Fresh Starts and Bold Moves By Dr. Barbara Zwadyk

Leading with Vision into 2026

There's something magical about January—that collective deep breath we all take as one chapter closes and another begins. For educational leaders, this moment isn't just about turning a calendar page. It's about asking yourself the most courageous question you'll face all year: What kind of leader do I want to become in 2026?

The start of a new year offers educational leaders a rare gift: permission to reimagine everything. Not just your programs or initiatives, but your approach, your priorities, and your impact. As educator and author Gino Blefari (2024) reminds us, "The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new." This isn't about abandoning what works, it's about having the courage to create what's next.

Think about the leadership moments that defined your 2025. The difficult conversations that built trust. The bold decisions that moved your organization forward. The times you chose empathy over efficiency, connection over compliance, vision over maintenance. These weren't accidents—they were choices. And 2026 offers you 365 more days to make choices that matter.

The courage to lead into a new year means resisting the temptation to simply polish last year's plan. It means asking: What would I attempt if I knew I couldn't fail? Which students need me to be braver? Which staff members need me to see possibilities they can't see yet? What legacy am I building, one day at a time? According to a 2024 Deloitte report, organizations with intentional learning cultures are 92% more likely to innovate and 58% more prepared with skills for the future.

Here's the beautiful truth about fresh starts: you don't need to have everything figured out. You just need to take the first step with purpose. As Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us, "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." That's the essence of courageous leadership—moving forward even when the path isn't perfectly clear, trusting that your commitment to students, staff, and community will guide you through.

This year, give yourself permission to dream bigger. To try approaches you've been hesitant about. To have conversations you've been avoiding. To build the educational community you know is possible, not just the one you've inherited. The students in your building won't remember the policies you wrote or the meetings you chaired—they'll remember whether you created a place where they felt seen, valued, and capable of extraordinary things.

2026 isn't just another year to manage. It's 365 opportunities to lead courageously, love authentically, and create lasting impact. What will you build?

Welcome to 2026. Let's make it extraordinary.