Stephen Bigelow, PhD - Education Leadership

  There are trips we plan carefully, and then there are trips that quietly teach us something unexpected. A recent long weekend in Rio de Janeiro became the latter for me. Like many first-time visitors, I arrived captivated by the obvious wonders: the sweep of Copacabana, the view from Corcovado, the dramatic meeting of city, mountain, and sea. Rio carries a beauty that almost resists description. Yet what stayed with me most was not the scenery itself, remarkable as it was, but a growing sense of belonging. Part of that came through experiencing the city alongside someone whose presence helped me see Brazil not as a visitor, but a little more from within. Through shared conversations, introductions to family and friends, and the gift of seeing familiar places through another person’s eyes, Rio began to feel less like tourism and more like participation. That distinction has stayed with me. One evening at Maracanã, surrounded by thousands of passionate supporters wearing Flamengo c...

  This past week, I had a conversation that stayed with me. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t confrontational. In fact, it was thoughtful, direct, and grounded in care. The kind of conversation you hope for in a professional community: honest, respectful, and intended to help, not harm. I left it feeling appreciative. One of the things I continue to learn, especially in a close and connected community, is just how much leadership extends beyond the obvious spaces. It’s not confined to meetings, classrooms, or formal communication. It exists in the unplanned interactions and the casual settings where, whether you intend it or not, people are forming impressions. That’s not a complaint. It’s part of the responsibility. But it does create a kind of tension that I don’t think we talk about enough. In education, relationships matter. Some of the most meaningful parts of my career have come from the relationships I’ve built with colleagues, people who started as coworkers and, over time, bec...