Leading with both collaboration and expertise is hard. Too much of one can erode the other. I’ve been reflecting on that balance & how gender & transparency shape it.
#leadership #collaboration #womensleadership #transparency

This week, both kids were home sick. I made two pots of soup. The sky stayed gray. The work got real. Nothing dramatic, but something was shifting under the surface. I wrote about it. Two Pots of Soup, Weather, Work, and the Rest of It
#writinglife #reflection #lifelately #slowliving #personalesay

“I’m starting to see my journals less as records and more as terrain.”What if the old journals stacked in your closet weren’t just diaries—but a kind of map? This piece is the beginning of a pilgrimage: A return to myselfbefore the love story
#Reflection #narrartive #story #growth

“Leadership is not about control. It’s about creating spaces where people can tell their truths, and from those truths, imagine something new together.” From "Like a Poet: A Personal Theory of Change in Five Movements" If you're holding space for transformation may this offer something meaningful.

Marriage Is an Infrastructure, Divorce an Excavation: When I left my marriage, I didn’t expect to lose the shape of my community, the texture of my days, or the ease of knowing where the salt lived in the kitchen. Read my essay to learn more.

A Eulogy for My Past

Reflecting as the new week begins.

Last week brought grief. The dismantling of the Dept. of Ed is not abstract to me—it's personal, it's about kids. I wrote through the anxiety, remembering Germany, my grandfathers, and what it means to stay in hard conversations. #Writing #Resistance #Hope

I’ve been thinking about the years I lived in Germany, how the history I encountered there feels relevant now. I used to imagine I would’ve joined the resistance.Now, as an American, I wonder what choices I’m making. #Resistance #Memory #WhatWeCarry #HistoryAndNow

What if childcare directors were seen as changemakers, not just managers? My latest piece explores how ECE leaders can drive equity + culture in early learning. #ECE #Leadership #Equity #CulturallyResponsive

I spent years interviewing early childhood educators. One voice still echoes: “People call us babysitters. That’s not what we do.” This leader left direct service, and I wonder: where is she? Where is early childhood education headed? #ECE #Equity #EarlyLearning

What if leadership wasn’t about answers, but listening deeply enough to change the conversation? My elders taught me that leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about connection. Coaching isn’t control—it’s partnership. Are you making space to hear others, or just filling the silence?#LeadWithEmpathy

When do we get to claim an identity? When are we enough, as leaders, writers, or creators? Too often, we wait for titles or validation before stepping into who we already are. But leadership, like identity, is never finished. It evolves as we do.

🚨 Trump and Musk want to fire federal workers, gut public services, and hand our government to billionaires. We’re not letting that happen.

📢 Join us this Thursday at 8PM ET for a mass call to hear how we fight back—together.

Leading is personal. Who I am shapes the way I lead. Leadership isn’t just about strategy or efficiency; it’s about being aware of the impact I have. Leadership is a constant learning curve. #ReflectiveLeadership #InclusivePractices #CriticalPedagogy

When systems tighten their grip—through budget cuts, policy shifts, or fear-driven narratives—it’s easy to feel stuck. Fight. Flight. Freeze. But what if leadership is also about building, even now?
#Leadership #BuildingForward #ResilientLeadership #NavigatingUncertainty #CultivatingChange

bell hooks (1994) reminds us that true leadership—especially in spaces like education—is not about compliance. It’s about transformation. Transformation takes time, reflection, and the ability to ask, "What are we actually trying to build here?"

Leadership in ECE is often overlooked—but it shapes the future of early learning. Effective leaders foster collaboration, inclusivity, and growth. Leadership is deeply personal, shaped by values, experiences, and identity. When we lead with equity and reflection, we create lasting change.

Leadership in ECE isn’t just for directors—it’s about influence.
Mentoring a colleague? Advocating for a child? Creating an inclusive classroom? That's leadership. My latest Substack explores how recognizing this can amplify your impact.#ECELeadership #TeacherLeadership #LeadWithImpact

Join Zaina Cahill for "Getting Involved: Practical Advocacy For Early Childhood Educators" on March 19, 5:30-6:30 PM, hosted by McNichol Early Childhood Education Lab.
Learn key policies, build an action plan, and connect with advocacy networks. A must for ECE advocates—don't miss it! #ECE #Advocacy