We are a few weeks out from the World Cup. I totally loved it. The passion, the spirit, the energy of the games, the speed, and certainly the celebrations—my family and I watched so many of the games and really enjoyed them together.   As a former men’s Division I college basketball official, one thing…

I subscribe to the 3-2-1 blog by James Clear. He is the author of Atomic Habits. The blog comes out every Thursday and always has great stuff. In one part, he has ideas or quotes from others. This particular week, he had something from Psychologist and author Adam Grant.   Grant shares a question for…

I was in a local business in the great small city of Port Jervis, New York, where I serve as the director of communications and academic services. I’ve been in Port Jervis 23 years now, and I love visiting local shops, getting to know business owners, seeing students, families, staff, and alumni out and about,…

I recently attended an event in the Midwest at a Hilton property. While I traditionally stay at Marriott while traveling, I found myself at the lovely Hilton in Bloomington, Illinois, for the IHSA sports officials conference.     I am grateful to the amazing leadership team at IHSA—Craig Anderson, Sam Knox, Melissa Bert, and their…

I love my New Balance running sneaks for walking, running, and exercising.   Recently, the laces on my right shoe became uneven. I continued to tie them as usual, but the knot was never quite right. During my early morning workouts, I kept telling myself I would fix them “next time.” This went on for…

I tell everyone I have the best job in my district. After serving as an Assistant Principal and Principal for over 20 years in the great Port Jervis City School District in New York, I’ve been so fortunate to transition into my fourth year as the Director of Communications and Academic Services.   This role…

I had a great experience in Wilmington, North Carolina at the NC A4LE conference organized by the great Julie Fried and Nicole McGregor from from Smith System.   Nicole and Julie took care of so many details to make it a great event, including Nicole’s idea for name badges. How many of us have been…

I am currently  reading The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell — and in it, there is a passage titled “Dream Big.” (author unknown). I loved it! Check it out here:   Dream Big If there were ever a time to dare, To make a difference, To embark on something worth doing, It…

I was thrilled to join the ACE group in Saint Augustine, Florida, in the spring of 2026. Julie Roberts, Dave Barnes, and their team at the Adult & Community Educators group put on an amazing conference for CTE and adult educators in Florida. I was honored to be their speaker at the event, inspiring, motivating,…

I recently visited Malvern, Arkansas, to join the Dawson Educational Services school leadership conference. As I drove into Malvern, I saw a giant sign that said “Brick Capital Of The World.”   The sign was beautifully made, and proudly on display as you entered the town.     I parked over on Main Street, and…

I turned 50 this year–and if you’ve turned 50, you know that many things change in your life!  One was that my teeth started to push together and bunch up, becoming crooked. I made the leap and invested in the retainers Invisalign–the thin, clear retainers that help shift your teeth back into place. You wear…

I love Panera Bread. I go there often when I’m traveling. You can get healthy food, pre-order it, and know what you’re getting. I recently ordered one of their new creations called a salad stuffer. Perhaps you’ve seen the new commercials for it. They take out the inside of the bread, leaving just the shell,…

I’m a Kenny Chesney fan. Years ago, I really identified with his song called “Noise.” It’s a song about blocking out the noise in your life to be able to “hear” what is most important.   Recently, my friend Jim Cameron from Long Island shared his thoughts about noise on my podcast. “It’s not the…

I was in a sixth-grade class at Port Jervis Middle School recently, and the teacher did an amazing turn-and-talk activity. She did it multiple times, engaging the students, and it was great to hear them share, talk, laugh, and learn.   At one point, the teacher and I both heard a student say to another…

After I turned 50,  I started noticing my teeth more. They were starting to move and look crooked. They were not as straight as they once were after many years and struggles with braces. (God bless my orthodontist) I spoke with my dentist, and he recommended Invisalign.   I was very hesitant about it, as…

Proud, happy, and full of joy as my wife & I celebrated our 25th anniversary this April 21st, 2026. What a journey it’s been. We are blessed with 3 amazing kids, Claire, Matthew, & Tess, and our dog Ruby. We took a quick trip to Belgium & the Netherlands to celebrate and spent some time…

As I’ve shared many times on the #ELBlog, I enjoy watching documentaries on the elliptical in the morning. I find them inspiring and enjoy learning about others’ journeys. I recently watched the Michael Chang story, American Son.   Growing up, I used to play tennis with my best friend Francis, who is Filipino. He admired…

I love family game nights. Family and friends gathered around, usually after a great meal, all coming together to play a game with fun, spirit, humor, and more.   They seem to happen less and less these days with people’s busy schedules and such, but we try to make them happen when we can.  …

I spent some time on the Eastern Shore of Maryland (about 45 minutes east of Baltimore), back over the Easter weekend. It was a beautiful spring weekend with sunny blue skies and warm temperatures.   Each morning, I brewed some great coffee and jumped into the kayak with the book Unreasonable Hospitality. The water was…

I had a great visit with my daughter in Charlotte, North Carolina, back in February. We had the opportunity to see a friend officiate an NBA game and spend some time together. We had a few nice meals, took some nice walks, and had a fun visit to the Museum of Illusions. This museum was…

We were sitting around one night a few weeks ago, just relaxing after dinner. Most nights we’re hustling to a practice, or an event, or cleaning up to get ready for school the next day. However, on this particular evening, we had some extra time, which was really nice. We were chatting about family, current…

It was awesome to see my good friend and 18-year NBA official, Marat Kogut, this winter in Charlotte, North Carolina.   I was traveling north, and my daughter is a college student in North Carolina, so it was a perfect opportunity to connect.   Marat and I came up together in New York City as…

Good morning. This is a guest blog written by my good friend Kevin Spainhour. Kevin is the Assistant Superintendent at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in North Carolina. You can learn more here: https://kspainhour.com/   I’m grateful for last week’s blog by Andrew on Beginnings and Endings, which included his surprise visit to my daughter’s last collegiate…

I had the chance recently to experience one of the most beautiful and serendipitous occasions. I was driving my daughter to a soccer ID camp at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. We left early on Saturday morning and were going to arrive around 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The soccer ID camp was the…

During a family dinner in February, while the Winter Olympics were going on, my family was discussing the male ski jumpers and the “scandal” of them trying to extend the material in their crotch area. The thought was that doing this would give them more lift (almost like a parachute) as they flew down the…

It’s unbelievable that I’m approaching my 400th podcast. I’m not sure how it all happened, or how I got here, but here we are at #400! I love recording the show, and I love meeting new and incredible leaders and people. You can sign up and subscribe here to listen:  https://andrewmarotta.com/podcast-new/  You can subscribe to…

As I’ve shared in recent weeks, I lost my Mom on January 23, 2026.   On the morning of January 22, I was heading to do one of my favorite activities in the Port Jervis School District in New York: The Pledge of Allegiance LIVE in our classes with our students and staff. This is…

As I’ve shared before, I enjoy watching documentaries while on the elliptical in the morning. They keep me focused on moving as well as absorbing good, helpful information, and stories. I recently watched Boo-Yah: A Portrait of Stuart Scott. The story was heartfelt, emotional, and certainly sad in the end. I don’t want to give…

