I knew there was interest, but I didn’t expect this.

70 people showed up for a room built for 25.

We scrambled for chairs, squeezed people in, and made it work. Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS)

‍Because the topic?

It’s the stuff we don’t usually talk about.

We talked about the crap.

The frustrations.

The tensions.

The “crap” that sits just under the surface in schools.

Talking about it is one thing.

Doing something about it is something very different.

What stood out most was the willingness of this group to lean in, not just to name the challenges, but to wrestle with how to lead through them.

A few ideas that really resonated:

• Finding the value and perspective each person is protecting
• Grounding ourselves in a shared goal: we all want the student (and the school) to succeed
• Choosing to lead “above the line”
• Leading with courage, connection, clarity, and compassion

That’s not easy work. But it’s the work that matters.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, squeezed in, and fully engaged in the conversation. I’m grateful for the energy, honesty, and willingness to go there.

Looking forward to continuing the conversation.

Special thank you to Lawrence Hobdell and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) team for having me and to American International School of Guangzhou and Kevin Baker and his team for a fantastic job hosting!