As we step into this new year, I want to begin with gratitude. For you, for the work you do, and for your unwavering commitment to the young people who depend on us to help them define their future.
This past year demanded much of educators. In fact, when I look back on the last several years, so much of the conversation (and our energy) has been focused on the ongoing complex challenges that have tested our resilience and stretched our capacity. The work we do, while profoundly rewarding, is never easy. Yet, you showed up anyway. And so did we. Through difficult days and uncertain moments, we’ve collectively put students at the center of our universe and remained present for them, for our colleagues, and our communities. That deserves to be celebrated.
Annie Dillard said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. What we do with this hour, and that one, is what we are doing.” This truth cuts to the heart of our work in schools. The daily moments we create for educators — the collaborative time we protect, the support structures we build, the conditions we cultivate hour by hour — these aren’t separate from transformation. They are the transformation. Our teachers and school leaders are living proof of it.
For as complicated as education is today, and all of the variables at play that can fog our vision, we still know what works:
- A focus on professional growth cannot be episodic and secondary — it’s the priority, the keystone for success, preserved even when hard choices pile up.
- Dynamic, peer-to-peer collaboration supports and sustains teachers, especially at the start of their career — giving them a safe space to stretch far more effectively than sit-and-get approaches.
- Turnover is a solvable problem — creating the conditions for teachers to develop their talents and live into their sense of purpose is the heart of our stay, grow, and lead approach.
Next year, we’re continuing to blaze a path grounded in human connection and meaningful collaboration. We’re creating professional spaces where educators come together to exchange ideas, share hard-won knowledge, reflect on experiences, and develop the community wisdom that makes schools special. The goal is to protect what matters most: continuity, relationships, and growth for students and the adults who serve them.
As we move forward, I’m filled with hope. The active kind of hope that comes from doing work we believe in alongside people who share that fire-in-the-belly belief about shaping a profession where teachers stay, grow, and lead. We will continue to invest in what we know to be true: that when we nurture educators, we create better outcomes for kids.
Thank you for being part of this essential work. Thank you for being part of our story and for graciously allowing us to be part of yours. Thank you for believing that schools are places where adults and students flourish. Thank you for staying rooted in purpose and always moving forward.
Here’s to growth that matters and the year ahead.
With gratitude and appreciation,
Tommy
PS — We’ll be out of the office for a restorative break from December 22 to January 2. We’re excited for a strong, impact-filled 2026!
