Walk With Me - Liz Hofreuter

You can't prove a negative and life isn't lived in the rearview mirror, so it's hard to say what path we 'stepped off' in order to find the experiences that make us who we are. But it sure feels like a blind leap of faith when it's happening. Whether you're burnt out and need a refresh in the Old World, or just not interested in looking for it, life can find a way of giving you just what you need,...

Have you ever heard of 'Rubber Ducking'? (scroll to the bottom for a quick poll) While it sounds like a classic Kenan Thompson bit from the 90s, it's a term used by computer programmers like Justin Hinerman to help them break down their code and find flaws. It's kind of like mixing the phrase 'explain this to me like I'm a 5-year-old' and talking to yourself, except you...

As we round into the final stretch of this project, we're going to offer a few 'bottle' episodes, as it were. Some side conversations or special videos that don't quite fit the format of our Walks, but add context or flesh out the series...or maybe they'll just be silly and fun. Today, we take our first little detour on our path to 50 to share a special Q&A with Carole Ann Al-Din, a counselor...

There are often only a handful of people in our lives who get to see us in all our glory, or non-glory, as it were. So, poetically, when Anne first set out on this Walk, the mics failed to record. Then the voiceover recording failed. In fact, even the video we originally planned to promote this Walk failed too. One of those weeks, I suppose. But with every setback, there was this little voice sayi...

As kids and families around the country wrap up another school year and prepare to dive headlong into summer, Liz took some time to walk with a few of those kiddos and discuss it all...learning, failures, teaching, friendships...giving us a snapshot into the minds of elementary-aged children at such an important part of their growth and development. Some of it was surprising, some of it was...age...

For nearly a decade now, Tabatha has been interrupting conversations. She does so with grace and respect, and while there are times she waits quietly for patrons to finish a thought, many other times she provides the pause a difficult conversation so desperately needs. Such is her presence. Calming, positive, and full of care. When she leaves work, sometimes she jumps off the treadmill of life for...

For someone whose brain switches subjects and bounces topics so quickly...so quickly...Eric Hersey also has long-range, singular focus...at least for specific periods of time. He's a bit of an enigma in that way. He will post once a day for 365 straight days, just for the bit. He will create one-word mantras and stick to them for years. He will answer the promise of a 16-year-old alter-ego named H...

TBD

'In your life, what's the big event?' Think of yours. What was it? It's funny how often life's most difficult moments spring to the top. (Not funny, 'haha', of course, but...curious.) It's not a defect or a mistake or anything, it's natural, or it sure seems to be based on this project. But it does beg the question: Why can we so clearly relive our past pain whi...

'I always say, did you let your freak flag fly?' What a catchphrase to live by. It's a wild contradiction, the anxiety just being 'ourselves' can cause when it almost always feels better to let it be, to be authentic, to let the freak flag fly. But sometimes we need permission to push past arbitrary societal norms, and that's exactly what that question does. It gives permis...

Walking with Gregg Behr is so pleasant and so energizing, you hardly notice the soaked shins and constant raindrops until you listen back to the recording on dry land. This child of Western Pennsylvania was challenged long ago to set his sights on the stratosphere and make meaningful change, especially in the world of innovative educational programs designed to inspire kids (and adults) and improv...

As we mentioned yesterday, Ashley Battle was originally scheduled for next week. But, given how intricately involved she was in our last walk with Brean Vaske, and especially given the championship run of her former team, the UConn Huskies (Ashley is a 3x champion herself, no biggie), we thought it was only right to jump start the second half of this project with a true gamer. We didn't talk a lot...

'...you make me sound like a superhero.' 'I see your cape.' If that doesn't sum up the crux of these walks. First of all, the efforts and belief that Brean displayed during some of the most challenging moments any of us could imagine were nothing short of heroic. Let's start there. But beyond that, it's wildly difficult to turn the gaze upon yourself, especially in the moment, without immediately...

