Thought Leaders

Today’s school leaders face mounting pressures—from politicized debates to teacher burnout. In The Call to Courage, Drs. Luvelle Brown and Shelley Berman emphasize that education is “democracy work.” RocketPD’s Ultimate Guide to Standing Up for K-12 Public Education and supporting resources equip educators to foster belonging, reject negative narratives, and redesign schools for joy, engagement, and inclusivity.

Students today face constant digital distractions, but the solution isn’t to compete with TikTok. Matt Miller, author of Tech Like a Pirate, encourages teachers to craft meaningful, creative learning experiences—like Instagram story recaps or Yelp-style reviews—that resonate with students. His RocketPD cohort offers practical strategies to simplify routines, leverage digital tools, and foster engagement through student-driven learning.

Shifting from staff buy-in to genuine ownership is the key to sustainable school change. Eric Sheninger’s RocketPD cohort shows leaders how to co-create vision, start small, and empower educators to lead, ensuring initiatives succeed beyond compliance and withstand initiative fatigue.