Keywords

Leadership, resolutions, transparency, authenticity, education, trust, curiosity, joy, generosity, student experience, future of learning

Episode Summary

In this episode, Jason Rogers and Garth Nichols take time to pause, reflect, and look ahead—sharing their leadership resolutions for the year to come. The conversation centers on transparency, authenticity, and the kind of connection that builds real trust. Each host offers personal resolutions rooted in curiosity, love, generosity, and joy, while also wrestling with the realities of leadership in schools today. They reflect on the importance of staying close to the student experience and end with thoughtful predictions about the future of education, including the growing influence of AI and the rising importance of student agency.

Take Aways

• Strong leadership starts with reflection—looking back before moving forward.

• Transparency and authenticity are foundational to trust.

• Curiosity reframes leadership from control to mentorship.

• Being visible and present matters more than being perfect.

• Love and connection belong at the center of leadership, not the margins.

• Doing fewer things exceptionally well creates greater impact.

• Protecting joy is not a luxury—it’s a leadership responsibility.

• Small acts of generosity can ripple through an entire school culture.

• AI will meaningfully reshape education, whether we’re ready or not.

• Student agency will play an increasingly central role in learning.

Soundbites:

• “Lead at the speed of trust.”

• “Curiosity is kindness.”

• “Do fewer things exceptionally well.”

Time Stamps

00:00 – Reflecting on Leadership Resolutions
07:04 – Garth’s Leadership Resolutions
10:01 – Jason’s Leadership Resolutions
12:57 – Growing Leadership Through Trust
16:01 – Staying Connected to the Student Experience
18:55 – Protecting Joy in Leadership
21:57 – Predictions for Education in 2026
40:38 – Beard’s Book Club Outro