Stephen Bigelow, PhD - Education Leadership

I normally write from my computer, with time and space to reflect. Today, I am writing from Madrid, in between destinations, with a suitcase not far away and a mind that feels unexpectedly full. The past week has been emotional in all the right ways. I have formed close friendships. I have met generous, thoughtful people. I celebrated the holiday season first in Brazil, then in Spain, and I will soon be arriving in yet another place to mark Christmas. There has been movement, transition, and more than a little vulnerability, but also a deep sense of gratitude. This time, I explored the Iberian Peninsula without losing my phone. That alone feels like progress. Like Lisbon before it, Madrid has exceeded my expectations. I did not come with a checklist. I walked, a lot. I wandered neighborhoods, lingered in cafés, and stood quietly in places with centuries of stories beneath my feet. I found myself in conversations with strangers that did not feel rushed or transactional. There is somethi...

  Last December, I wrote an article about the great superintendent dilemma: the Snow Day call. The stress. The pressure. The inevitable chorus of “You should have known!” from students, parents, and staff, regardless of what decision you make. Some days, superintendents cannot win, especially when the weather app is indecisive as well. This year is a little different. Right now, I am writing from Salvador, Brazil, where it is a sunny 86 degrees on a December afternoon. Palm trees sway, the ocean breeze rolls in, and the locals excitedly discuss the change of seasons. And they mean it. Here, the seasonal shift is a 10-degree swing: 75 degrees is considered “cold,” and 85 degrees is considered “hot.” Perspective is everything. There is no black ice on the roads or snow piling up by the hour. The only thing falling from the sky is sunshine, and maybe a ripe coconut if I do not pay attention. So while I do not expect any Snow Days this year, in fact, I am pretty sure the closest thing ...

  A little more than a year ago, I wrote about the strategic planning process in a Medium article titled  The Strategic Planning Process in School Leadership. At the time, I emphasised how a strategic plan, when done well, gives an organisation alignment, clarity, and shared purpose. But having just completed the strategic plan for the Pan American School of Bahia, I have been reminded that the value of strategic planning goes far beyond producing a polished document. When done properly, it guides decisions, aligns people, and keeps the community focused on what truly matters. In every district I have served, I have seen the difference between a plan created for compliance and a plan created with intention. Compliance plans are created because they are required. Intentional plans shape culture. They help a school stay steady during periods of change. And, perhaps most importantly, they give people a sense of ownership over the future they are building together. At the Pan Amer...