Big Lo Off Da Land

05/18/2026

04/15/2026

“I have been both women in that hallway. And so have been many of you.”

Look at this image.

Same person. Same hallway. One on the floor, head down, and holding herself together. The other reflected in the glass — composed, arms crossed, ready.

Both are real. Both are her.

If you’ve led a school for more than five minutes, you’ve been both. We are extraordinarily good at putting the floor version away before anyone sees her. We are extraordinarily bad at building cultures that acknowledge she exists.

We would rather silently scream than admit we need help supporting teachers who truly need help. Each day we simply continue to pour out drops from empty cups.

To district leaders: Your principals are getting up off the floor every single day before they walk into your meetings. The question isn’t whether they struggle, it’s whether you’ve built a culture where that’s allowed to be true.

To every educator reading this: The reflection doesn’t cancel out the floor. They’re both you. Both necessary. Both worth something. The hallway isn’t the problem. What we do — or don’t do — in it is.

EdLeaders AuthenticLeadership