The beginning of a new year is an opportunity to start fresh, set goals, and for many, make resolutions. I've spoken of this numerous times over the years so it should come as no surprise that I'm not much of a resolution kind of guy. Instead, my focus over the last several years has been to choose 'one word' to provide an anchor for the new year. For me, it has been a great way to create a gentle 'north star', if you will, for the decisions I make. The 'one word' provides a vessel for reflection without the pressure of a rigid resolution that likely will fall by the wayside in a few months. A year ago I chose 'hope' as that word, and did so largely because of the hope that came with my wife's [then recent] bone marrow transplant. While at the time admitting that uncertainty would be part of our lexicon, at least for the short term, I presumed for the most part we were out of the woods. With 2025 now in the rearview mirror and a fair share of complications, we've come to accept that challenges remain. Don't get me wrong, I remain hopeful. As I wrote one year ago, 'Indeed, uncertainty continues to loom large'. So, for 2026 I choose the word 'fortitude'. I choose this word to act as a bridge from 2024 when I chose 'acceptance' and then last year when I selected 'hope'. Fortitude is the grit that keeps hope alive when the circumstances are grueling.
If I may, let's unpack how I arrived at this word.
You see, I've come to believe that fortitude is not the absence of the storm; but it is the strength to remain rooted when the winds are howling. It is the commitment to wake up for the 4:00 a.m. blood test in the hospital, and then be ready to take on the challenges of leading a school district that same day. In our home, my wife Ann epitomizes the very concept of fortitude. It is in her quiet strength to face a challenge that comes with both progress and with setbacks. It's the bravery found in numerous decisions, those that have changed our lifestyle in profound ways; and in the small ones that come with whether or not it is a good day to be out of the house. It's the courage to keep fighting and believing in progress. It's the grit to keep going even when the sunshine of a new day becomes obscured by clouds.
Admittedly, we are not facing such dire consequences when making 'tough' decisions here in the school district. Believe me when I tell you that my perspective has changed significantly over the last three years. Yet, at the same time I don't want to diminish the fortitude that is reflected in the hallways of our buildings. I can see that attribute reflected daily in our schools. Regardless of shifts in policy and challenges with obtaining resources, our teachers have maintained a consistent commitment to our students' academic outcomes. Sometimes in spite of hardships that are faced by teachers and the families they serve: inside or outside of the classroom. They show up, each morning rain or shine to carry out their chose vocation. And they do so with incredible love and compassion without judgement or misconception.
During my time as Superintendent of Schools, I've learned that our success isn't about one person or the speed by which we operate-it's about the strength to endure. Whether I am sitting next to a hospital bed or at my desk in the central office, the lesson is the same: We do not control the obstacles, but we absolutely control the steadiness of our response.
I've also learned that true fortitude is most visible when faced with headwinds on a steep path. Since I'm a navy veteran, I'll use a old sailor's adage. When you have fair winds and following seas, it's pretty smooth sailing. It doesn't take a lot of skill-or fortitude if you will. When the seas become rougher and you have to batten down the hatches, well that is when your true character starts to show. Over these last three years I've learned that oftentimes there is no easy choice. There is no magic pill. We've had to make hard calls on multiple fronts that were, and continue to be uncomfortable in the immediacy, but necessary for positive long term outcomes.
There is no mistaking the fact this translates directly to the role of superintendent. Leadership isn't about seeking the path of least resistance. One of the first things I learned in graduate school when studying to become a school leader is that if you try to make everyone happy-you've made no one happy. So then, it's about having the moral fortitude to make the right decision. About staying anchored to our core values even when the 'public square' is noisy. Indeed it is bearing the burden of being misunderstood in the short term of the sake of the organization in the long term.
So then, in 2026 I choose the word fortitude. Whether it's navigating the challenges that are certain to come with the start of a new legislative session or managing the multitude of decisions that sometimes cross this desk, we will always be guided by our values and stay anchored to our north star. Even when it is unpopular.
