From Why to How: What Educators Really Need This Year
Jul 24, 2026
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Every August, in school gyms and media centers across the country, educators gather for back-to-school professional development. There's always a slide deck, always a motivational video queued up, and usually, at some point, a prompt appears on the screen:
“Reconnect to your why.”
Now listen, I love the heart behind that question. Simon Sinek gave us something powerful when he reminded the world to “Start With Why.” And I’m not here to diminish that. But after 20+ years serving in education, here’s what I’ve come to believe:
Teachers already know their why.
They don’t need a reminder. They need to know how.
The Real Question Isn’t “Why”—It’s How
Educators aren't confused about their purpose. They know it every time a student finally gets a concept they’ve been struggling with. They feel it when they keep showing up, even when they’re overwhelmed, under-resourced, and underpaid. They know why they’re there.
There is a certain relief that comes when the first few days of school go well.
Staff are back, students are moving through the building, transportation is running, classrooms are settled, and the systems you spent the summer planning seem to be doing exactly what you hoped they would do.
After months of preparation, it is tempting to look around and think, We did it.
And you should celebrate ...
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A school leader recently asked me a question that captures what many principals experience every day: “How do they expect us to do both?”
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