Building Futures: Insights From MySelf Builder

As I enter my tenth year at my current school, three words guide my thinking: reflect, build, and share.

• Reflect on the progress, challenges, and rewarding moments of the last decade.

• Build systems that help students see themselves as architects of their future.

• Share lessons, insights, and experiences with educators, administrators, and families.

A career in education teaches you a lot — especially when you’ve been in one place long enough to see former elementary students return as high school seniors or college students. Over the last year, I’ve run into several former students starting their first jobs at Krispy Kreme, Bojangles, and McDonald’s, which also says plenty about my eating habits.

One question I often ask students is, “What do you remember from elementary school?” Their answers usually include teachers they loved, special event days, or early sparks in math, sports, music, or art. These moments reaffirm what we already know: K–5 are foundational years. But the truth is that every grade level — elementary, middle, and high — adds another layer, another brick, to a student’s long-term personal and professional development.

As a new school year begins, educators are preparing for the next ten months while navigating instructional changes, designing lessons, reviewing assessments, and more. In the midst of the busyness, I encourage educators to lead with what matters most — what students will remember.

Consider:

• What materials are you sharing to help students become lifelong builders?

• What will they remember ten years from now?

• What new tool can you give a student or family that will shape their future?

When I began working at my current school as a behavior support coach, I didn’t have a blueprint for creating safe spaces where students could regulate their behavior, resolve conflicts, and grow. Listening to students, teachers, and families shaped my approach to implementing new policies, becoming an administrator, and contributing to positive shifts in school culture — including fewer disciplinary referrals, steady enrollment growth, and improved academics.

A team approach to developing solutions — in an environment that encourages growth and innovation — drives culture forward. Shifting culture is challenging, and it takes time. This is true in any organization.

Future posts will share personal stories from my career along with resources from MySelf Builder. My hope is that something in these articles will resonate with you and serve as another brick in your foundation — whether you’re building in a school, at home, in your workplace, organization, or community. We’re all builders. Let’s build together.

MySelf Builder Digital Workshop is a personal development and student enrichment platform offering coaching, mentoring, and digital workshops designed to help individuals become the best version of themselves. Visit myselfbuilder.com for more information.

Article originally posted on LinkedIn on August 9, 2026