Dedication: This episode is dedicated to the students, families, and educators of Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We honor their immense courage and resilience in the face of the tragic school shooting that occurred in August 2025, and their profound choice to walk in their theme: "A future filled with hope."

If you wish to support the victims and their families, please consider donating to the official fund here: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZM37/campaign/C-1619X.

Key Takeaways

• Hope as an Action: We discuss how hope is not a passive wish, but a defiant and active choice—a powerful act of resistance in the face of tragedy.

• Bravery is Vulnerability: We redefine bravery, moving away from the idea of being unafraid to embracing vulnerability, honesty, and community as core components of courageous leadership.

• Rest is Resistance: We explore how intentional rest and self-care are essential forms of resistance against systemic fatigue.

• Modeling Humanity: We discuss the importance of educators modeling humanity and resilience for their students, showing them that it's okay to not be okay, as long as we continue to show up.

Reflection Questions

• For Teachers: What is one small, tangible act of rest you can commit to this week that will help you sustain your energy for the work? How can you become a gentle observer of yourself this week?

• For Instructional Coaches & School Leaders: How are you modeling care and sustainability for your team? What is one thing you can take off their plate this week to ease the burden?

• For Everyone: What is one thing that brings you a quiet, reflective joy? What is one thing you can do this week to connect with that joy?

If you're looking for support to continue this work in your own school or classroom, I invite you to explore my Professional Development workshops, Equity Audit Tools, Student Data Dive Tool, and Coaching services.

You can find all of these resources at: https://customteachingsolutions.com/equitytools.