out loud, typed it in bold, or repeated it in a staff meeting. But unless we take time to confirm how it lands with others, what we intended and what they

By Dr. Brad Johnson As an educator, school leader, and author with over 30 years of experience in transforming schools and supporting educators, I’ve seen firsthand how our education system has evolved—and how it hasn’t. I’ve taught in classrooms, led as an administrator, trained principals, and spoken to educators across the globe. One thing is

“You’re Not Just Leading a School. You’re Leading People.” You finally got the call.The offer was made.The keys were handed over. You’re not imagining it anymore — you’re leading a school now. And if you’re being honest? You’re probably feeling a little of everything: excited, nervous, proud, uncertain, maybe even overwhelmed. That’s normal. In fact,

Let’s not tiptoe around it—AI isn’t coming. It’s already here. And it’s moving faster than most schools are ready for. While some leaders are just waking up to the possibilities of generative AI, others are panicking about its potential to upend everything from lesson planning to student assessment. But as someone who’s worked in education

When we talk about classroom management, we usually focus on defiance.But there’s another force that’s just as powerful — and often even more explosive: embarrassment. And here’s the thing:Kids respond to embarrassment very differently than adults do.If we don’t understand that, we risk misreading their reactions — and doing real damage to the trust we

We’re losing too many good kids to a system that doesn’t know them. Not because they’re broken. Not because they’re lazy, defiant, or disinterested.But because the very place that’s supposed to help them grow—often feels more like a cage than a community. A cage of rigid schedules and test prep.A cage of rules without relationship.A