"Literacy is the great equalizer. When we teach a child to read, we give them the keys to every other door in the building." ~ LeVar Burton My favorite part of days off is how I am able to start my morning: a hot cup of strong coffee and a book. Currently, my professional read is The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle. As I read, I’m constantly reminded that every strategic plan, every budget hearing, and every board meeting ultimately serves one singular purpose—ensuring that every child in our care can read, comprehend, and engage with the world. As superintendents, we are often viewed as Chief Operations Officers. We manage bond issues and bus routes. We manage job postings and personnel. We manage, we manage, we manage. But, if we want to move the needle on student success, we must be leaders: Chief Literacy Officers. Leading literacy isn't just about picking a curriculum; it’s about creating a culture where reading is the heartbe...
According to Goodreads , I read 432 books in 2024. I am ranked as a Top 1% reviewer. My top genres: children’s fiction, middle grade fiction, and historical fiction. The books on this list include those genres and more. In reality, I read hundreds of more books than that (I serve on a national book committee, and I don’t rate books that fall in that category until after the awardees are named each November). During the past year I was reintroduced to comics – specifically, those with a Western focus – thrillers, and speculative fiction. Poetry is always a favorite, and I am always trying to read more nonfiction. If you’re looking to catch up on some middle grade reads that were released in 2024, then check out this list. The best part – these are titles you might have missed. I will also dip a bit into children’s and young adult fiction, because a good book is a good book, and I want to share those, too. The list is categorized by genre and not ranked in any particular...