June unfolded as a tapestry of milestones—a grand opening, an educational leadership and principal pipeline deep dive, heartfelt remembrance, and a historic sports triumph.
On Saturday, June 7, the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Tennessee Career Academy in Memphis, TN marked their grand opening. Led by Founder and Executive Director, Dr. John Barker and Head of School, Dr. Meah King, the new charter middle school debuted its Career and Technical Education (CTE) mission for grades 6–7, with plans to expand into a full 6–12 campus by 2028 (tncareeracademy.org). It was inspiring to witness the first cohort of students, families, and educators celebrate this leap toward empowering youth through career-connected learning. The energy was uplifting for a community assumedly ready to invest in the future.
Just days later, I traveled to Columbus, OH for The Ohio State University’s “2025 Leading for Success Summer Institute.” Over three days—June 9 to 11—I immersed myself in inspiring leadership workshops, networked with peers from across the Wallace Foundation’s principal pipeline Equity Centered Partnership Initiative (ECPI) as a thought partner, and reflected on inclusive strategies that bridge theory and practice to serve our most vulnerable students. The amazing keynote speakers and sessions on adaptive leadership, fairness and inclusion in education, and stakeholder engagement were especially relevant, challenging assumptions, and reinforcing my leadership learning journey in both purpose and skill.
On June 14, I joined friends, colleagues, and the Quinn family in Traverse City, MI, to celebrate the life of Tim Quinn—a mentor, dear friend, and guiding light. Tim’s warmth, wisdom, and unwavering integrity shaped so many of our paths. In the circle of shared stories—his laughter, his advice, the lessons he imparted—honored a legacy of mentorship. It was a day of tears and gratitude. His influence lives on in the ripple effect of every life he touched, and I emerged from that service both mourning the loss and feeling profoundly inspired.
Closing out the month on a high note, June 22 saw the Oklahoma City Thunder win their first NBA Championship since relocating from Seattle in 2008—and the franchise’s second title ever—defeating the Indiana Pacers 103–91 in Game 7. Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander earned Finals MVP honors after dropping 29 points and 12 assists, securing a rare trio of accolades: regular-season MVP, scoring champion, and Finals MVP in the same season. The television audience reportedly averaged 16.4 million viewers—the most in six years —captivated by the youth, grit, and competitive spirit of our beloved Thunder young guns.
What ties these experiences together? It’s about new beginnings and enduring legacies—from the students starting fresh at TCA, to leaders sharpening their clarity at OSU, to honoring a mentor whose wisdom endures, to a young team seizing a momentous victory. Whether we’re shaping futures or honoring the past, these events are reminders: growth demands intention, leadership calls for heart, and greatness—on the court or in our lives—comes from teamwork, resilience, and belief.
As July approaches, I carry forward lessons from each milestone: educational purpose, leadership with empathy, gratitude for personal connections, and the power of courage in defining moments. Here’s to nurturing every opportunity and honoring every mentor—on and off the court.