Grateful to Mike Mason for this guest blog.  I met Mike a number of years ago at the KASA. What Driving a School Bus Taught Me By Michael A. Mason I am grateful to have been able to do the kind of work I dreamed of doing during my childhood. I served five years in…

My mom, Dorothy Marotta, passed away on Friday, January 23, 2026. She was 83 years old, and my family and I were deeply saddened.   The days leading up to that Friday were painful, frustrating, and challenging in many ways. We were comforted by the gathering of family, friends, and loved ones. Yet we were…

I like to watch documentaries while I’m on the elliptical in the morning. It gets my mind moving, while my legs and heart are pumping. This particular morning, I was watching Being Eddie on Netflix.    I grew up watching Eddie Murphy movies such as Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, and his stand-up show, RAW.…

I recently overheard two educators talking about the upcoming parent-teacher conferences. Here’s how the conversation went:   Educator #1: How do you feel about parent-teacher conferences tonight? Educator #2: (Head cocked a little bit) What do you mean? Educator #1: Well, you know, getting ready to meet the parents. Educator #2:  It’s no different than…

I love hearing something new that inspires me. Whether it’s a movie, a book, or like this last one on my podcast. I’m so blessed and fortunate to meet amazing guests through the #ELB podcast.   I was recently chatting with Darin Beckwith and Candiss Bennett from Dawson Educational Service Cooperative in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on…

Meet Salvatore Manzi, the author of Clear and Compelling. Salvatore & I hit it off immediately on the podcast.  I mean, with a name like that!!!! In all seriousness, he shared many great tips and guidance for speaking–for extroverts & introverts.     Rooted in curiosity, shaped by life across seven countries, Salvatore helps bold thinkers…

This date would have been my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, my dad passed 17 years ago, but it’s still a special day. My mom posted these beautiful pictures which certainly made me reminisce and think about my parents, their relationship, my family and more. What a journey.   In today’s blog (officially #400) what…

I was working with a young administrative intern recently. She shared with me that she was uncomfortable because she really didn’t know what she was doing.   I said, let me tell you a story.   When I was growing up, I was so fortunate to not only be close to my own dad, but…

It’s always an honor to sign my books when I’m at an event. I love to speak with people who attended the workshops and keynote addresses. Personally signing their books for them is truly an honor.     I was recently at an event where I met a gentleman who paused me before I signed.…

My wife and I attended a wedding recently. In addition to throwing a check in the envelope, we wrote them a little note. We were extremely happy for the couple and excited to be there to celebrate their special day with them.   We are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this year in 2026, so…

Enjoy this guest blog written by school leader Syd Sexton from Lubbock, TX.  Syd worked years at Education Service centers in Texas providing PD, learning experiences, and supporting educators around the State of Texas.  She now is the Executive Director of Leadership Development at Frenship ISD in Wolfforth, TX.  Syd is a wife and Mom…

I love the rapid-fire portion of my #ELBPodcast, which I do near the end of the show. I ask the guest a variety of questions in fast succession, some serious and some not. You can tell a lot about a person by their habits, interests, routines, and decisions they make, so I ask questions. I’ve…

I love traveling and visiting amazing small towns across the United States. You learn so much and meet so many incredible people. I recently visited my good friend Superintendent Casey Hallgarth, and the Baker Bulldogs in beautiful Baker City, Oregon.   Whenever I’m on the West Coast, my body and mind are still on East…

Isn’t it the best when you find a new tool for your toolbox? You see somebody do something, or use something, and you say to yourself: Wow, that’s fantastic, I’m gonna add that to my routine! That’s exactly what happened when I heard Andy Andrews say, “Smile while you talk.” Andy and I both spoke…

One night, I had gotten home late from travelling. Flights were delayed getting into LaGuardia, it was late, and I was cranky.   On the drive home, I made up my mind that I was going to sleep in the next morning. I was not going to get up at my normal 5 AM to…

Hi Friends, meet Nathan!   Nathan is a National Sales Executive at Lifetouch, the nation’s largest school photography company.  Joining Lifetouch right out of college,  Lifetouch is the only company that Nathan has ever worked for!  He is proud of the difference that he makes day in and out, helping kids, families & educators to…

I don’t know where to start, or how to wrap my arms and heart around all the energy, positivity, fan engagement, and fun it was to see the Savannah Bananas at Yankee Stadium in mid-September. A friend of mine won the ticket raffle (Thanks, Jenn!), and she was not able to attend. Jenn offered the…

WOW Mike. Thanks for this guest blog spot. I met Mike at the South Tama School opening in August of 2025.  Mike was inspired by the storytelling aspect of the presentation as well as the importance of recognizing the power of our impact on kids and the school community. I loved hearing his story–and he…

I love stand-up comedy. I love the energy. I love the artistic creativity of the comic, and I just love to laugh. It warms my soul.   I was grateful to have the opportunity to interview Nick Holtvluwer on the podcast recently. Nick was a great guest. What a positive attitude, winning mindset, and indeed…

I’m excited that I finally got my boating certification. We live near Lake Wallenpaupack, and the kids are now teenagers, so they always want to go and do something. My wife and I are always trying to get the kids together and capture those magical moments together. So what’s better than getting out on the…

Busted! I got a speeding ticket while driving out West. I definitely was going over the speed limit, and there was literally no one else around. It was just wide open space (You like that Eric Nichols) and road, but I was definitely going too fast. Way too fast.   My original flight home was…

One of my audience engagement strategies is a fun game of adding up numbers between partners. When I speak to big groups, I usually do this activity about halfway through. I have group members stand back-to-back to do this game. On the count of three, each person, who is standing back-to-back to begin, quickly turns…

I traveled all over this past summer to speak at different schools and conferences. It was great to meet so many wonderful educators and their leadership teams. The spirit and energy that educators bring when they return to school is something truly unique! During one particular trip, I had two very nice experiences. They were…

I’ve always enjoyed cutting the grass and trimming the edges of my lawn. As a young teenager, I had my own lawnmower and would cut lawns around the neighborhood. As the years went by, I upgraded my equipment. I bought a trimmer, a blower, an edger, and other things like that. I always enjoy the…

I recently took part in an online training course with Kevin McGowan, a NYS Superintendent of the year from Brighton Schools in Rochester, NY.  Kevin has an easy going nature, a good sense of humor, and a great ability to read the room. He started the training with a question to get people engaged. He…

Hey friends, here is another guest blog written by my friend Dr. Chad Dumas.  Chad is a Solution Tree PLC at Work®, RTI at Work®, Assessment, and Priority Schools consultant, international presenter and award-winning researcher whose primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. Having been a successful teacher, principal, central office administrator,…

Every summer I try to set up a little vegetable garden in my backyard here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and many summers,  I have struck out. I’ve changed the soil. I’ve fought with the deer. I’ve trimmed the trees, changed the water, but I continue to strike out year after year. This year with the advice…

