The Authentic Advantage

Ignorance is rarely quiet. It is often the loudest voice in the room. In the days leading up to the Super Bowl, a familiar chorus emerged across social media and talk radio. Critics questioned why Bad Bunny would appear on one of the world’s largest stages. Some insisted he was not American. Others argued he did not belong. Many spoke with unmistakable certainty. What was striking was not the criticism itself. Public figures have always drawn commentary. What was striking was the confidence with which people spoke despite being profoundly uninformed. Bad Bunny was born in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans are American citizens. Yet the outrage spread faster than the correction. It made me think about leadership. In schools and organizations across this country, leaders confront versions of this moment every single day. Something happens. A decision is made. A personnel matter unfolds. A safety protocol is enacted. And almost immediately, narratives begin to form. The problem is that those na...

Editor’s Note This piece is a follow up to Third Time’s a Charm, where I explored my long held plan to pursue a doctorate and questioned whether it still aligned with who I am and how I want to live and lead. What follows is the clarity that only comes after sitting with an unanswered question long enough to hear the truth beneath it. I have wrestled for a long time with whether or not to pursue my doctorate. In Third Time’s a Charm, I wrote honestly about standing at a familiar crossroads, once again asking myself whether I would go through with it. I examined the pull of a lifelong goal, the quiet expectations that follow leaders in education, and the belief that maybe this time I would finally see it through. What I did not have then was a final answer. What I have now is clarity. I have decided not to pursue my doctorate. Make no bones about it. This was always the plan. Becoming a “doctor” felt like the natural pinnacle of a career in education and leadership. The thing you...