That’s a difficult title for me to write.

Growing up with two brothers, competition was a way of life. We raced to the dinner table, battled over board games, and kept score of everything. But in education, constantly trying to come out on top can quietly erode the very relationships we’re meant to protect.

As a kid, I hated the final scene in A League of Their Own. I rooted for Dottie (Geena Davis) the entire movie. I found Kit (Lori Petty) overly whiny and frustrating. So when Dottie drops the ball in the championship game—allowing Kit to win the title for Racine—I was devastated.

Why would she do that?

As I’ve grown older and rewatched the film, I see that moment differently. I don’t believe the ball simply slipped out. I believe Dottie made a decision.

She did it for Kit.
But she also did it for herself.

The history teacher was stuck in the past
The math teacher had too many problems
The gym teacher couldn’t pull his weight
The band director couldn’t face the music
The shop teacher couldn’t make the cut
The dance teacher was out of step
The physics teacher had no energy
The English teacher couldn’t find the words
The librarian was full of issues
The coding teacher was stuck in a loop
The art teacher lacked perspective
The economics teacher proved a poor investment
The counselor required guidance
The Latin teacher couldn’t seize the day
The principal needed discipline

Readers may need to take a recess from reading my posts after this one.

Every year, education becomes more complex. There is more to do, more to worry about, and more to understand. In a profession that can feel overwhelming, maintaining focus is not just helpful—it is essential.

In For Love of the Game, the aging pitching ace Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) finds himself in New York one last time, facing the Yankees. As Chapel prepares to throw the first pitch, he scans the stadium, locking in on the insults being hurled his way by hostile home fans.

To center himself, Chapel utters a simple phrase: “Clear the mechanism.” Instantly, the surrounding noise fades away. His focus narrows to one thing—the batter standing in front of him.

Spoiler alert: Chapel goes on to pitch a perfect game. He accomplishes this rare feat because he is able to separate distractions from the task at hand.

If only teaching were that simple.

Teachers can’t just say “Clear the mechanism” as they walk into class and expect every student to follow directions, participate enthusiastically, support one another, and master the content. But while the solution may not be that easy, the principle still applies.

A common question I’m asked is: What’s the difference between being a teacher and being a principal?
My response is always the same: Have you seen The Green Mile?

The Green Mile centers on death row inmate John Coffey (Michael Clarke Duncan), who has been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of two children. As the film unfolds, we learn that John is not a monster at all—he is a miracle worker, gifted with the ability to remove pain from those who are suffering.

In one powerful scene, prison guard Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) is experiencing unbearable pain caused by a severe bladder infection. John calls Paul over to his cell, grabs him, and pulls him close—initially causing Paul to fear for his life. Moments later, Paul realizes John isn’t trying to hurt him; he’s trying to help him. The scene ends with Paul asking, “What did you just do to me?” John simply replies, “I helped it. Didn’t I help it?”

By the end of the film, John has deeply impacted everyone around him. But the years of absorbing others’ pain and suffering have taken a tremendous toll.

What is the best way to leave school with a smile on your face?

There are certain holiday movies I look forward to watching every year. Scrooged is one of them. It’s great from start to finish—but the final ten minutes are something special. If I’m flipping through channels and that scene is on, I stop and watch. Even without investing the prior two hours, I always find myself getting choked up.

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been retold dozens of times, but Scrooged might be my favorite version. We follow Frank Cross (Bill Murray) as he encounters three ghosts on Christmas Eve. By the end of the night, he has transformed from a money-obsessed, selfish television executive into someone who truly believes in the spirit of Christmas and the power of giving.

“If you give… then the miracle can happen to you.”

What does Frank mean by give?
What does he mean by miracle?