It has been quite a rewarding and very invigorating spring and summer, presenting at multiple conferences, workshops, leadership events, etc. I am truly energized by these events and most importantly, by the amazing educators who are attending them. One of the things I really focused on this year was slowing down my presentations and doing…

I love meeting incredible people on my podcast.   I am so fortunate and grateful to have interviewed people from all different walks of life who are doing unique and incredible things on their journeys.   One of those people is Honoree Corder. She was awesome. She’s an author (65 books!) and a book expert! …

My wife and I recently got to spend some time in and around Houston, Texas. We were dropping our son off at an aerospace engineering summer program opportunity, and then headed to a nearby speaking engagement.   It’s wonderful for us when we can steal some time together in between events like this. We are…

I was collaborating and connecting with a great school leader from Mississippi, Mr. Zane Thomas. Zane is the proud principal of Houston High School in Mississippi. He was telling me about a recent presentation he has coming up at a conference, and showed me a prop. I love props, and I love how they prompt…

It’s been a busy spring and summer. We hosted my daughter’s graduation party, my youngest went on a trip to California, and my son left for a summer experience in aerospace engineering in Texas. We also hosted and led the Port Jervis High School graduation, and I completed my next book project, The Magic Acronyms,…

I love presenting at conferences, especially when they’re well put together and organized. There is such an energy of positivity and growth in the room, and I love to help facilitate that.   I was presenting at a conference this year and I had the setup with music and a rotating slideshow playing as people…

I was observing a class late in the 2025 school year and the teacher was sharing a story that I had not known before. She read a story to the kids called The Teddy Bear.   The story goes into detail about President Teddy Roosevelt. He was on a camping trip in the early 1900s…

I live along Interstate 84 between Scranton, Pennsylvania, and West Point, New York. I recently heard someone tell the joke, “ I want to be like Route 84, always working on myself!” They are so right! There always seems to be construction going on on route 84!   I recently presented at TEPSA, an amazing…

Technology has increased the number of ways of communication these days. There are push notifications, text messages, email blasts, mailing lists, and so many more. There are so many different ways to engage with our families, all in the effort to build relationships.   I visit a lot of different schools and meet with a…

Every time I would hear somebody in the business world talk about a Christmas bonus or end-of-the-year bonus worth thousands of dollars, I would always twinge a little bit. I would ask myself wow how come we don’t get that in the education world?   Educators are professionals as well, their families would also benefit…

Thanks to Dr. Richard Ramos for guest writing this week’s blog.  Dr. Ramos is the proud and energizing Superintendent of Miami Schools in Arizona, NOT Florida.   I met Richard at the Arizona Rural Schools Association conference last year and had him on the #ELB podcast as a guest–and here is following up on my…

This blog is dedicated to Todd Whitaker, his leadership and commitment to helping others. This great educational leader just released his 61st book! What an incredible feat. Congratulations Todd on 61 books!   I first met Todd years ago at a conference. He couldn’t have been more gracious and nicer to me. He said “If…

In the spring of 2025 we had a school awards assembly in Port Jervis, New York. Over the course of my 20 years as a school leader I’ve been to hundreds of ceremonies and I love them. I love recognizing the children and their families.   At this particular ceremony, the principal asked me to…

We were blessed to spend a few days down at beautiful Long Beach Island on the coast of New Jersey in the spring. It was still the off-season, and not very crowded with gentle sunshine and cool winds. It was a nice time just to spend with family without the overcrowding of the summertime beaches.…

Happy Birthday to the great George Couros. George is a friend and an incredible storyteller and speaker. He turned 50 this spring, and I am turning 50 this August!   I found a lot of useful and thoughtful items, actions, questions, and more in this blog–and I hope you do too. It motivated me to…

I have gone through several pairs of earbuds over the past few years. I wasn’t ready to make the investment in the Apple AirPods, so I just bought the generic ones off Amazon. A basic $25 pair here, another $40 one there, and I kept losing them. I’d leave them in a pocket of a…

I learned this great concept from my ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) men’s college basketball officiating supervisor, John Clougherty. Regardless of your work, do you want to be a simplifier or a complicator? Do you make things simpler for your team or more difficult? Do you gum things up or make them run more smoothly?   In…

I recently heard another great story on the amazing Success Hotline by Dr. Rob Gilbert. Dr. Rob has been a great friend, mentor, and actually is the subject of my next book coming out this year! The Magic, Acronyms, Formulas, and Stories of Leadership: a dedication to the amazing Dr. Rob Gilbert and the Success…

I heard this great story on Talking with Dr. Terrie. Dr. Terrie Wurzbacher was a long time caller of Dr. Rob Gilbert and decided to start her own hotline. Talking With Dr. Terrie at 210-390-6100. Dr. Terrie has written a couple of books and I find her to be very inspirational with her messages. Here’s…

Football season is long over and I don’t really get caught up in who wins the big game, who had the most yards, who did what, etc. I’m just a sports fan in general who likes watching the competition. I also enjoy watching my fellow referees out there doing the best they can in the…

Dr. Gilbert on the Success Hotline says that greatness is hiding in plain sight. Well, this happens often on my podcast when a guest says something extraordinary. It slaps me in the face, like being hit with a cold bucket of water.. It wakes me up and invigorates me. What they’ve said is like an…

This message is dedicated to all the amazing educators who attended the NJ TECHSPO conference in Atlantic City in January 2025!  Thank you to Dr. Richard Bozza, Exec. Dir. of NJASA, Mary Capasso, & Superintendent Glenn Robbins for having me to this awesome event.   It’s 6 AM in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Most people…

You know when you’re on a flight and the flight attendants finish going through all of the instructions and safety considerations. You’re all buckled in and ready to go. Eventually the captain comes on with their greeting.   Many times it is a monotone voice, giving bland instructions and flight information without any warmth or…

It was great to see my friend Roger Ayers recently while he was officiating the Georgetown vs. Syracuse rivalry game. This rivalry dates back to the 1930s and has been a very heated match-up many times. Roger Ayers is a great friend both in and outside of the world of officiating. He’s extremely competent at…

In addition to the Success Hotline by my mentor and friend Dr. Rob Gilbert, I also listen to The Mental Performance Daily podcast by Brian Cain. Brian Cain is a former athletic director turned mental strength coach through the teachings and inspiration of Dr. Gilbert.   He said something the other day on his podcast…

Whether I’m in the car, on the elliptical, or going for a long walk with my beloved dog, Ruby, I love listening to books on audible. I enjoy hearing others stories and experiences, or being entertained by a John Grisham book. Being blessed with ADD, audible is a great way to listen to books without…

I stopped at a gas station on my way from the Portland Oregon airport to the Portland coast recently. It was a typical rest stop like we’ve all seen and done a million times before. Gas up the car, get a drink, and use the restroom in a town we’ve never been to before.  …

A soccer team is typically made up of 11 starters, and others on the bench for substitutions during the game. My daughter is part of her eighth-grade school soccer team, and she loves it. She loves the team, the program, and everything about soccer. Unfortunately, they only had 11 girls on the team. There were…

