Welcome to the Duck Pond Blog!
Your go-to source for all things education, trauma-informed, leadership, and beyond!
Our experts share some of their favorite tools, strategies, resources, and suggestions.
Could the Same Leadership Tools That Build Teams Strengthen Your Marriage?
True teamwork isn’t about being perfect together––it’s about understanding how each person’s joys and frustrations complement the other. If we can bring that kind of understanding into both our work and personal lives, we’ll build a foundation that’s not only effective but lasting.
The High Cost of Low Trust–And How Intentional Leaders Can Build It
As we examine how trust impacts the “black eyes” that teams and organizations inevitably experience, we ask ourselves: How can leaders best build and restore trust?
The Year to Dream: Building Possibilities, Partnerships, and Progress
As I kick off the sixth year of my annual tradition of choosing a word of focus, I have landed on "dream." This year is all about possibilities and opportunities that spark vitality and purpose. A pivotal moment occurred when I stumbled upon a 1998 radio interview (from the late 1900’s as the kids say these days), where the speaker shared four questions to test the authenticity of one's dreams. With these questions in hand, direction for the year becomes clearer.
UR(RY)
Education is a vibrant world filled with challenges that educators, school districts, and communities constantly navigate. To thrive in this landscape, a clear dedication to purpose is essential. We don't just embrace this dedication; it lives by it through a powerful mantra: URRY, which stands for "You are our why." This simple yet powerful phrase drives our mission to support educators, foster leadership, and provide services and products that enhance schools and communities.
Commitment vs Compliance
Are you committed or are you compliant? What does that mean in terms of leadership and as an employee?
To the Mr. E’s of the World
Gratitude is such a strange and powerful concept; that by merely expressing kindness and appreciation toward another, the act of gratitude happens to also produce so much personal satisfaction. A person can “accidentally” make themself feel good by intentionally making someone else feel valued. Considering how blessed my life has been and what a joy it brings me, I don’t dole out gratitude nearly often enough.