Mix Tape: The Hits of the 24/25 Soundtrack

Heather Lyon
Jun 18
5 min read

Hello,

This is my last new letter of the 24/25 school year, and what a year it’s been!

I wanted to take a moment to spotlight some of the posts for this year in case you missed them and want something to peruse over the summer. Think of this as a mix tape that might encourage you to dive deeper into any of the other posts from this or previous years!

September 2024

Tell Your Story - In this post, I reflect on how athletes make their performance look effortless, even though it’s backed by years of intense practice and dedication. While I’m not athletic myself, I’ve spent countless hours on the sidelines supporting my kids and admiring the hard work of professionals. I draw a connection between their visible success and the unseen effort many of us put into our own work. I encourage readers to share their behind-the-scenes processes, acknowledge their effort, and celebrate small wins. By doing so, we remind others—and ourselves—that what looks easy often takes real perseverance.

October 2024

Yes, And! - In my post "Yes, And," I explore the improvisational principle of embracing ideas with openness and collaboration, drawing parallels between improv comedy and effective communication in professional settings. I reflect on how adopting a "yes, and" mindset can lead to more productive interactions, fostering creativity and mutual respect. By sharing personal experiences, I highlight the importance of building upon others' contributions rather than shutting them down. Ultimately, I advocate for this approach as a means to enhance teamwork and innovation in our daily lives.

November 2024

Better Late Than Never: A Post on the Engagement Framework - Engagement is something I think about constantly. While I’ve written a series of posts on the different levels—non-compliant, compliant, interested, and absorbed—I realized I never shared the core framework behind it all. In Engagement is Not a Unicorn (It’s a Narwhal), I explained how people can see the same lesson but disagree on whether students were engaged. That’s because we lack a common definition. My Engagement Continuum outlines the progression from disengagement to deep involvement, while the Engagement Matrix explains the “why,” based on one’s relationship with the task and external motivators. Together, these tools form the Engagement Framework. They show that real engagement begins at the “interested” level and grows from meaningful effort—not just fun or ease. When we understand what drives engagement, we can create environments where people thrive.

December 2024

Present Company Included - I shared a story about a meaningful birthday gift from my son—a copy of War and Peace—which was less about the book itself and more about the time and connection it represented. Reflecting on that, I drew a parallel between gifts and jobs. Some jobs feel like the perfect present, while others don’t quite fit. Over time, I’ve learned that the true value of a job often comes from what we put into it and what we take away from it. I’ve had roles I’ve loved and others I’ve outgrown. This post encourages readers to reflect on their own work: Is it still the gift you thought it would be? Or is it time to reframe, repurpose, or move on to something that better fits who you are now?

January 2025

Plot Twist - Rewatching Dirty Dancing as an adult made me realize how much my perspective has changed since childhood. What once seemed like a simple love story now reveals deeper themes—like class, bias, and questionable relationships—that I missed entirely when I was younger. This shift in understanding mirrors what happens in leadership and life: the situation may stay the same, but as we grow, we see things differently. Susan Scott’s beach ball metaphor reminds me that everyone sees a different “stripe,” and we need each other’s viewpoints to see the whole picture. Ultimately, I’ve learned that I’m the variable—my growth changes how I see the world. So I ask: Who do you need to hear from to expand your own perspective?

February 2025

Don’t Take Work Advice from a Comedian - Plato believed true craft comes from love of the work, not just earning money. That idea resonates with me, even as I acknowledge that most of us balance passion with the need to pay bills. Jerry Seinfeld’s recent commencement speech encouraged grads to chase cool jobs over high-paying ones, but his advice comes from a place of privilege that many can’t afford. Still, his message and Plato’s both highlight a truth: doing work you enjoy is powerful—but survival matters, too. I believe there’s dignity in all work, whether it fuels your soul or simply feeds your family. There’s no shame in wage-earning, and we should respect all kinds of labor, not just the “cool” or prestigious ones.

March 2025

I Am Not a Bonsai - In honor of Women’s History Month, I’ve returned to my poetry roots to share something personal. “I Am Not a Bonsai” is a poem I wrote as a tribute to the strength, resilience, and power of women—and anyone who’s ever been underestimated or diminished. It’s about refusing to be cut down or contained, and finding growth, community, and strength in standing tall, like a towering tree in a vast forest.

April 2025

Designing Curb Cuts for Invisible Backpacks - I’ve been reflecting on the idea of the “invisible backpack”—the emotional burdens we all carry but rarely share. Whether it’s trauma, grief, addiction, or anxiety, these unseen weights shape our lives in profound ways. Even those closest to us may never fully know what we carry. My “person,” who I talk to daily, sometimes hears only, “I don’t feel fit for human consumption”—code for when the weight is too heavy even to talk about. That’s why universal empathy is critical. Everyone is carrying something. Inspired by the concept of “curb cuts”—designs created for those with the greatest needs but that benefit everyone—I ask: What if we designed our classrooms, workplaces, and communities with the most burdened in mind? Trauma-informed training, accessible facilities, mental health days, and grief-acknowledging cultures are just a few examples. We don’t need to know someone’s story to be kind. When we design with compassion and inclusion at the center, we lighten everyone’s load—even those we don’t see.

May 2025

We’re Not Preparing School Leaders - We’re Credentialing Them - Earning a certificate doesn’t mean someone is ready to lead. Real preparation requires more than coursework or shadowing; it demands authentic experiences, mentorship, and the skills to lead equity-focused change. In this post, I offer alternatives to the traditional “sit and get” models—highlighting how universities and districts can partner to grow leaders who are truly ready, not just certified.

June 2025

Reading, Writing, and Regulating Emotions - In this post, I reflect on how deeply we’ve improved math and reading instruction by emphasizing understanding over rote memorization—and argue that we need to bring that same intentionality to social-emotional learning (SEL). While we’ve systematized academic instruction, we often leave emotional development to chance, even though SEL is foundational to success in school and life. Just like math or literacy, students need explicit instruction and high expectations to build emotional awareness and regulation skills.

~Heather

P.S. Have you ever felt frustrated by things outside your control—someone being rude, bad weather, the news? Same here. In moments like that, I’ve been thinking about a concept that’s been getting a lot of attention lately: Mel Robbins’ Let Them Theory. It encourages us to say “let them” when others’ behavior triggers us. While I appreciate that idea, what really resonates with me is the second part: “let me.” Robbins explains that while “let them” helps release control over others, “let me” is about reclaiming our own power. It’s not just “you do you”—it’s I choose how I respond. And that shift? That’s my real catch of the week.

Enjoy this video that walks you through Let Them and Let Me