How I Got Here

The Birth of Kimbo Coaching & Consulting

Big news about my “next chapter” is coming soon! I am pleased to share that April 1 will be the official launch date for Kimbo Coaching & Consulting! In the meantime, read on to learn what has led me to this point in time.

March 2020. Five years ago this week: No one could have prepared us for the unprecedented time to follow. A veteran school administrator, leading a school through this era was the most trying period of my professional career. Many people have asked me to recount what it was like. HERE is a summary of my recollections from that time.

In addition to my professional dilemmas, as well as the day-to-day challenges we all were navigating in the face of COVID-19, my beloved mother became gravely ill during this time. Her illness, cancer diagnosis, rapid decline, and death, all within 6 weeks at the height of the pandemic, shook me to my core; I wasn’t sure that I would emerge from the darkness. However, emerge I did.

I continued to give my all to my school community, as we collectively sought to return to “normal.” In short time, we discovered that this was an unlikely task, and instead came to accept that we were living in a “new normal.”

During the 21-22 school year, I began to contemplate the idea of retirement. I wasn’t sure how I’d managed to reach this milestone in my life. In many ways, I still felt like the “new kid,” bubbling with enthusiasm, constantly learning. Despite this, I was 29 years into my career in public education. Having emerged from such a difficult time professionally and personally, I recognized that I wasn’t finished and that I still had more to contribute. I pondered how I might do so differently.

I began talking to former colleagues and mentors and I consumed everything I could find about this topic: life after retirement, a next chapter, an encore career. After much contemplation (I tend to be an over-thinker extraordinaire!), I concluded that the 2023-24 school year would be my final one as a school principal. I’ll share the message that I used to convey this news to my school community in a subsequent post.

In his 2022 book “From Strength to Strength” author Arthur Brooks describes the need to move from “fluid intelligence curve” to a “crystalized intelligence curve”; in other words, transitioning from using skills such as memory and quick thinking to using the wisdom and insight gained through experience and accumulated knowledge. This struck a chord with me; I let it marinate.

Since retiring as of July 1, 2024, I have relished spending time with my two young grandchildren and I have focused on my health and well-being. In addition, I’ve become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for a foster child in Pima County, as well as a Surrogate Parent through the Arizona Department of Education. In this capacity, I am able to serve as a surrogate for children being evaluated for or receiving special education services, when needed. I am also pursuing my Advanced Facilitator Credential through the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, deepening my knowledge and skills related to systems thinking.

And, I continued to contemplate what might be next for me; how I might use my “crystalized intelligence,” following 31 years in public education. As I stated at the top of this post, Kimbo Coaching & Consulting will make its official debut on April 1, 2025! Stay tuned for more details!