Late-Lee, I’ve Been Thinking About Foundations and Leadership

Late-Lee, I’ve been thinking about this old house I drive by every now and again. You can’t miss it. It’s tall, white, wrapped in gingerbread trim and exudes pure Southern charm. It’s one of those houses that looks like it has a story or two to tell. And late-Lee, it’s been making me think of the stories of schools.

I studied vernacular architecture back in college, so I probably notice things other folks don’t — the roofline, the hand-turned spindles on the porch, the way the layout fits the climate and the land. But even if I’d never taken a class, I think I’d still slow down when I pass this place. It’s the kind of house that makes you wonder who lived there, what kind of life unfolded behind those black shutters. I wonder about the woman who might have stood upon that balcony waiting for someone to come home. It’s also the kind of house that reminds me how important it is to build things that last.

The paint is faded in places. The shutters lean a little. But after all these years, it still stands. And the reason it still stands? It’s due to the strong foundation. I know for a fact that house has weathered many hurricanes and other storms.

And that my friends — that — is where my mind goes when I think about leadership. A strong leader that leads from the ground up can be the anchor in times of change.

We often focus on the “visible” parts of school improvement: new programs, big PD days, data walls, walk-through tools. But all of that sits on top of something deeper. Leadership is the foundation. And if that foundation isn’t strong — if it’s shaky or inconsistent or reactive — no matter how beautiful the structure is, it won’t hold up over time.

Leadership is what anchors the work. It’s what keeps a school standing when test scores dip, when staff turns over, and when initiatives come and go. A strong leader sets the tone, builds the systems, and holds the line on what matters. They don’t just respond — they lead with purpose, process, and passion keeping people at the center.

Leadership is what makes school improvement stick — not just spark.

You can paint the walls and polish the floors, but if the foundation’s cracked, none of it will last. On the other hand, when leadership is solid, schools can withstand pressure, change, and even failure — because they’re grounded in something steady.