On The Way To School

Dr. Chris Dennis explores how crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to power outages and wildfires, serve as an informal curriculum for school leaders, revealing lessons in decision-making, responsibility, and community care.
He shares personal experiences, the costs of crisis leadership, and practical advice on building support systems and self-care strategies to sustain resilience in educational roles.

Host Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on the silence that follows graduation and offers practical encouragement for graduates and parents. He reframes post-commencement uncertainty as transition, not failure, and suggests breathing room, self-reflection, and community support.References include his book Lonely Graduation and journal prompts to help graduates process next steps and steady their transition into post-school life.

Dr. Chris Dennis offers a short check-in for educators and administrators, acknowledging the unseen work leaders do, the complexity behind decisions, and the importance of recognizing effort across teams.He encourages listeners to finish April strong, celebrate small wins, and take care of themselves as they head into May.

Dr. Chris Dennis explores how racial identity and other invisible identifiers shape decision-making in K–12 independent school boardrooms and why boards cannot simply set identity aside when governing.He introduces the idea of culturally affirming board governance, outlines how identity affects participation and policy, and offers practical considerations for training and equity-focused oversight.

Welcome to On The Way To School with Dr. Chris Dennis — a quick episode for educators to reflect on career and leadership. Dr. Dennis argues that leadership is not a future promise but a responsibility in the present, urging listeners to evaluate how they communicate, document, and take accountability in their current roles.He offers practical reflections on temperament, communication, and holding others accountable, and leaves educators with the question: How are you leading right now?

In this episode of On The Way To School, Dr. Chris Dennis launches the new "Dear Graduate" segment and focuses on the idea of the finish line as a real but recurring transition. He encourages graduates to view completion as a handoff to the next version of themselves, to be intentional, ask questions, and use available resources without striving for perfection.He also reflects on life after advanced degrees—how research can be applied through practice, consulting, or publishing, and how the boundaries of academic work change after graduation as you move into new phases of professional life.

As the school year ends, leaders face heightened accountability—contracts, budgets, enrollment, and outcomes drive tough conversations across independent schools.Use data and clear policy, anticipate questions, and explain context rather than react defensively. Dissect power dynamics, avoid stonewalling, and be willing to find answers to build trust and keep staff engaged.

Dr. Chris Dennis discusses the May 1 college deposit deadline and the emotional journey students and families face when admissions results don’t match expectations.He explains reach, target, and safety school strategies, shares personal stories about supporting seniors through disappointment, and encourages embracing the opportunities at the schools that say yes while building resilience and perspective.

Dr. Chris Dennis examines grade inflation since the pandemic, its effects on college admissions and student equity, and why authentic grading matters.He explores challenges teachers face, the role of clear rubrics and family communication, and urges K–12 and higher-ed collaboration to restore credibility and fairness in grading.

In this episode Dr. Chris Dennis explores the difference between achievement and growth, and how traditional standardized tests can miss the varied forms of student capital. He discusses community cultural wealth, the limits of single-point assessments, and practical strategies—like interim testing and mixed methods—to capture longitudinal progress.Dr. Dennis also emphasizes creating culturally affirming environments that let all students demonstrate growth, and the importance of clear communication with families about what assessment scores actually represent.