3-2-1: On having high standards, the secret to willpower, and how to be strong yet flexible
3 Ideas From Me
I.
“One easy way to show you care about others is to ask them questions about their life.
What are they excited about?
What are they working on?
What are they hoping for?
Simply asking the question and listening thoughtfully is an act of generosity. You’re giving them the gift of attention.”
II.
“Whatever you’re doing, do it well. If you’re writing a thank you note, take an extra minute to mention something beyond the typical thank you. If you’re exercising, do each set as well as you can. If you’re in conversation, really listen and don’t just wait for your turn to talk.
Having high standards adds up. You can nearly always find an extra minute to do it better. And most important, you prove to yourself that you’re the type of person who does things well.”
Want to be a better leader? Walk away
It’s widely understood that leadership is hard, and for many reasons. One of the most obvious yet overlooked aspects is that as the leader, you’re always in the game. Given quick thought, doing otherwise wouldn’t appear to be an option. Indeed, such immersion, such constant closeness, is assumed to be the very thing that heightens a leader’s ability to perceive threats and seize opportunities that would otherwise be missed. But what if the opposite is true? What if it’s walking away that matters more?
Where this superintendent developed a love of people and purpose
Bill Runey says his journey to the superintendency began with a “love of people and a love of purpose” instilled in him by his parents, both of whom were public educators. Runey was 14 when his father died, and the large turnout for the funeral was evidence of the power of the man’s leadership, Runey notes.
“After that tragedy, my mother’s resilience taught me early on that success is measured by the positive impact that you have on the lives of others,” says Runey, who has been superintendent of Massachusetts’ Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District since 2022 and an educator for 37 years.
“Those lessons have shaped how I approach leadership, even to this day,” says Runey.
3-2-1: How to gain a competitive edge, cultivating small productive habits, and a call to self-acceptance
I.
“One way to instantly gain a competitive edge is to work on things that genuinely interest you. The person who is having fun has a better chance of winning because they are more likely to stick with it when things get challenging.
If it felt like a hassle from the start, you’re likely to quit as soon as things get tough. But if you’ve been having fun the whole time, you’re better positioned to work through the hard parts.”
I.
“Stop waiting. Stop talking yourself out of it. Stop researching.
Superintendent relies on the ones ‘who make it happen’
K12 leaders can set grandiose plans for growth and achievement but success depends on the teachers and staff, says Superintendent Ana C. Riley of Rhode Island’s Bristol Warren Regional School District.
“Teachers are the ones who really make it happen, and so creating a culture in which there’s buy-in and everyone is on board has helped the district grow in its success,” says Riley, Rhode Island’s 2026 Superintendent of the Year. “Even where our scores aren’t where we want them to be, we’ve seen lots of good growth.”
Riley has led the seaside district of 3,000 students since 2021. Before that, she was deputy commissioner for instructional programs in the Rhode Island Department of Education and served as superintendent of the Portsmouth School Department.
Why quiet connectors drive real organizational change
Meeting- and hallway-dominating voices often attract attention, but they can drown out the quiet connectors — those who build deep relationships, bridge silos and help organizations evolve.
I’ve spent the past several years helping a company transform an outdated, sometimes toxic culture. At my first listening workshop, one employee quickly took over the conversation. He was outspoken and opinionated and seemed to serve as the group’s informal spokesperson — exactly the sort of person I, as a fellow extrovert, instinctively gravitate toward. I assumed his vocal support would be crucial in driving culture change.
3-2-1: How results accumulate, the secret to motivation, and living with a calm persistence
3 Ideas From Me
I.
“Results tend to accumulate to the person who enjoys the lifestyle that precedes the result.”
II.
“Earning more money increases freedom.
Spending less than you earn reduces stress.”
III.
“Motivation often increases after you begin. The lesson is not to wish you had more motivation, but to make starting as easy as possible.”
How this superintendent is breaking barriers with fewer resources
Even in a small community like the Sackets Harbor Central School District in New York, superintendents can drive meaningful change. Here’s how this superintendent is making award-winning progress for students.
Superintendent Jennifer Gaffney, who was recently named New York’s Superintendent of the Year, stands confident in her ability to improve student outcomes, despite having fewer resources than most districts around the country. She attributes her recent success to the buy-in mentality of her staff.
“I see [the award] as a reflection of the work that my colleagues and our school community as a whole have done over the last several years,” she says. “If you were to come and visit Sackets Harbor, you would see how interconnected and engaged everyone is around our school community. That’s what really stands out.”
3-2-1: The importance of bad days, making the most money per minute, and how to start a revolution
3 Ideas From Me
I.
“What looks like a talent gap is often a focus gap. The “all-star” is often an average to above-average performer who spends more time working on what is important and less time on distractions. The talent is staying focused.”
II.
“Something I try to remind myself:
The strong mind finds a way to stay steady … even when plans fall apart.
The strong body finds a way to train … even when the day doesn’t go your way.
The strong relationship finds a way to reconnect … even when things get rough.
In a sense, what matters most is how you respond on the bad days, not the good ones.
3-2-1: On balancing gratitude and ambition, the best things in life, and feeling like you have enough
3 Ideas From Me
I.
“Each day, spend some time on two things:
working toward something that will pay off years from now
appreciating something that is happening right now”
II.
“Do not fear what you can address. What should worry