I was working with an awesome group of educators and school leaders in Abilene, Texas, at an event back in the fall of 2024. One of the activities that I do with my groups is to ask them to describe the different ways they support their schools, colleagues, and teams.   I was deep in…

I love watching my kids play sports. They’re all heavily involved. Just as my Dad taught me when he came to my games, I don’t say much from the stands. I just listen and cheer respectfully for the teams.   In my daughter’s recent youth soccer game for the Monroe Woodbury Force girls’ soccer program,…

Write these numbers down 8, 37, and 55. Add them up and you get 100%. These numbers have been broken down to represent Communication.   Unbelievably, only 8% are the words. Just 8%. Isn’t crazy when you think about communication.   37% is tone. Think about it. Try it with your pet at home. You…

One of the mindsets and strategies that has helped me survive and thrive on my journey are the five SW’s. If you know me, you probably have heard me speak about these before. Sometimes it will, sometimes it won’t, so what, someone’s waiting, so stick with it.    Throughout my life, I have certainly had…

It’s just a point. This is what Roger Federer shared during his commencement speech to Dartmouth University’s graduating class of 2024. He shared that he has played over 1500 matches, and he won 80% of them. This has made him one of the best tennis players ever. However, he further shared that he only won…

I love watching the Olympics every two years, alternating summer and winter. The spirit, the countries, the culture, the wins and losses, and the athletes’ journey to excellence. The whole thing is amazing. I love it. I saw a stat pop up one day on one of the programs I watched in last year’s summer…

During last year’s Summer Olympics, I heard Dr. Rob Gilbert from the Success Hotline talk about Scott Hamilton. Scott is one of the most decorated US Olympic Figure Skaters in history.    Dr. Gilbert shared that when Scott came to speak at Montclair State University in New Jersey, he talked about how he probably fell…

I enjoyed my time on the ELB podcast with Jon Konen from Montana.   Jon is a great educational leader who has served in several different roles in Montana. He has been a Principal, athletic director, Superintendent, and now Curriculum Director. You can view the full episode here: Jon spoke a lot about building relationships.…

During the summer of 2024, we spent a few wonderful days at Carolina Beach in Wilmington, North Carolina. Incredible waves, wonderful people, and just a thoroughly relaxing time. One evening, we went out for outdoor seafood, and there was a setup for what we thought was a DJ. We were there for about 30 to…

We started visiting colleges with my oldest daughter. I went to Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, many years ago, and I’ve always loved the Carolinas. My daughter is interested in heading south, so we did a tour from Western North Carolina to Wilmington Beach. One of our stops was High Point University in High…

Every once in a while, you watch that movie or read that book that changes your life. It sparks a flame and burns a passion or curiosity you’ve been waiting for. My daughters were away with my wife, and my son had been asking to watch Green Book. He had heard about it at school,…

I wear orthotics. When I refereed college basketball throughout the 2000s and 2010s, I had custom-made orthotics that really helped protect my feet and joints. Since I’ve started wearing them, I can’t go back. I don’t wear the custom maids anymore, but I’ve tried some different, less expensive brands, and they’re doing just fine.   …

It was time again for my youngest daughter, Tessa, to get new cleats. Tessa, her friend, and I went to the store to check out the styles. I’m NOT of the expensive cleat-buying type. Some can run upwards of almost $300, which is insane for kids whose feet are still growing. She’s also tough on…

In April of 2024, the NCAA wrapped up both men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments. The NCAA tournament is such an exciting event filled with school pride, excitement, twists and turns, and eventually a champion. Well, many people get caught up in the hoopla of the teams and upsets and things like that, I tend…

I just finished listening to The Team by Paul Babcock on Audible, which was read by Paul himself. You don’t have to be a baseball fan to fall in love with this book, and Paul’s story. It is the all American hard-working story of triumph and victory through failure and struggle. I’ll anxiously await a…

Hey friends. Here is another guest blog by my friend Mike Ellson from Tennessee. Mike is the executive Director of the Tennessee Athletic Directors Association. He’s also the co-author of a great book called Leadership with Legacy In Education-Based Athletics. On my podcast with Mike, as well as his co-authors Rich Barton and Carol Dozibrin,…

I’ve always loved watching movies and reading biographies. I love hearing the stories of people’s lives. Their ups and downs, victories and losses, failures and celebrations. On a recent plane ride I watched One Life, the Bob Marley story. I’ve always loved his music and his message. There’s so many songs that we all know…

I had a wonderful visit with the Dawson Cooperative Educational Group in Hot Springs, Arkansas, for their summer conference! Wonderful people and a beautiful spot. Before heading home, I had a chance to visit downtown and the historic Hot Springs National Park.   This park consisted of some outside beauty as well as historic hot…

This was shared with me by my friend Paul Babcock. Paul is a teacher & coach from Illinois and a NAIA National Champion in baseball.  Paul is the author of The Team, the story of this incredible run to the championship. He was a guest on the #ELB podcast also, which you can view here: …

I spent a wonderful day in New York City with my daughter Claire. It was her 18th birthday and we went to see “& Juliet” on Broadway. The whole day was just perfect. The show was fantastic and we highly recommend it.    Without giving away too much of the show, there was a lot…

Martin Rooney is the founder of Training For Warriors, an internationally recognized trainer, speaker, author and pioneer of strength and conditioning, Martin holds a Master of Health Science and Bachelor of Physical Therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science from Furman University.  He is…

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. I’ve heard this term countless times in my life, and for some reason, it has never sat well with me. It just seemed kind of negative and pessimistic.   As I continue down my road of being an educator and motivational speaker,…

Dr. Rob Gilbert shared this a few weeks back on the Success Hotline. If you’re not a caller, I highly recommend it: 973-743-4690.   The Habit Poem I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.   I am…

Like everyone else, I enjoy taking pictures to capture moments, especially with family and friends. You can look back and remember, who was there? What was the venue, and what was the event?    Even now, in the technological age, we live in electronic pictures, texting, etc. I still enjoy getting pictures printed and hanging…

I borrowed my daughter’s car the other day to run an errand. My car does not have a hitch on the back so I needed to use her car. She keeps the car very neat and organized, yet the windshield was absolutely filthy.    It’s the time of year here in the Northeast when bugs…

I was walking on a rail trail in upstate New York recently. I love the rail trails because they’re straight, flat, and really shut down all the decision-making I have to do while exercising. No questions of which way to go or turn. Just keep walking on the path. This really allows my brain to…

Every time I’m with Dr. Rob Gilbert, I learn something. He is full of wisdom, knowledge, and experience. I love spending time with him because something just always registers. Recently, in a conversation with Dr. Rob, he said, “If you carry a birdcage around long enough, it will give you a bird.”    When Dr.…

My daughter ran on the middle school track team last spring. She loves the competition, being outside, spending time with her friends, and the downtime between the events. She helps to put away the hurdles, organizes her friends for their next events, and enjoys meeting people from other teams and schools.    One afternoon, I…

This blog was guest-authored by Jeff Thomas, Principal at White River Valley HS in Vermont. He was a teacher around the world for more than 20 years! Jeff is AWESOME! He did a Leadership Sparks video with me offering the leadership concept 8 before 8, and was a guest on the podcast click here to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psnqJFlvgPw&t=2477s…

