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What If Perfect Attendance Became a Classroom Challenge?
How I’m Using Visibility, Teamwork, and Celebration to Build an Attendance Culture Attendance is one of those things we talk about constantly in schools. We send reminders, recognize students, communicate with families, monitor chronic absenteeism, and look at all the different data that tell us whether students are showing up. All of that matters, but…
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Protecting the Work: How I Build a Weekly Rhythm That Keeps Instruction at the Center
A principal’s calendar fills up quickly. There are meetings to lead, questions to answer, decisions to make, and needs that come up without warning. If I am not intentional about my schedule, the day can become one long response to whatever is loudest or most urgent in the moment. After seven years as a principal,…
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Protecting the Work: The Principal as Lead Teacher
When I think about the role of the principal, I often come back to where the position began. The word principal carries the idea of being first or chief, and historically, the school principal developed from the role of the principal teacher—the lead teacher in the school who eventually took on additional responsibilities for organizing…
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Elevate Your PLCs
If you’ve been reading my PLC series, you know one of my priorities this school year is to improve our PLCs so we can strengthen Tier I instruction—the everyday teaching every student receives. I’ve always asked my team to look at data and use it to plan their lessons. But this year, we’re changing how…
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A Few Principal Essentials That Make My Days Easier
Some of the things I rely on at work aren’t complicated. They’re just items I’ve used long enough to know they make my days easier. Click the image below to find these items on my Linktree. My rolling work tote I really dislike carrying bags, so my rolling work tote has been a lifesaver. I’ve…
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Getting a Little Ahead: November Campus Culture Calendar 🍂
I know we’re not quite to November yet, but I’m trying to get a little ahead. 😂 After creating my October Campus Culture Calendar, I knew I wanted to keep this going each month. The whole point is simple: be more intentional about celebrating people, creating connection, and having a little fun along the way.…
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Halloween Finds Are Here 🎃
I love when October rolls around and we get an excuse to add a little spooky season to everything. 👻 I rounded up some fun Halloween Amazon finds that are festive without being over the top—cozy sweaters, cute cardigans, and accessories that make it easy to bring a little Halloween into your everyday style. Because…
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Polka Dots Are Stealing the Show 🖤
Let’s keep this simple—polka dots are stealing the show right now, and Amazon has so many cute options. Classic, feminine, fun, and always a good idea. I pulled together some of my favorite finds all in one place. Click the photo to shop my finds, or find them anytime through my Linktree:https://tr.ee/fLtcer And don’t forget…
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Being Intentional About Campus Culture: October
When I shared my Five Things I Do Every Year to Start the School Year Strong, the last one was a little different: go inward. Part of going inward meant being honest about something I wanted to work on this year—being more intentional about celebrating my staff. I can spend a lot of time in…
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After 40, I Finally Feel Like Myself
Lately, much of my writing has centered on work and leadership because that is where this season of my life has required most of my attention. The beginning of a school year brings decisions to make, systems to build, people to support, and challenges that need to be addressed. But now that the year is…
School Culture & Systems
Hello, I’m Julie
Welcome to The Wildflower Within—a space about curiosity, self-discovery, and creating a life that feels more aligned with who you are.
I’m a woman in my 40s learning to make room for more of myself after years of letting responsibilities, roles, and expectations take up most of the space.
I’m still an educator and school principal, and leadership is a huge part of my life. But it isn’t the only part of me.
This is where I share all of it—the leading and the living, the writing and reflecting, the outfits, the travel, the dancing, the experiences, and everything I’m learning along the way.
I don’t have life figured out. I’m simply staying curious about who I am, what I want, and what else might be waiting for me.
And if you’re doing a little becoming of your own, I hope something here makes you curious about your story, too.
Let’s connect
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