The other day, I found myself in pre-production mode for an ASCD Expert Webinar I’m co-facilitating with Dr. Andrea Trudeau. We were just moments away from going live—an exciting milestone in our partnership with ISTE-ASCD to explore the power of principal-librarian collaboration.

Despite having delivered keynotes, facilitated countless meetings, and never being one to run out of words, I felt a twinge of nervous energy. Andrea and I had carefully planned this series, designed to help principals and librarians cultivate belonging through meaningful partnerships. Still, the unknown had me teetering on the edge of speechlessness.

Then, as our “executive producer,” ISTE-ASCD Senior Manager for Community Engagement Margaret McGuinness, prepared to hit the button to go live, I centered myself in a simple truth and voiced the following: If we connect just one principal with one librarian, we’ve done our job. Andrea and Margaret nodded in agreement, and together, we stepped into uncharted territory. The webinar was a success and I believe both Andrea and I were able to help others build some bridges that day.

That’s the thing about belonging—it starts with a single step. A single connection. A single moment of shared purpose.

The Power of a Ripple

It’s easy to hesitate when stepping into something new. But what if The Beatles had given up when they played to an audience of just 18 people early in their career? Instead of letting the small crowd deter them, they leaned into the moment. They played their hearts out, laughed at the absurdity, and kept going. That spirit of persistence and joy shaped their journey—and, in turn, has inspired mine.

The same principle applies to leadership. Impact isn’t measured in likes, viral moments, or fleeting trends. It’s about connection. It’s about the quiet, intentional moves that build belonging—moves that ripple outward in ways we may never fully see.

I think of my fifth-grade teacher, Mrs. McMonagle, who saw something in me before I saw it in myself. With a single conversation, she opened my world to literature, art, critical thinking—and yes, The Beatles. That moment still echoes in my leadership today.

Tuning into Belonging

As school leaders, our role isn’t to chase the spotlight. It’s to cultivate an environment where every student, every teacher, and every staff member feels seen, heard, and valued. That kind of belonging isn’t built in grand gestures but in the everyday moments:

🎸 A handwritten note on a teacher’s desk reminding them that their work matters.
🎸 A lunchtime conversation with a student that shows them they belong.
🎸 A simple high-five in the hallway that lets someone know they are valued.
🎸 An intentional partnership that strengthens the fabric of a school community.

These small moves create big ripples.

Join the Conversation

That’s exactly what Andrea and I are exploring in our ongoing webinar series, The Power of Partnership: Enhancing School Success Through Principal and Librarian Collaboration. Through these 30-minute sessions, we’re diving into practical ways to align goals, foster communication, and leverage library resources to support student success. This journey will culminate at ISTELive 25 and ASCD Annual Conference 25 in San Antonio where we will present our work.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Join us, engage in the dialogue, and lean into the work that truly lasts.