October 2025

1. Baking Bread & Learning from Failure
2. Baking Aside
3. Leading As One
4. The Gneiss List

I’ve been baking a lot of bread. Okay—trying to bake a lot of bread. I like to think I’m a good cook, and when baking goes right, I’m decent at that too. But precision often eludes me.

Since returning from European travels, I’ve thrown myself into bread-baking and stocked up on every gadget: couche, lame, baguette peel, oven thermometer, proofing cloths, Cambro containers—you name it. I never met a kitchen gadget I didn't like and if I was going to do this right, I wanted to make sure that I had everything I needed. First came baguettes. Batch one: good. Batch two: excellent. Batch three: meh. Batch four: ugly but tasty. Batch five: sourdough…which turned out more baton than baguette. Batches six, seven, and eight: It took nine baguettes before three turned out right. Next was ciabatta—great hydration, no rise, needed salt. Then sourdough again, after a month of regrouping. I have now moved on too Italian crusty breads!

What have I learned? Use a scale. Measure twice. Check water temperature. Don’t start at 6 p.m. unless you want to stay up all night. Check the Best By date on yeast. Have taste testers. Most of all: don’t be afraid to fail. Baking takes grace and patience.

Oddly enough, it’s been freeing not to produce the “perfect” loaf and fun to figure out what went wrong. Maybe the yeast was off. Maybe the flour wasn't the right kind. Maybe the oven was too cold. Maybe I rushed the steps. Whatever the reason, each imperfect loaf pushes me to start again, reflect on what worked, and ask: where did I go off course—and when should I ask for help?

Starting in 2013, I used Learning From Failure (linked above) in my “Thinking Globally, Acting Locally” course. There are many lessons to be gained from failure—especially when the stakes are high. I’ll admit, though, that I haven’t always been comfortable with “failure.” Most educators aren’t. Randy Compton of Restorative Solutions once said to me, when I was frustrated with how slowly we had to move to introduce restorative practices in a school:“We slow down to go fast.” And it’s true. Imagine if schools approached failure with this mindset. The difference it could make for students and teachers alike. “Failure” isn’t an end point; while difficult, it is necessary.

So here’s to slowing down the learning process, and to trying and failing towards progress over perfection.

I’ve been coaching a few wonderful clients, which has been energizing and deeply rewarding. I’ve also been in conversation with some schools navigating periods of transition and have submitted a few proposals that I’m excited about.

Professional learning continues to be a throughline: I’ve been engaging in formal development with Leadership+Design, Rallyday Partners, and Educators2Entrepreneurs, and informal learning through museum visits and Broadway shows—most recently, a return to some favorite Hamilton research.

On the horizon, I’m developing a new workshop that draws inspiration from Beyoncé’s artistry (more on that soon), and a few other meaningful collaborations are taking shape. I can’t wait to share more in the months ahead.

How it Started:

It all started when Katie and I met at a professional development event, I had a newborn and was partially sleep deprived. Then we met again during a school accreditation; this time, Katie was about to give birth to her second child. There were texts and then, like so many of us caught between school leadership and parenting, we went right back to our busy lives. Through many twists, turns, the occasional Peloton ride, a few emails and finally a Zoom, we had a faint “Wait, how and when did we meet?” moment. We remembered again—and this time we stayed connected.

Out of that reconnection grew longer conversations about what we wished we’d had in our respective school roles, what we saw happening (and not happening) on leadership teams, and how schools could feel different if leaders had space to pause, align, and build trust. That’s how this program was born: part humor, part hope, and a shared belief in stronger, kinder, more sustainable schools for kids and the adults who work there.

Where We Want to Go:

Between us, we bring more than two decades in education, with experience teaching students, leading divisions, and supporting teams. We’ve also managed to do this high-pressure work while raising families, keeping up with Peloton rides, and staying curious about how to be the change schools need.

Along the way, we realized we’d both been wishing for the same thing: more space for leadership teams to align, connect, and grow stronger together. That shared wish became Leading as One.

Click the attachment to learn more.

It takes a village! The Gneiss List is where I highlight the incredible work of my partners, collaborators, and esteemed colleagues. I am proud to showcase the consultants and organizations I admire most, sharing the impactful work they are doing across my professional network.

Kawai is a skilled facilitator, author, strategic partner, artist, and all-around incredibly talented educator. In her work, she uses the power of visuals to bring joy and clarity to planning for the future, designing more inclusive spaces, and leading diverse teams. More than anything, she hopes her work inspires leaders and schools to take action and find purpose in creating a more equitable world.

Her upcoming project, RE: Collective, which she co-founded with Eric Hudson, brings together a team of skilled facilitators who guide leadership teams through pivotal moments of realignment, renewal, and reinvention.

Tamisha Williams, founder of Tamisha Williams Consulting (TWC) and author of the Abuntu Affirmation Card Deck: leadership affirmations for wellness and growth, brings over 10 years of DEI practitioner experience and certified coaching expertise to this revolutionary work. Whether supporting emerging managers or seasoned executives, TWC creates transformative experiences that prove rest is revolutionary and wellness drives measurable results. They've partnered with over 50 organizations—from schools and universities to nonprofits and corporate environments—supporting leaders in developing sustainable, values-driven leadership practices. Because your community needs you well, not worn out.

Tamisha Williams Consulting transforms how leaders navigate their careers by integrating wellness as a cornerstone of professional excellence. Particularly for those who are who are tired of choosing between excellence and exhaustion, TWC specializes n wellness-centered leadership development for BIPOC women and nonbinary leaders. Through their signature Abuntu framework—meaning "abundance in our collective humanity"—we guide leaders beyond traditional success metrics toward thriving careers rooted in authentic self-expression, strategic rest, and community connection. This approach addresses the unique challenges facing leaders who navigate systemic bias while maintaining high performance standards.

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Thank you for reading, and please feel free to share with colleagues or friends who may also be interested.