These Walks can be a labor of love. A responsibility to do right by those trusting in us to find a line. Or let go of one. They've taken days or weeks to compile. They're emotional. They're beautiful. They're...exhausting. But each time they finish. Each time the words start sounding garbled or wrong. Each time we prepare to put stories to the world and need a first listen, there&#...

With a quiet confidence and grace, Ashl...I mean Lala Woods talks about overcoming one of life's many pivots and how reacting with optimism is the only way to go. It's quite a thing to realize a child isn't quite a child anymore, even when the face you see staring back at you seems feathered by memories and ornery youth. But to talk to Lala now is to talk to someone who has lived a bit. Someone wh...

It's not easy to describe someone who is so open about struggle and so fair about fault. Someone so willing to accept responsibility but so clear about heroes. But here in this space, we find Gus, a child turned man who was always ready to speak and who has inspired, who continues to inspire, long-necessary changes in education. He doesn't describe himself this way, at least not yet, but Gus is an...

Small steps and big affirmations, two keys in sharing humanity. In other words, walk the walk if you're encouraging the world to do hard things. Theresa Kowcheck is the best in humanity. She has dedicated her life to being the person who sees your potential. And yours. And yours too. She has struggled and overcome and struggles still, yet she inspires by believing, even when you don't. It's no sur...

As one rounds into the twilight of a career, there is often a twinge to stay relevant, stay important, stay in charge. But, as Angi Evans puts it, when it starts feeling like 'my school' and not 'the school', it's time for educational leaders to decide 'Who's Got Next'. It's something that Evan Smith writes should begin on day one, but hey, the next best time to plant a tree is today, right? In th...

Walking with a college roommate was supposed to be an easy one. You were so close in those formative years. You keep in touch and go to the reunions and participate in the group texts. You know everything about each other, right? Wrong. If these Walks have shed light on anything, it's the mountain of lived experience lying just beneath the surface, waiting to be expressed, no matter the age or...

'If you're out there taking the most cautious grants so that everything works out, then that's the fast track to mediocrity.' 🗣️ Say it louder for the ones in the back, Uncle Jimmy! People over progress reports. Strive for something more. Fail better. Working alongside Jim Denova for the past decade has taught me that relationships and partnerships will always outweigh proposals and policies. That...

Parker has been a mainstay in my videos over the years. From the first time we expected a cute kid to be seen and not heard (only to find ourselves inspired to examine a rotten walnut together), Parker would never relegate himself to a silent prop. And today, wise beyond his 10 lived years, he walks us through life lessons, challenges us to leave room for wonder, and reminds us to listen and love,...

'BOW TO YOUR SENSEI!' Four words you won't hear (unless he's quoting a movie line) come out of IJ Kalcum, a man with the quiet grace of a master and the boundless energy of one of the children he supports each day. Instead, you'll hear 'How are you?' and you'll see the eyes of a friend who won't settle for 'Fine'. What a pleasure it was to Walk with this...

When was the last time you watched a video of Mr. Rogers? If it's been a while, go ahead and take a minute and search for his Dartmouth commencement speech on YouTube, or one of his many monologues at the end of a show, and find yourself transported back to your childhood living room. Then get some tissues because you won't even realize it's happening... Such is the world I entered when I first me...

I've known Chad Barnett for decades, and while I haven't seen him up close for a few years, there was a clear picture in my mind. But when I saw him this time, it wasn't just the missing blazer that seemed different, it was the very notion of what a 'school man' could mean. May we all ditch our perceived uniform for our authentic selves and lead from the heart. Just like Chad.

Good morning, my morning people! I'm excited to share our newest Walk with Carrie Ochap, ready to listen and read at hofreuter.com. Carrie is one of those people who steps forward when asked...well, before she is asked...well, before anyone is asked really. So when this project was first getting off the ground, guess who stepped forward? Here's to the hockey moms. To the teacher moms. To t...