8 Years Ago I Won Principal of the Year—Here’s What I Know Now

Eight years ago, I thought I was walking into a crisis.

It was state testing week, and I was coming back from an offsite meeting when my secretary called, saying contractors were working in the gym to fix a leak and were asking them to evacuate the school. They stated they would need a few hours to complete their work, and it would be extremely loud…

My first thought? Not today. Not during testing.

I was irritated. I was ready to walk straight in, find the problem, and handle it.

Let's just say, these building repairs were testing my patience. Evacuate during state testing? I was ready to walk into this gym to tell these contractors they either needed to do their work before school or after school.

I was on FIRE.

I opened the gym door, and there was no leak, there were no contractors…

This is what was waiting for me…

My superintendent walked up, leaned in, and said:

“You won. You’re Michigan’s Principal of the Year.”

I did what any overwhelmed principal would do: I tried to leave. I actually turned around, headed right back for the door — but my security guard and my secretaries were not having it. They had been trained for this moment. I wasn’t getting out of it.

Then I looked through the crowd and I saw my mother. I saw my sons. I saw my husband. That’s when I lost it. The tears came before I could stop them. They had all been in on it — for weeks. They made sure the people who meant the most to me were standing there when I was honored.

Here's the thing: That award didn’t happen because of one good year. It happened because of the years when nobody was clapping. It happened because of the long nights when I stayed late redoing schedules and rewriting plans. It happened because of the Saturdays spent at PDs, the hard conversations I didn’t avoid, the relentless belief that kids deserve better — even when it cost me comfort, even when it cost me popularity.

Nobody tells you about the sacrifices leadership demands: the birthdays missed, the family dinners skipped, the late nights spent second-guessing if you made the right call. That award didn’t just celebrate success. It celebrated resilience.

Eight Years Later, a Lot Has Changed.

I’m not leading a single school anymore. I’m leading school leaders.

When I founded Principal Patterson Leadership Services, it wasn’t because I had all the answers. It was because I knew what it felt like to lead alone. To love the work but feel crushed by the weight of it.

Now, through 1:1 executive coaching and The Leadership Collective, I get to do the work I wish I had someone to do for me back then. I get to help women in leadership build systems that actually sustain them, lead teams without losing themselves, and make bold moves without sacrificing their peace. And let me tell you — these women are making history inside their schools every single day. They are proof that you don’t have to lose yourself to lead well.

What I Know Now

Leadership is not about doing it all. It’s not about sacrificing your soul for success.

It’s about clarity. It’s about conviction. It’s about building something that outlasts you — without burning out in the process. It’s about knowing that you are enough — even when the results aren’t instant, even when the applause is silent, even when you’re tired. And most of all, it’s about refusing to shrink just because leadership gets heavy.

You can carry the title and still carry your peace. You can serve your people and still save a piece of yourself. That’s the leader I’ve become. And that’s the kind of leadership I’ll keep helping women step into.

Eight years ago, I thought I was handling a leak.

Turns out, I was walking into my calling.

And I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.

Happy Principals' Day!