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Designing Belonging: What a Pizza Box Taught Me About Connection
I’ve written before about the time I ordered a pizza to reconnect my ex-husband to the outside world. No car. No phone. No internet. A disconnection, both literal and emotional. We used Domino’s delivery notes as our 21st-century carrier pigeon. It worked, but only because someone made the effort to reach out, to bridge the
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More Than Content: Why the Future of School Must Be Human
Everywhere I turn, people seem exhausted. Not just by the pace of change, but by the growing sense that our systems, especially in education, are still answering the wrong questions. We’re designing for efficiency when what we need is empathy. We’re measuring content mastery when what’s slipping through the cracks is human development. I keep
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Creativity, Failure, and Starting Late
There’s a bit of irony in the title of the first book I picked up from the d.school book club: Make Possibilities Happen. Because I joined the club months ago, full of energy and good intentions, and promptly… fell behind. Haven’t made it to a single Zoom meet. Still playing catch-up on the reading. So
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Spotting the Cracks
A Reflection on Systems Change and Personal Resistance I just listened to The Conversation Factory podcast episode called “The Seven Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems” with Adam Kahane, and I felt like he was talking just to me. “A crack in a system is a sign that, at least for some people, it is not
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Gratitude Reimagined: Spotlighting Authentic Appreciation
If your thank-you centers you, it’s not gratitude. It’s PR. Let’s rethink how we show appreciation and put the spotlight where it belongs.
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This Week, I Get to Do What I Love
Leading three days of in-person professional learning with our virtual staff is pure joy. We’re focusing on relationships, community, and culture—because tech is only as powerful as the people behind it. Months of planning lead to that first hallway hug, and suddenly, it all makes sense. This is why I love this work.
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Forgotten Dreams and Quiet Reminders
The author reflects on their unroadworthy 1973 Land Rover, recognizing it as a symbol of dreams for others while they overlook its significance. A comment on social media prompts a deeper appreciation for their own life and the joys often taken for granted. They commit to embracing the ordinary and cherishing life’s beauty.
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Why Strong Systems – not Just Big GoalS – Are the Key to Effective Leadership
Most leaders don’t fail because they lack vision—they fail because their systems don’t support their goals. I learned this the hard way, in both military and education leadership roles. And while we love to throw around phrases like “defined autonomy,” the truth is many teams are navigating ambiguity, not empowerment. This post explores what real…
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Are You My Leader? Insights from Classic Stories
What can a lost baby bird teach us about leadership and the future of AI? In this reflection on Are You My Mother?, Laura K Spencer, Ed.D. explores how belonging, recognition, and human connection shape the way we lead—and why tech can’t replace empathy.
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Understanding Transitions: What William Bridges Taught Me About Leading Change in Education
Just finished Managing Transitions by William Bridges? Here’s how this timeless framework reshaped how I view change, leadership, and emotional resilience in education.
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What Grover Taught Us About Fear and Leadership
What can a furry blue monster teach us about leadership? In this heartfelt reflection on The Monster at the End of This Book, Laura K Spencer, Ed.D. explores empathy, fear, and the power of turning the page—together.
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“Stand Back,” Said the Elephant: What a Children’s Book Taught Me About Leadership, Innovation, and Intentional Impact
What can a sneezing elephant teach us about leadership? A childhood book sparked fresh insight on how even our smallest decisions can shake the ground beneath us. In this post, I reflect on leading with empathy, innovating with intention, and the quiet power of awareness.
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Laura K Spencer, Ed.D. 