As a New Yorker, you are obligated to be a fan of the great philosopher and creator William F. Joel. Commonly known around the world as Billy Joel. He just put out a new single this year called Turn the Lights Back On.    The song warms my heart and instantly makes you wanna sing…

I had an amazing time leading and speaking at the Utah Association of Elementary School Principals Conference in February 2024.    This group of amazing school leaders work very hard to do the best for their schools and communities every single day.   I had a little time for a run on a trail near…

Which comes first, success or passion? I’ve been calling Dr. Gilbert’s Success Hotline at 973-743-4690 since 2014. On January 30, 2024, Dr. Gilbert left an incredible message. He asked the question:  Are you successful first to become passionate or do you need to be passionate first to become successful?  You can find The Success Hotline…

It was good to see my friend, Ryan Schupp, officiating out there on the court one Saturday during the college basketball season. Ryan is a strong official in the Hudson Valley New York area. He officiates both men’s college and high school games.    I enjoyed watching him work on the court, while I was…

My wife and I love to travel and have new experiences together in a variety of different places.    For my wife’s 49th birthday, we went and stayed in a tiny house. We’ve been watching different construction and homeownership tv programs about them and have always been intrigued. We finally did it! We booked a…

Some days we’re flying and some days we get smashed onto the hood of a car!   That’s leadership right there. The best ones make it look easy because they can rebound from the crashes. Some days we are soaring and other days we get smashed. I was heading into a restaurant the other evening…

I went skiing one beautiful Sunday afternoon back in January. I had seen a number of adaptive skiers with guides throughout the day. I was excited for those young people to get the experience of skiing despite their disability. A massive shout out to the guides helping the kids. Then my mouth dropped. I saw…

Happy teacher, appreciation week, friends. A huge shout out to all my teacher friends out there whether Port Jervis, NY, Oregon, North Dakota, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Alabama, Texas, OKC, CA and more. Teachers everywhere have the most challenging, most complex, and most energy-draining job there is. They say that teachers make more decisions…

I broke my ribs back in the March of ‘23. It was a terrible time. It felt like I was paralyzed and just could not move. I slipped on some black ice, and had the dog’s leash in my hand as we were on a walk. I fell directly on my back, cracked four ribs,…

My good friend from Port Jervis Schools, Heidi Nyland, is turning 50 this year. Heidi and I have worked together for just under 20 years. For most of that time, she was either my fellow Assistant Principal, or my Assistant Principal when I was the Principal of the High School. Heidi and I have been…

Every once, in a while, you read a book or watch a film/documentary that has a deep impact on you. You remember things that stand out. Forrest Gump, Shawshank Redemption, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, and more all did that for me. I love the incredible impacts these book, movies, etc can make.    Make the…

Good morning surviving & thriving friends.  Proud to share this post written by my friend Dr. Chris Jones from Virginia.  Chris has an amazing leadership journey spanning time in the Army Airborne Rangers, as HS Principal, triathlete, father & husband.  He is the executive director of the Virgina ASCD leading all aspects of that organization. …

Over the years of refereeing, I’ve heard some of the top referees talk about the freedom, and clarity between the lines on the court. When they stepped on the court, the single focus they had was being engaged with the plays, and getting the plays correct. I felt it myself, as I progressed in my…

I was officiating a post-season college basketball playoff game one afternoon. Before stepping onto the court we met with supervisors about the very contentious game that we were about to go into. As we were leaving the room, the supervisor called me back in. It was just him and I, and he looked me in…

Good morning friends. Meet Dr. Joe Famularo, the NYS 2-24 Superintendent of the Year! I was thrilled to have Dr. Joe on my podcast last year and was so super impressed.  What an amazing leader and person! When we were done, I asked if he would be interested in continuing sharing his leadership by writing…

People say things on my education leadership podcast that just jump out of the earphones at me. It’s like everything stops and I only hear those words. It usually happens once or twice a show, and I like to call them “the magic moments.” The moments that contain sprinkles of incredible inspiration and motivation. It…

I am the outdoor Christmas lights guy in my family. My daughters and wife take care of decorating the inside of the house, but I’m on outside duty. Each year it seems that they want to start decorating earlier and earlier. We had an intense meeting this year and compromised that we could start on…

The Christmas season brings so many traditions and wonderful memories. One of those is getting the Christmas tree every year.    For years, we’ve gone to the same local place, worked with the same local people, and have had wonderful memories of getting our tree. This year two of us were sick, one had practice,…

One of the secret strategies I use is: ‘a little bit a lot of the time.’ I don’t sit at my desk and write 15 blogs over three hours. I write just one blog a lot of the time. I write just one. I actually do many of the blogs as talk to text via…

Happy early Valentine’s Day, everyone! I wish you all a great week and a wonderful Valentine’s Day spent with family and loved ones.    Isn’t love great? There’s so many twists and turns, feelings, emotions, and more. When you find that loved one, it’s such a blessing.   My wife and I are fortunate to…

My wife surprised me recently and took me to a comedy show starring comedian, Jo Koy. My wife and I love going to comedy shows to laugh and enjoy it all. We loved the entire experience, including the awesome sushi before the show. But Jo Koy was tremendous.    The night started off with great…

I walked into the bathroom, the other day at the high school in my school district in Port Jervis, New York. There were a bunch of teenage boys in there. Typically when there’s a group of boys in there, you right away go to something bad is happening. Are the kids smoking? Vaping? Using illegal…

We have a wood-burning stove in our living room that produces an incredible amount of heat for the house. It’s wonderful! During the winter months, we all enjoy the warmth and the beauty of the fire burning.    Many people just see the wood stacked on the front porch. The stack that’s ready to get…

There are not many plants that the deer don’t eat, where I live in Northeast Pennsylvania. Daffodils and Tulips are one of the few they don’t, so I enjoy planting those bulbs every fall in different areas around my yard.    I’m also excited to see the beauty of the flowers along with the warmth…

During the last drive of the game, the Giants were pinned up against their own end zone, and had to go to the length of the field down by a score of 49 to 10. There was about a minute and a half to go. The Giants had their third-string quarterback in, Tommy DeVito from…

Happy New Year Friends! Wishing you all the best in 2024 and beyond. We know resolutions don’t always work. We know changing habits and diets don’t always work. It’s the small actions we take each and every day that make the big difference.   Diving in on our passions and doing the things we love…

I had a great weekend traveling out to Denver, Colorado, and Casper, Wyoming to visit with building principals. My son Matthew tagged along with me. I met with a great group of educators who looking to sharpen their saw and get better in their practices. A big thank you to Ken Griffith and Kenny Jones…

We are fortunate enough to have an elliptical in our basement with a small workout area. It’s a great spot for my family and me to get exercise right in our very own home. As part of my daily routine, I’m on the elliptical at least three or four times a week. I try to…

I had a medical procedure recently and was told I had to stay home, rest, and not do anything. It is rare for me to be in that state since I’m always on the go, but I tried to embrace it. While on the couch, I thought I would watch one or two of the…

