On The Way To School

Dr. Chris Dennis recalls the whirlwind launch week for his new book, Lonely Graduation, from a packed Leimert Park bookstore event to campus talks at Hamline University and a bestseller debut on Amazon. He shares highlights from launch events in Los Angeles and Minneapolis and reflects on the community response and social proof of the book’s message.

Chris outlines three practical takeaways: moment, meaning, and action, to help lis...

Dr. Chris Dennis shares episode updates on the March 25th Lore Bookstore signing in Los Angeles and the March 27th Strive Bookstore event in Minneapolis as Lonely Graduation approaches.

He celebrates a student pitch contest that showcased creative, real-world solutions and encourages educators to nurture their own passion projects as spring break approaches.

Practical reminders include adjusting to daylight savings, surviving gradi...

Good morning — Dr. Chris Dennis counts down 21 days to the release of Lonely Graduation, shares a workshop anecdote where the book inspired someone's next academic step, and invites listeners to pre-order a signed copy for the March 24 release.

He reflects on a meaningful weekend with a gospel concert and a family gender reveal, encourages educators to prioritize rest during the busy semester stretch, and teases an upcoming episode...

📍 30 days out from Lonely Graduation. And today I’m thinking about proximity. Had lunch with a friend I’ve known since 2007.

He still had a picture on his phone from when he visited me at a school where I worked years ago. That hit me. Because your career isn’t just built on titles. It’s built on moments. On how people experienced you. Yesterday, someone told me: “It’s not about who you know. It’s about who knows you.” What do p...

Dr. Chris Dennis discusses how educators and administrators should handle reference checks with honesty and integrity. He advises sharing areas for growth in an asset-based, actionable way that supports the candidate and helps hiring teams make informed decisions.

The episode covers formal and informal references, the importance of face-to-face feedback when possible, and the responsibility of referees to communicate candidly while...

Host Dr. Chris Dennis opens with reflections on a moving Black History Month high school chapel and then explores the value of humility and self-criticism for educators. He describes how reflective, humble leaders quietly make big impacts, accept feedback, and keep improving without needing the spotlight.

This episode offers a brief, encouraging look at how self-awareness and thoughtful critique can become strengths in classrooms a...

Dr. Chris Dennis shares updates on his book Lonely Graduation, thanks listeners for pre-orders, and recounts presenting at SoCal POSIS’s Bring POCC Home event. He reflects on community, networking, and the power of affinity gatherings in independent schools.

He also summarizes a keynote by Dr. Rodney Glasgow about treating your spaces—home, classroom, office—as sacred places to be grounded, restored, and refueled, and encourages ed...

Dr. Chris Dennis welcomes listeners to a rainy Thursday episode focused on mid-year pressures in schools. He discusses preparing for and recovering from intense meetings, using deep breaths and contemplative silence to reset, and the importance of maintaining good self-care practices.

He encourages finding small moments of joy, even dancing at home, to celebrate progress and stay connected to the purpose of working with students. P...

Host Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on a brief middle-school Harkness discussion he observed, highlighting how students engaged with The Skin I'm In and moved into deeper dialogue.

He connects that classroom moment to leadership: meetings work best when everyone arrives with the same content and preparation, enabling informed decisions.

A concise reflection for educators and administrators about student discourse, observation insights, ...

Dr. Chris Dennis reflects on recent events—from the passing of Reverend Jesse Jackson to a trip to Montgomery and a talk by Bryan Stevenson—and highlights the power of proximity in understanding equity, justice, and the humanity of those most impacted.

The episode urges school leaders and educators to spend more time in classrooms (including commitments of 50% or 25% time), outlines plans to support those affected by mass incarcera...

📍 Eight days. Three cities. Three powerful gatherings. Minneapolis. Montgomery. Atlanta.

I'm back home; grateful, tired, recalibrating. This week reminded me how important it is actually to engage when you're at conferences. Don't just sit with those you know. Not just anchor to what's comfortable. But introduce yourself. Pour into someone. Learn from someone. Take the selfie. Send the text. Build the bridge.

I also realized som...

Dr. Chris Dennis describes his visit to the Legacy Museum and related sites in Montgomery, Alabama, reflecting on the history of enslavement, reconstruction, and the link to present-day mass incarceration.

He shares emotional moments from the exhibits, the personal impact of confronting this history, and a renewed call to activism and supporting incarcerated voices. He encourages educators to visit the sites in person or online to ...