September 20, 2026

Hi ,

I felt like an idiot.

I’ve been using AI for years, but this week I took an assessment on how well I can use AI. It was humbling to say the least.

The challenges were very technical, included word games, outputting things just right, and process/flow charts. Man, it was tough. It was a timed test, and I never got the first question right. I had to skip it and come back later, which I did, and I’m glad I did because I still couldn’t figure out how to get it to format it correctly, even when I told it EXACTLY what to do!

This week, we’ve got two awesome LIVE events.

First up is AILeader Office Hours. I’m presenting at VAESP next week, and going to use this to answer your last minute questions before that presentation. AI keeps moving fast, and we all need a place to come ask questions and not feel like an idiot.

Second, is my monthly Big Impact Mixer. You never know what is going to come out of these, but this week we are going to share networking strategies and tips. Some come with your best ones. We’ll talk about networking for business, relationships, connections, jobs, and whatever else you can think of.

But I’m not going to be the “guru” this week. The smartest person in this room will be the room. So, if you’ve got something awesome you do, come share. If you want to learn something awesome, come share.

Here’s a tip to whet your whistle, though. Every time I enter into a new relationship with someone, I expect that it will last for 10 years.

Thinking with a long time horizon immediately deepens the relationship and removes the icky transactional feel. Just walking into a meeting with that intention forces you to slow down and see where you’re at.

All the best!

Jethro

PODCAST Episode

Stubborn Adult Disorder with David Schipper Transformative Principal 634

David Schipper addresses 'Stubborn Adult Disorder' and advocates for early testing and effective reading instruction.

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Concepts & Frameworks

Vision Doesn’t Need to Be Big. It Needs to Be Clear.

A school vision doesn’t need to be inspiring poetry. It needs to be clear enough that everyone in your building can say it, live it, and apply it. I once worked with a school where the mission statement was three paragraphs long. Nobody remembered it. We distilled it down to: “Every kid known. Every kid challenged. Every kid supported.” Suddenly, teachers used it in meetings, students referenced it during projects, and parents knew what the school stood for. Your vision should be the compass, not the wallpaper. When people start saying to justify their decisions, you know they've internalized it.

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“

It's easy to be isolated, whether you're in a big school or small school. It's nice to have some like-minded principles that you can go to if you need help. And also Jethro has been great just personally, anytime I've needed help or struggled with something, he always has, some great wisdom to share with me and some strategies.

— Eric Makelky, Principal, Wyoming

Jethro Jones

Transformative Principal

Education and leadership nerd, and founder of Transformative Principal. You might know me from my latest books, How to be a Transformative Principal and SchoolX, and the longest running ed leadership podcast, Transformative Principal.