She is, however, quite the finicky eater. She will give you a dirty look if she doesn’t like what you put in the bowl to feed her. Sometimes her food will sit there for half a day or even a whole day. If she doesn’t like the look of it, she just won’t touch it.…

I love doing my podcast Educational Leadership and Beyond. It airs weekly on Facebook as well as on iTunes. I get to meet a ton of great people and I’m always learning something new.    Recently I had the opportunity to interview Trisha Elliott from Martin County, Florida. During our conversation, she said something that…

I was blessed to be able to present at the Vermont Principals Association this past summer. It was held in Killington, Vermont which is an absolutely beautiful area, and it was a tremendous event. I was fortunate to meet Jeff Thomas from White River Valley School District in the beautiful state of Vermont. Jeff is…

For my new role as Director of Communications and Academic Services in the Port Jervis School District, I had to move my office. After 20 years as a building Principal, I have a new opportunity with a lot of creative output. I’m really enjoying the work and the different types of challenges I get to…

I’m so fortunate! I had a chance to go see A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond story on Broadway with my mom for her 82nd birthday.  We had an incredible day together. We had a nice lunch right across the street from the theater, and then saw the show, which was absolutely outstanding! The show…

BOO!  Happy Halloween friends! Enjoy the holiday and the excitement of the kids.  I always loved seeing the joy of children dressing up, getting candy, and trying to scare people.   As people are trying to scare us today, I reflected on what are the things that scare me. What are the things that I’m…

I was sitting in a restaurant in Lakeview, Oregon with some friends when an elderly man with a slight limp walked in. He had a Pringles can with him in his hand and was walking around from table to table. I looked a little perplexed, and my friends noticed and said, oh that’s Delbert!  …

I do a lot of talk to text memos and writings, including this blog right now. Currently, I’m walking on a beautiful flat path. The only sound I hear is that of the birds chirping and the gravel beneath my feet.  It allows me to sync. It allows me to breathe. It allows me the…

College and Cocktails: A FREE College Application Workshop

#ELBlog #281: Family Time Is The Most Important Time

#ELBlog #280: Stay Edgy

#ELBlog #279: Being Great–Doing For You

How to go from struggling and stressing to surviving and thriving The stress and demands of the principal’s chair can feel overwhelming- especially without good tools, supports, and relationships to help you find your footing. Marotta (@andrewmarotta5421) has done that in his own 19 years as a principal at Port Jervis HS- and is now…

#ELBlog #278: Maintenance Required

#ELBlog #277: Stick (and not) Like Velcro

#ELBlog #276: Action Steps

#ELBlog #275: Pronto

#ELBlog #274: Sun & Moon…In The Same Moment!

HATS: Heartfelt Acts for Teachers, Students, and Staff

#ELBlog #273: He Saw Henry

#ELBlog #272: I’m Afraid To Miss

#ELBlog #271: A Shoe Is Just A Shoe Until Somebody Stepped Into It

What Are You Reading This Summer?

#ELBlog #270: Magnets and Stickers, Good Times and Bad Times

HATS: Heartfelt Acts for Teachers, Students, and Staff

#ELBlog #269: Who Can I Call?

#ELBlog #268: One More Minute

#ELBlog #267: Feeling Hollow

#ELBlog #266: Really Cool

#ELBlog #265: We Made Some Errors

Dads, Leaders, & Father Figures

#ELBlog #264: The One Who Planted The Tree

#ELBlog #263: Sometimes It Rains

Dads, Leaders, & Father Figures

#ELBLog #262: Something Good Will Come Of This

#ELBlog #261: Thats Not My Job!

#ELBlog #260: Unless…

ELBlog #259: Through The Trees

#ELBlog #258: Uncovered

#ELBlog #257: She’d Only Given Out One A In 28 Years

#ELBlog #256: Relentless versus Unshakable

#ELBlog #255:The Three Gs of Leadership

#ELBlog #254: Getting a perspective shift: Lessons from the family pet.

#ELBlog #253: Knowing The Line

#ELBlog #252: Hey Neighbor

World Education Summit

#ELBlog #251: It’s A Choice

#ELBlog #250: It All Matters

#ELBlog #249: Taking Down

#ELBlog #248: Gentling

#ELBlog #247: Each One Reach One

#ELBlog #246: Three Dots

#ELBlog 245: Send All The Shoes You Have

#ELBlog #244: Empty Bowl

#ELBlog #243: WIN Time

#ELBlog #242: BEAR!!!!

#ELBlog #241: How Nice

Free Writing Workshop With Andrew Marotta

Free Writing Workshop With Andrew Marotta

#ELBlog #240: Sit Next To The Person Who Knows What They’re Doing

Holiday Sale!

#ELBlog #239: Leadership Lessons From The Lobstah

#ELBlog #238: Dealing With Some S.H.%T.

Holiday Sale!

#ELBlog #237: Re-Charge vs. Refuel

#ELBlog #236: Yes, We’ll Play

#ELBlog#235: Hi Andrew….

#ELBlog #234: Sh$@&y Yet Clean

#ELBlog #233: Starfishing

#ELBlog #232: Pick Your Spot

#ELBlog #231: She Flies With Her Own Wings

#ELBlog #230: That Sparkle In His Eye

#ELBlog #229: Hell Of A View

I was in a busy food court recently and saw a sign that caught my attention. While other restaurants were busy with people placing orders and milling around, this one restaurant had a sign in front of it. It struck me as odd initially. Why would any restaurant lose the opportunity to turn down customers…

This past summer I was able to get together with some amazing educational leaders: Jeff Evener, Kevin Spainhour, and Dr. Larry Dake. We spent a few days together finishing up our collaborative leadership book entitled Dad‘s, Leaders, and Father Figures: Creating Influence and Legacy For A Lifetime. While we set an agenda and a to-do…

There’s so much talk out there about self-care. So many of us see it and hear about it, but do we really practice it? Do you really focus on taking care of yourself each and every day? I have lost sight of this on my journey recently, through the ups and downs, especially during the…

Every once in a while someone, something, or some experience changes the way we look at things. I believe in the power of a single experience that can change the course of where you are and where you were going. I love when this happens. I look for those and constantly ask myself is this…

A few months ago our school district’s phone system had an upgrade. Soon afterward, I started to hear a beep and a message would pop up saying: That’s a bit loud! Consider lowering your voice. It kept popping up again and again until I physically had to turn it off. It did get me thinking…

My oldest daughter is turning 16 this summer. I love watching her grow into the young lady she is becoming. As many of you who have teenagers know, watching their choices of self expression is also very beautiful. It can be challenging at times, but watching their creative spirits blossom on the journey of teenagehood…

I had a very unique experience at work the other day as a middle school Principal. Two days later as I write this, I’m still in awe over the entire experience. I make many phone calls to students’ homes each day. Some good, some bad, some short, some long. You’d never know it, but I…

The best part about doing the #ELB Podcast is that I get to meet amazing people every week, from all over the world. Literally! A few weeks back I had a chance to talk with the great Michael Carter, (Lake County, Superintendent, Oregon). Michael is a veteran educator, extremely well-read, has traveled the globe and…

