On The Way To School

Dr. Chris Dennis shares a personal story about tearing his hamstring after skipping a warm-up and connects it to why educators and administrators should prepare physically, mentally, and emotionally before meetings and the school day.Learn quick, practical warm-up ideas—physical stretches, vocal exercises, and mental resets—to help you enter the day focused and ready.

Host Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on a night at an LAFC match and draws a simple analogy between soccer and school leadership: understanding roles, positioning, and teamwork leads to better opportunities to score.After a long day, he shares how watching the game helped him see the importance of preparation, knowing your teammates, and embracing wins and setbacks as part of leading well.

Dr. Chris Dennis reminds educators and school leaders that while organizations move on, individual influence endures. Using a real campus example, he emphasizes that your daily consistency and presence matter to students, parents, and colleagues; even those who never say thank you.
He encourages listeners to save notes of appreciation, reflect on the positive effects of their work, and continue to show up with authenticity and steadiness to support others every day.

Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on settling into the school year and the difference between tactical tasks and strategic leadership. He discusses how administrators can avoid becoming the default problem-solvers, create clear off-ramps, and regain balance in their work.The episode offers practical advice to check your calendar, empower staff to lead solutions, and protect time for long-term initiatives while managing daily demands.

This morning, I’m recording live from my car! Literally on the way to school. I had a plan for today’s episode, but I decided to pivot. Lately, I’ve been thinking about what I call political fret and worry; how the government shutdown, activism, and civic anxiety are showing up in our classrooms and communities.
Students are asking deeper questions, colleagues are rethinking their work, and I’m reflecting on how all of this shapes us as educators and leaders. My takeaway? Education is liberation. When we stay informed, engaged, and grounded, we can turn worry into purpose and action.
I hope today’s reflection helps you think about where you stand and how you’ll move on the way to school.

Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on a winning week and shares a classroom lesson that used protest music to teach equity, justice, and leadership. Students brought meaningful songs, examined them through interpersonal, institutional, internalized, and ideological lenses, and found renewed connection and purpose.For homework, listeners are asked to choose two favorite songs, reflect on why they matter and how they shape mood and relationships, and consider sharing them with colleagues to rebuild community and stay connected to their mission.

In this episode, I remind K–12 leaders to model and promote workplace benefits, prioritize staff check-ins, and provide meaningful feedback and professional development to support our colleagues. I share brief stories about the impact of small gestures and encourage everyone to practice self-care by utilizing physicals and fitness programs. I emphasize that as leaders, we can create a healthier school community by leveraging and advocating for the resources available to us.

Welcome back to "On the Way to School," Today, I reflect on the impact of Coach Tuck! How his encouragement to sprint the 400 and join relays helped me discover speed, win championships, and shape my athletic path.
I connect coaching to leadership by guiding staff, parents, and students, explaining the purpose of voluntary affinity spaces, and handling pushback with patience and clarity.
As equity practitioners and leaders, keep the “lighthouse” open. The work you build creates foundations people will return to when they need support.

Happy Tuesday on the way to school!
As I reflect on my journey, I can't help but recognize the profound impact that coaching has had on my life. From my high school track coach who identified my potential early on to the executive coaches who have helped me refine my professional edge, I've learned invaluable lessons along the way.
One key takeaway has been the importance of being coachable. Accepting guidance and striving to meet higher standards are crucial steps for anyone looking to grow. Through personal stories, I've seen how small investments of time and belief from coaches can lead to significant personal development.
I believe that educators and administrators, too, must both give and receive coaching. We need to cultivate an environment where we can all learn from each other, ultimately shaping the leaders of the future.

Welcome to another episode of "On the Way to School." As I share my thoughts today, I want to discuss with you the importance of clearing both physical and mental clutter. It's all too easy to let distractions multiply; those junk drawers, tasks piling up, and goals that no longer align with our vision can weigh us down. 
 
I encourage each of you to take a step back and re-evaluate your priorities. This means purging obsolete tasks that no longer serve you, delegating responsibilities when possible, and using the final months of the year to focus on what truly matters. Let's aim to complete meaningful work and restore balance in our lives. By simplifying our approach, we can regain clarity and energy, not just for ourselves, but also for the students we serve.