Even though my morning routine always includes a good sunrise run, today was different. It wasn’t just any morning. It was the first day of school.

As I made my way through neighborhoods and cross streets to meet my daily mileage and stress-release goals, I passed an elementary school, middle school, and high school. Cutting through the campuses of each building brought a flood of feelings and emotions that contributed to my pace.

I was flooded with two completely different perspectives. As I passed each building, I couldn’t help but think about each of the leaders in those schools, the ungodly hour they would be arriving at the school, and all the related “Day One” drama that would result in a long, exhausting first day. As a long-time high school principal, I’ll never forget the feelings and emotions associated with the first days and weeks of school. That was one perspective.

Each building also represented another perspective and set of emotions connecting way back into my life. I was a student at each of those schools I ran by: Pioneer Elementary School, Washington Middle School, and Olympia High School in the Olympia School District. I was a product of the K-12 system. That journey (and experience) as a student is largely why I’ve spent my entire career serving in public education.

Running past those schools was a blast of cold water in the face, reminding me of the journey of hope as a student and the important role adults play in creating that hope. If a handful of adults throughout my K-12 experience had not taken the time to love me unconditionally, encourage me, and see something special in me, then who knows where I’d be today and why? The journey truly was about finding hope through the adults who took the time to speak hope into my life.

As I rounded the corner of the classroom where I sat as a rambunctious 7th-grade block student, my emotions returned to the principals. The principals were all a huge influence in my life. (For some reason, I might have spent more time with them than other students. That’s a different blog). The principals also all took the time (often not by choice) to get to know me, see me, and love me unconditionally, even though I was just one student of many. Just one student.

Principals and assistant principals carry the weight of hope, not just for each individual student and adult but for the entire community. And every first day of school is a reminder of that powerful burden. Hope starts with the leader and is sustained through the relationships students and adults foster and sustain throughout the year. Hope is contagious, but it is a heavy cross to bear.

As I got home from my morning run, I was exhausted both physically and emotionally. Yes, the physical part is obvious, but I didn’t expect the emotional exhaustion from reflecting on both my own K-12 experience as a student and the leadership journey that each and every one of our school leaders across the state was starting on the first day of school.

I hope you know the entire team at AWSP, AWSL, Cispus, and Outdoor Schools WA sees you, hears you, and understands the weight of hope you carry for your entire school community. We stand ready to meet your every need as we all jump into another year of creating hope for each and every student across the state. 

We know your jobs are the most demanding in the system, but we also know they are the most rewarding. You keep focusing on creating hope, and let us continue to advocate for more reasonable demands, workloads, and expectations. Thank you for carrying the weight of hope. Thank you for speaking and leading hope for all.