On The Way To School

Greetings and welcome back to On the Way to School, the podcast for educators and administrators ready to start their day with a boost. I’m Dr. Chris Dennis.
In this episode, we delve into board culture, examine why silence can be more detrimental than disagreement, and discuss how unhealthy boards can harm schools. Dr. Dennis shares a framework for culturally affirming governance focused on honoring trustees’ lived experiences, ensuring equity in who speaks and leads, and supporting identity and engagement.
Practical steps include routine check-ins, affirmations, amplifying quieter voices, and reflective practices that prioritize both process and outcomes. A healthy board equals a healthy school.

Dr. Chris Dennis explores how school leaders can lead with principle instead of neutrality during politically charged times, from government shutdowns to culture wars and book bans.
He outlines practical steps, states clear values publicly, backs faculty, invites disagreement but bans disrespect, protects marginalized students, and anchors decisions in mission to help leaders navigate crises and strengthen school communities.

In this episode of On the Way to School, Dr. Chris Dennis delves into one of the biggest challenges for educators and leaders today: effective time management.
He shares real talk about what happens when busyness takes over purpose and how to reclaim your calendar without losing your impact. With practical tips on setting boundaries, protecting your energy, and delegating with confidence, Dr. Dennis reminds listeners that “your calendar is not your character.”
Tune in for strategies to manage your time with intention, lead with clarity, and make space for what really matters, both in your work and your life.
 
 
 

In this episode of On The Way to School, Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on what it means to lead when the room is tired. After a long night of delayed flights returning from Nashville, and still waiting for his grandson, Bishop, to arrive, he shares insights about showing up with authenticity and care, even when energy is low.
Dr. Dennis explores three key principles: acknowledging others’ effort, finding balance in communication, and allowing space for emotion. He reminds listeners that true motivation isn’t about performance; it’s about presence, gratitude, and recognizing humanity in one another.
As he puts it, “The logo doesn’t make the organization. The people do.”
A short but powerful reminder that for educators and leaders alike, you are the curriculum.

Dr. Chris Dennis explains the importance of timely pulse surveys and an equity & inclusion tool to gather reliable feedback from faculty, staff, and families before holiday breaks.
He emphasizes using data responsibly, bringing in institutional research to avoid bias, protecting anonymity while engaging respondents, and turning survey results into clear, evidence-based actions.

In this episode, Dr. Chris Dennis explains how educators can share difficult news with parents while preserving trust, dignity, and equity. He outlines three pillars: honoring the family’s experience, ensuring fairness, and respecting cultural context—and emphasizes clear structure, affirmation, and a sustainable path forward.
Listeners will receive practical steps and sample language for delivering consequences compassionately, inviting parental voice, and offering a clear path to restoration, so students are not defined by their mistakes.

Host Dr. Chris Dennis explores the mid-year pressures school leaders face — grading periods, conferences, and the tough decisions that shape classroom and school outcomes.He explains how data, feedback, preparation, and empathy guide course corrections, and reminds listeners that hard choices grounded in values aim to improve experiences for students, staff, and families.

Host Dr. Chris Dennis recaps a busy week: chaperoning sixth graders to Catalina Island, attending the Harvard-Westlake Pollyanna Conference on neurodiversity, and an energizing board meeting highlighting the advanced inquiry curriculum.He reflects on building relationships with students and staff, the importance of supporting neurodivergent community members, and reminds educators to prioritize self-care during the busy season.

Welcome back to "On the Way to School." In this episode, Dr. Chris Dennis speaks to brand-new school leaders who feel present in the room but not yet in it. He reframes leadership as identity, not title, and reminds new leaders that they already carry leadership through their lived experience.
He shares three pillars for early leadership growth:
Your experience is leadership capital.
Name roles, seek structure, understand unwritten rules.
Identity shapes how leaders handle conflict, feedback, and silence.
The core message: You didn’t get the seat as a favor; you earned it. You belonged before you performed. Stand in your presence, ask before you answer, and build with alignment, not applause.

In today’s episode, Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on a full and meaningful weekend before drawing a powerful lesson from the golf course. From celebrating Dr. Roger Bridges’ milestone birthday over nine holes to joining Mocha Moms and honoring fellow educator Dr. John Carroll at the Private School Axis event, Chris highlights the importance of community, fellowship, and recognizing those who serve. He also shares a family moment, sending his 10th grader off on an experiential education trip, and a film recommendation that sparks deeper reflection on immigration and storytelling.
The heart of the episode comes with a golf story: on the seventh hole, a simple $6 challenge suddenly sharpened his focus and produced his best shot of the day. That moment becomes today’s message. Sometimes, all it takes is raising the stakes to unlock our highest level of attention and effort.
Chris leaves listeners with a question: Are you waiting for the circumstances to change before you truly lock in? Or can you elevate your focus right where you are?Stay dry, stay focused, and keep striving to be your best on purpose.