The Road Back to School: Leadership Lessons from Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

Every summer offers educators a chance to pause, recharge, and prepare for the year ahead. Like many others, I stepped away from meetings, emails, and school calendars. But somewhere between the winding roads of Wyoming, the mountains of Montana, and the quiet landscapes of Idaho, I discovered that I wasn't taking a break from leadership—I was seeing it from a different perspective.

Over the course of nearly 2,500 miles, I visited national parks, drove through small towns, and spent long hours on open highways with little more than my thoughts. Away from the constant pace of school leadership, I found something that busy administrators rarely have enough of: uninterrupted time to observe, reflect, and think.

As an Ed.D. candidate, I often study leadership through data, research, and daily practice. This journey reminded me that some of the most valuable lessons aren't found in spreadsheets or textbooks. They emerge from quiet moments, unfamiliar places, and the willingness to slow down long enough to notice them.

This isn't a travel story. It's a reflection on the leadership lessons I brought home—lessons that I hope will shape the way I support schools, serve educators, and continue growing as both a practitioner and a scholar.