On The Way To School

📍 30 days out from Lonely Graduation.And today I’m thinking about proximity.Had lunch with a friend I’ve known since 2007.
He still had a picture on his phone from when he visited me at a school where I worked years ago.That hit me.Because your career isn’t just built on titles.It’s built on moments.On how people experienced you.Yesterday, someone told me:“It’s not about who you know. It’s about who knows you.”What do people remember when they think of you?How did you show up in the elevator?In the meeting?At lunch?Networking isn’t collecting contacts.It’s being present long enough to matter.I’m feeling inspired tonight. Grateful.Building. Reflecting. Enjoying the moment.If you’re in a hard stretch — keep going.Tomorrow could shift everything.#OnTheWayToSchool #LonelyGraduation #LeadershipJourney #EducatorLife #NetworkingMatters #PurposeDriven

Dr. Chris Dennis discusses how educators and administrators should handle reference checks with honesty and integrity. He advises sharing areas for growth in an asset-based, actionable way that supports the candidate and helps hiring teams make informed decisions.The episode covers formal and informal references, the importance of face-to-face feedback when possible, and the responsibility of referees to communicate candidly while preserving opportunities for a fresh start.

Host Dr. Chris Dennis opens with reflections on a moving Black History Month high school chapel and then explores the value of humility and self-criticism for educators. He describes how reflective, humble leaders quietly make big impacts, accept feedback, and keep improving without needing the spotlight.This episode offers a brief, encouraging look at how self-awareness and thoughtful critique can become strengths in classrooms and school leadership.

Dr. Chris Dennis shares updates on his book Lonely Graduation, thanks listeners for pre-orders, and recounts presenting at SoCal POSIS’s Bring POCC Home event. He reflects on community, networking, and the power of affinity gatherings in independent schools.He also summarizes a keynote by Dr. Rodney Glasgow about treating your spaces—home, classroom, office—as sacred places to be grounded, restored, and refueled, and encourages educators to personalize and protect those spaces.

Dr. Chris Dennis welcomes listeners to a rainy Thursday episode focused on mid-year pressures in schools. He discusses preparing for and recovering from intense meetings, using deep breaths and contemplative silence to reset, and the importance of maintaining good self-care practices.
He encourages finding small moments of joy, even dancing at home, to celebrate progress and stay connected to the purpose of working with students. Practical reminders for educators to protect their energy and pursue joy.

Host Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on a brief middle-school Harkness discussion he observed, highlighting how students engaged with The Skin I'm In and moved into deeper dialogue.He connects that classroom moment to leadership: meetings work best when everyone arrives with the same content and preparation, enabling informed decisions.A concise reflection for educators and administrators about student discourse, observation insights, and improving organizational conversations.

Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on recent events—from the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson to a trip to Montgomery and a talk by Bryan Stevenson—and highlights the power of proximity in understanding equity, justice, and the humanity of those most impacted.The episode urges school leaders and educators to spend more time in classrooms (including commitments of 50% or 25% time), outlines plans to support those affected by mass incarceration, and previews a middle school course blending visual arts, photography, and social justice.

📍 Eight days. Three cities. Three powerful gatherings.Minneapolis. Montgomery. Atlanta.
I'm back home; grateful, tired, recalibrating.This week reminded me how important it is actually to engage when you're at conferences. Don't just sit with those you know. Not just anchor to what's comfortable. But introduce yourself. Pour into someone. Learn from someone. Take the selfie. Send the text. Build the bridge.
I also realized something else…After 20 years in education, I'm starting to be one of the "older voices" in the room. And instead of resisting that, I'm choosing to honor it. 
Professional development isn't just about the sessions.It's about connection.It's about regeneration.It's about who you become in the room.
Also, the first shipment of Lonely Graduation arrives today. That part feels special.
Stay dry. Stay connected. Stay growing.
#OnTheWayToSchool #LeadershipTok #EducatorTok #ProfessionalDevelopment #LonelyGraduation #BlackEducators

Dr. Chris Dennis describes his visit to the Legacy Museum and related sites in Montgomery, Alabama, reflecting on the history of enslavement, reconstruction, and the link to present-day mass incarceration.He shares emotional moments from the exhibits, the personal impact of confronting this history, and a renewed call to activism and supporting incarcerated voices. He encourages educators to visit the sites in person or online to deepen their understanding.

On this episode of On The Way To School, Dr. Christopher Dennis records live from Montgomery, Alabama during the NAES EIJ conference as he visits the Legacy Museum, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. He shares personal reflections on confronting 400 years of history—from enslavement and segregation to mass incarceration—and the importance of immersive, community-centered learning for educators.Dr. Dennis discusses the healing and motivation found in remembering the past, calls for solidarity during Black History Month, and encourages listeners to engage deeply with history to strengthen their work in education and social justice.