Lisa lopez retweeted
Dear Principal,
I suspect you're tired.
Your job is demanding. The expectations are enormous. And some days, it can be difficult to remember why you wanted to become a principal in the first place.
As Tim Messick once noted:
"Job descriptions are written in such a way that a principal needs to be a superhero. A principal needs to have the power and strength of Superman, the intelligence of Albert Einstein, the popularity of Princess Diana, the political savvy of a presidential candidate, and the care and compassion of Mother Teresa."
Sound familiar?
You're expected to raise test scores, improve instruction, manage personnel, navigate mandates, respond to parents, and prepare students for an uncertain future.
And that's just before lunch.
With so many competing demands, it's easy to lose sight of what matters most.
So how do we respond?
We keep our eye on the ball.
We remember that our most important work isn't managing programs or completing paperwork. It's creating a school where teachers want to work and students want to learn.
We remove barriers for our teachers. We create a safe and supportive environment for our students. We build a culture where expectations are high, relationships are strong, and everyone feels valued.
We take student achievement seriously. We analyze data, examine instructional practices, and challenge our teachers to continually improve.
But we never forget that behind every data point is a student with a name, a story, and a future.
We didn't become educators because we wanted to raise test scores. We became educators because we wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people.
We remember that there are students walking our halls who desperately need us.
The student who is being picked on.
The student who has little support at home.
The student who feels invisible.
We advocate for them. We encourage them. We make time for them.
And we remind our teachers that their influence extends far beyond the curriculum.
Students may not always remember the lesson, but they'll remember the kindness.
They may forget what we taught them, but they'll remember how we made them feel.
There may not be one magical instructional strategy, but there is magic in connecting with kids.
We've all written school improvement plans. We've all participated in developing mission statements. We've all attended meetings about goals, strategies, and initiatives.
Those things matter.
But people don't follow plans. They follow passion.
And the best mission statements aren't framed on a wall. They're lived in the hallways and classrooms of our schools.
The job of a principal will always be challenging. There will always be another mandate, another problem to solve, another fire to put out.
But don't let the demands of the job distract you from the purpose of the job.
You have the opportunity to empower teachers, inspire students, and help create a brighter future for the young people who walk through your doors every day.
That's why you became a principal.
And that's why your work matters.
Keep your eye on the ball.
Lisa lopez retweeted
WE WERE ALL KIDS ONCE. SO WHY DO WE KEEP DOING THINGS TO CHILDREN THAT WE HATED WHEN WE WERE KIDS?
Remember being embarrassed in class? Being picked last? Feeling invisible?
Remember the teacher who made you feel stupid? And the one who made you feel unstoppable?
Remember recess, riding bikes, building forts, exploring the woods, laughing with friends, and asking a million questions?
WHEN DID WE FORGET WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO BE A KID?
10 THINGS WE NEED TO REMEMBER AND CHANGE:
Loved recess? Protect play, movement, and time outdoors.
Feared getting answers wrong? Make mistakes safe. Celebrate trying.
Had an adult who believed in you? Be that person for a child.
Remember being left out? Make sure every child belongs.
Hated watching the clock? Make learning engaging, creative, and FUN.
Loved exploring and inventing? Give kids freedom to imagine, discover, and play.
Remember how HUGE your problems felt? Listen. Their feelings matter.
Loved asking questions? Encourage curiosity, not just compliance.
Hated when adults wouldn’t listen? Give children a voice and meaningful choices.
Wanted someone to be proud of you? Celebrate WHO kids are, not just WHAT they achieve.
TO EVERY TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, AND PARENT:
Before correcting, remember embarrassment.
Before punishing, remember wanting to be heard.
Before demanding perfection, remember fearing failure.
Before giving up, remember the person who believed in you.
LET’S STOP SACRIFICING CHILDHOOD IN THE NAME OF PREPARING CHILDREN FOR ADULTHOOD.
Protect their curiosity.
Encourage their creativity.
Build their confidence.
Celebrate their differences.
Make learning an adventure.
MASLOW BEFORE BLOOM.
Connection before correction.
Curiosity before compliance.
People before performance.
KIDS HAVE THEIR ENTIRE LIVES TO BE ADULTS. THEY ONLY GET ONE CHILDHOOD.
BE THE ADULT YOU NEEDED WHEN YOU WERE A KID.
What’s something an adult did when you were a child that you promised yourself you’d NEVER do to a kid?
#MaslowBeforeBloom #LetKidsBeKids #Parenting #MentalHealthMatters
Lisa lopez retweeted
NOBODY STANDS UP AT GRADUATION AND THANKS A STANDARDIZED TEST.
Think about that for a minute.
When students walk across that stage, they don’t talk about their test scores, percentile rankings, or how well they performed on a state assessment.
They talk about people.
The teacher who noticed something was wrong when everyone else thought they were fine.
The counselor who made time for them when their whole world was falling apart.
The cafeteria worker who made sure they had something to eat without making them feel embarrassed.
The coach who believed in them when they had stopped believing in themselves.
The secretary who knew their name and always greeted them with a smile.