Distraction,Defiance, or Coping? By Melissa Garner Attending a conference session where the leader is open about personal struggles and strengths is a liberating experience. ADHD and ConcentrationAndrew recently keynoted a conference I attended. In his talk, he openly acknowledged having the superpower of ADHD. Hearing that, I felt free to unhide the crochet project I…

How does a boat enter the world’s smallest harbor? We were fortunate enough to watch it firsthand. What an experience! My wife and I had a beautiful visit to the Pacific Northwest in the spring. We had a wonderful time seeing all the sights and sounds along the Oregon coast. We stopped in the small…

After my 200th podcast, I had some great reflection. I went back and looked at many of the guests I’ve met, their leadership stories, and just the collaborative nature of the whole program. Everyone has a story to tell and I was blessed to be around to hear their stories, and share them as well…

If we didn’t see it live, we all saw it on social media, the news, or via a message from a friend. We all saw Will Smith slap Chris Rock. In this blog post, I’m not here to debate whether it was deserved or totally out of line. Or whether Chris Rock’s joke was off-color,…

I was in a pizzeria recently (I am quite often as pizza is my favorite food!) and I watched the guy behind the counter stack what seemed like 100 boxes on the counter. I said “you’re not gonna lift that whole stack at once are you?” He glared back at me and responded “of course…

Happy Fathers Day!  My best to all the Dads out there, men who act as father figures, and to the amazing Mom’s who play both roles.  Enjoy the journey. ANNOUNCEMENT FLASH:  Excited to announce my latest leadership project coming this late summer, early fall: Dads, Leaders, and Father Figures: Creating Influence & Legacy for a…

Whenever I travel to my kids’ games or tournaments, one of the things I like to do is get outside in between the events and see the local area. I’ll bring my exercise clothes, earbuds, and get away for a period of time. I love the exercise and being out of the loud congested areas.…

My wife and I had a few minutes while waiting for my daughter to come out from soccer practice. We looked at each other and said let’s call Fernando. He’s a very good friend of ours who we had not spoken to in a while. So we called, and he answered on the first ring.…

I listen to a variety of podcasts of all different genres. One of them I listen to is about fatherhood and relationship building with your spouse. I heard something during one episode that really resonated with me. It was about the components of a date with a loved one or partner. They stated that dates…

There’s that old saying that kids say the darndest things, and it’s so true. You never know what kids are going to say, especially at the middle school age level. Kids of that age group have the best humor and curiosity, all while dealing with the challenge of trying to figure everything out. A student…

I love seeing people in their creative outlet. Whether it’s at a concert, a cooking show, a comedian, or a teacher working in their classroom. I love seeing people in their creative spirit and in their element. I recently had two experiences where I watched two masters of their craft begin and thrive working in…

#ELBlog #208: Mothers Day I dedicate today’s blog to my Mom, Dorothy Marotta. I love my Mom–she is smart, strong, loving, and dedicated to me and our family. Here is one of the excerpts of my newest book, Tales from the Hardwood…a story about Mom. I so enjoyed having her come to the games I…

#ELBlog #207: Moments Even though I had work to do, and many things that needed to get done on my plate I decided to pause, put down the phone, and invest two hours into watching the 2019 award-winning movie Rocketman. I needed a break from all of the work, and wanted a little escape. I…

#ELBlog #206: Airtight Compartments A lot of people ask me, how do you do it? How do you do it all? How do you get it all done? Your life must be crazy! Well, I think I’m a little crazy, but in a good way, I enjoy the pressure. I enjoy the journey of creativity,…

My daughter has been asking recently about getting mirrored sliding doors for the closet in her room. She was hoping to make the space look bigger and not have the closet doors swing out so much. So, on a recent weekend, we had a little free time and stopped into Lowes. They actually had the…

#ELBlog #204: Guest Blog: Feed-Forward I love feedback! When people are inspired and moved by a #ELBlog post, I know I hit the mark. Here is an awesome response from Heather Lyon. Heather is an Assistant Superintendent in the Buffalo, NY area, author, Mom, and more. I love her style of writing as it challenges…

#ELBlog #203: Now I Can Really Call You Sh*!head I feel so blessed that my family and I were able to get to the beach during the Christmas-New Year’s week holiday. I thoroughly enjoyed the time with them and of course the warm sun. One afternoon, we were just relaxing, sitting on the beach, and…

#ELBlog #202: Sunrise To Sunset We were on a family vacation in Miramar Beach, Florida which is in the Panhandle of Florida, only 30 miles from the Alabama border. There you will find a beautiful Gulfshore, soft sand, and warm breezes. It’s the perfect combination of beautiful weather, time together as a family, time off…

#ELBlog #201: Silly Or Cool Looking Cartoon Character? I love the holiday season. From Thanksgiving through December (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year’s). People are always so excited to get together, spend time with family, give gifts, etc. It’s also enjoyable to share the spirit…The spirit of joy, warmth, caring, etc. This is my first…

#ELBlog #200: 200 and 32% Number 200! I am so excited to have written 200 blogs. It’s been a fun journey with lots of great experiences that I am pleased and proud to share. I hope you have benefited and reflected along the way. Thank you for your continued readership.  Please share some of your…

#ELBlog #199: Interested or Interesting? I heard Dr. Rob Gilbert talk about this concept one day a day on the Success Hotline. If you’re not a caller of the hotline I strongly recommend you begin calling: (973-743-4690). He was discussing whether we should be focusing on being interesting or being interested? Every interaction we have…

World Education Summit 2022 Hi friends, I’m excited to share that I will be part of this amazing upcoming event, The World Education Summit! Great educators and leaders from around the world sharing, growing, and working toward being better educators and stronger leaders! I was happy to present my session: The School Leader: Surviving &…

#ELBlog #198: The Power Of Experiences Dr. Rob Gilbert is a sports psychologist from Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is also the creator of the Success Hotline (973-743-4690). If you’ve been reading these blogs or know my work, you know Dr. Rob Gilbert has had an amazing influence on my life. With the…

#ELBlog #197: Tell Me Your Story On a beautiful fall day, we decided to check out a dog park in Warwick, New York. It was a magnificently landscaped park with rolling hills and nice grass. Ruby arrived excited to enter the park, and 10 or so dogs greeted her as she began to frolic around…

#ELBlog #196: I Like This Guy/ I Don’t Like This Guy I was at my daughter’s soccer game at West Point Military Academy in New York. It was a beautiful fall day and I love spending time watching my kids play. This particular Sunday however, we had a referee that has worked our matches a…

Tales From The Hardwood Coming this spring: Tales From The Hardwood, Surviving & Thriving.   I am so excited to share this next work with you. This book contains 101 amazing stories, experiences, and lessons from my time on the court as a Divison 1 Men’s Basketball official. A big thank you to the 12…

#ELBlog #195: The Amazing Kindness of Jeff Hostetler   My son Matthew and I traveled to Morgantown, West Virginia back in early November to go to a football game. We pick a different location for a sporting event every year to create memories, have wonderful experiences, and enjoy our time together. It’s been fun over…