The custodian who took a few minutes to listen when nobody else seemed to have time.
And the teacher who refused to give up on them, even when they had pretty much given up on themselves.
Nobody says, “That standardized test changed my life.”
But they DO say:
“You were the first person who told me I was smart.”
“You made me feel like I mattered.”
“You knew something was wrong at home, and you helped me.”
“You didn’t treat me like a bad kid.”
“You believed in me when nobody else did.”
And sometimes, the most powerful words of all:
“I’m not sure I’d be here today if it weren’t for you.”
I’ve spent years as a teacher, principal, therapist, and educator. And here’s something I wish every person making decisions about education understood:
We can measure reading levels. We can measure math proficiency. We can measure attendance and graduation rates.
But how do you measure the impact of an adult who helps a child feel safe?
What’s the score for restoring someone’s confidence?
How many points is it worth when a struggling student finally feels like they belong?
And what standardized test measures the value of a teacher who helps a child find a reason to keep going?
I’m not suggesting academics don’t matter. Of course they do.
But somewhere along the way, we’ve become so obsessed with measuring what students KNOW that we sometimes forget to value how students FEEL.
And here’s the part that really gets me.
Some of the people making the biggest differences in children’s lives will never receive an award, a bonus, or even a thank-you.
They’ll just show up again tomorrow.
With their own struggles. Their own bills. Their own exhaustion.
And they’ll keep caring.
Because the greatest thing an educator may ever teach a student isn’t found in a textbook.
It’s that they matter.
That they’re capable.
That their mistakes don’t define them.
That someone believes in them.
And that their story isn’t over just because they’re having a difficult chapter.
Twenty years from now, most students won’t remember their standardized test scores.
But they’ll remember how you made them feel.
They’ll remember who showed up.
They’ll remember who stayed.
And they’ll remember who cared.
THAT is the kind of education that changes lives.
And it’s about time we started valuing the people who make it happen.
❤️ YOUR TURN: Who was THAT person for you? A teacher, counselor, coach, bus driver, secretary, or someone else who made a difference?
Name them in the comments. Tell us what they did. Tag them if you can.
They may have absolutely no idea how much they changed your life.
And if you work in a school, please share this with someone who needs to be reminded that what they do matters.
Because sometimes the people who spend their lives lifting others up need someone to lift them up, too.
— Dr. Bryan Pearlman
#TeachersMatter #EducationMatters #TeacherAppreciation #MentalHealthMatters #MakeADifference
Lisa lopez retweeted
We all know TAC never disappoints and I hope you’ll join me as I present in one of their newest Workshop Wednesday sessions- “Testing in Focus” where we will explore how to lead the transition from STAAR to SST together! #TAC26 #lead4ward
Lisa lopez retweeted
Miracles happen when you give as much energy to your dreams as to your fears. ✨💭
Lisa lopez retweeted
MASLOW BEFORE BLOOM ISN’T JUST FOR SCHOOLS. IT’S FOR LIFE.
We often expect the people we love to think better, behave better, communicate better, work harder, and make better choices… when what they may need first is to simply feel safe, connected, understood, and supported.
That’s the heart of “Maslow Before Bloom.”
Abraham Maslow reminded us that basic human needs matter. Benjamin Bloom helped us understand how we learn, think, and grow.
But here’s the part I believe we sometimes miss:
Before we can expect the best FROM people, we need to help bring out the best IN people.
And that starts at home.
Here are 5 ways to practice Maslow Before Bloom with your family — and yourself:
1. Connect before you correct.
Before the lecture, consequence, or advice, try: “Tell me what happened.” Feeling heard can lower defenses and open the door to problem-solving.
2. Regulate before you reason.
A stressed brain isn’t great at listening, learning, or making good decisions. Sometimes the first intervention is food, water, sleep, movement, quiet, a hug, or simply a few minutes to reset.
3. Ask “What do you need?” before “What’s wrong with you?”
Behavior is often communication. Get curious before getting frustrated.
4. Make home a safe place to fail.
Celebrate effort, honesty, asking for help, trying again, and the courage to say, “I messed up.” Perfection doesn’t build resilient people. Safe opportunities to struggle and recover do.
5. Practice Maslow Before Bloom on YOURSELF.
You cannot endlessly pour from an empty cup. Eat. Sleep. Move. Breathe. Connect with someone. Take the break. Ask for help. Give yourself the same patience you give everyone else.
Your family doesn’t need a perfect parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent.
They need people who feel safe enough to be human, connected enough to be honest, and supported enough to keep growing.
That’s Maslow Before Bloom.
Not lowering expectations.
Creating the conditions that make meeting those expectations possible.
Try this today:
Before correcting someone, fixing something, or pushing yourself harder, ask:
“What need might need to be met first?”
That one question can change a conversation, a relationship… and sometimes an entire day.
— Dr. Bryan Pearlman
Therapist • Former Principal/Teacher • Author of the Maslow & Bloom books
If this made you think of someone, share it with them. And tell me in the comments: What does “Maslow Before Bloom” look like in your home?
#MaslowBeforeBloom #MentalHealth #Parenting #Family #EmotionalWellness