I’ve always loved carving pumpkins with my kids. I don’t know how many more times I can do it with them as they are growing older. They may be getting past that age soon, but I’ve always loved that tradition. I love the Halloween songs, the smell of the fall candles, and seeing the house…

My good friend and mentor Dr. Rob Gilbert  held a memory seminar on four consecutive Saturdays back in October. Those who attended were taught a strategy and skill to help memorize all 46 Presidents. During the third Saturday, we listened to the seminar in the car while we were driving. We lost reception often and…

I believe that the first look, the first impression in any situation is so important. What do things look like? What do they sound like? What do they smell like? When I refereed, the veterans taught me that when you first walked on the court the coach’s first impression of you, what you looked like,…

The Superintendent of School in Port Jervis, NY, Mike Rydell, recently forwarded a memo to me. How many times have we all done that? Forwarded a memo out with a note that said: “please read.” Yet Mr. Rydell, like many things he’s done in Port Jervis, took it to the next level. Instead of just…

This really has been an unbelievable time. There have been many closures, cancellations, and changes during this time period of Covid and it has been challenging in so many ways. One thing I have found is that consistently showing up is so important. People are in a funk. People are under extreme pressure and anxiety.…

I observed a great virtual lesson recently and I loved how the teacher ended the lesson. She asked the students to identify a small goal that they have for the third quarter of the school year. It was their exit ticket for the day, and they had a few minutes to complete it. She said she…

Despite all that was happening, I enjoyed this past fall immensely. On Sundays, I took my kids to their soccer games around Orange County New York. My children play for the Eastern Pike Travel Soccer Club, and I had a great time being outside and watching them compete.. Each Sunday we’re in a new spot,…

What an awesome letter!  Here is another share from my friend Stephen Broadwell.  Stephen is a retired Superintendent from the “North Country” up in Plattsburgh, NY area. He started a great action years ago by writing to leaders and asking them their tips for success or habits they have that have helped along the way. Just…

Amazing concept #ANTS from my friend Nancy Dunn. Nancy is a retired nurse from the Port Jervis City School District. She was just so awesome as a nurse, mom, colleague, and friend. She is a force and has the ‘touch of the master’s hand’, meaning things she gets her hands on turn out awesome! I…

Hi friends! I hope you will consider joining me for this three-part series kicking off in February. In the short yet powerful sessions, we will touch on the many different topics of leadership and share-out tips & strategies to help you navigate through this difficult time. We are facing great challenges like never before so let’s…

  2010 Norfolk Virginia, Old Dominion University I was officiating a game at Old Dominion University on a Wednesday night. I had a driver lined up and ready to take me home overnight after the game, in order to get back to school in plenty of time. In the last minute of a very hotly…

Happy New Year & Welcome 2021.  I wish you great blessings, happiness, and health to you in 2021! It’s a magnificent fall day in Milford, PA. I’m spending some time with my son and his friends who were having a make-up birthday party for my son who’s birthday was in the spring. My son who…

Happy New Year Friends. Warm blessings to you, your family, and school community in 2021. This is the last call for the Coaching & Mastermind Leadership group kicking off next week. I have just a couple of spots open and am considering a 4 pm weekday session too if there is interest. Shoot me an email if you are…

As featured in the Edu Match Blog:  A few weeks ago, I had my first experience of taking up old wooden boards on the deck of our house and replacing them with trex boards #Finally. Well, I’ve never done this before, but how hard could it be right? Pick the board up, cut the new…

Why Coaching? Success Leaves Clues. Looking to kick off your year with something new? Looking to get out of a funk because of Covid or other external factors that have affected your work and your performance? Not sure what you need but you know you need something? Consider joining my mastermind groups for school leaders.…

There’s a very powerful video that I use in my life both as Principal, and as well as in my workshops. This video is called Under The Surface, Empathy Film. It’s very quick, just under four minutes, and is very well done. Before Covid, during Covid, and after Covid, we need to be mindful of others, their…

I just got off another mastermind group meeting with Frank Somma. Frank is a business leader, writer, and motivational speaker. I’m really enjoying his message through this mastermind group. If you are interested check it out here and contact Frank. I have also created my own mastermind leadership group for school leaders. Learn more here. In the…

My good friend and sports psychologist Dr. Rob Gilbert, (creator of the Success Hotline) a professor at Montclair State University, always says you have everything inside of you that you need to be successful.  Then, what gets in the way? Distractions? Lack of confidence? The “I don’t feel like it” syndrome? The ability to keep going…

Hiring people for positions can be a hit or miss thing. You can never really tell who or what you’re getting until you see them in action. You can make phone calls, do background checks, check their social media, and get a good idea of who you have on your hands. But you really can’t…

Looking to kick off your year with something new? Looking to get out of a funk because of Covid or other external factors that have affected your work and your performance? Not sure what you need but you know you need something? Consider joining my mastermind groups for school leaders. I will be forming two…

Another lesson from the hardwood. I was doing a game at an unnamed college. Bucknell University was the visiting team. The coach of Bucknell is Nathan Davis. Nathan is a top young coach who is very bright and excellent at what he does.  I had officiated many of Bucknell’s games and knew Nathan quite well.…

Friends, I hope you are enjoying these blogs. I have been blessed to share my stories and lessons I have learned along the way. Please share with others if you are liking them. In today’s blog, I’d like to highlight some stories I shared as a guest on the crown refs podcast some months ago. I…

A favorite summer activity for my family is getting ice cream together. Whether we go to the local dairy bar in town or get a blizzard at Dairy Queen, we all enjoy the cool summer treat. I can remember as a child my Mom and Dad treating us to ice cream during the summers after…

It was a rainy Saturday night near the end of the summer, 2020. I’d had Harriet Tubman on my mind since our visit to Auburn, New York and Lake Owasco this summer. We had a chance to visit some of the statues outside in Auburn and read some of the plaques about Harriet Tubman since…

  Back in August for my birthday, my children and I decided to charter a fishing boat out on Lake Owasco. Lake Owasco is west of Syracuse, the most East of the Finger Lakes (NY). It is a beautiful, round lake, more so than the other Finger Lakes. We stayed right on the outlet at…

This blog is guest written by my friend, Dr. Rick Jetter.  Learn more about Rick below this powerful blog post. He is a father, husband, school leader, speaker, and author. I support Rick and his message. Thank you so much Rick My Relationship with Alcohol In my past, I remember seeking alleged refuge in alcohol…

  I recently paid a visit to my mom and she had asked me to please install a handrail in the shower for her. No problem right? I’ve installed hundreds of shelves, picture frames, rails etc. You name it? I’ve hung it on the wall. This was a little different because it was in the…

Isn’t it nice when you get a little bit extra? Whether at a restaurant, a store, a movie, or whatever it is, most times we are pleased when we get a little bit extra. We recently had a wonderful trip to the Finger Lakes region in New York State. Our last stop was the Village…

Below is a letter that my friend Stephen Broadwell shared with me that he received from Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg years ago. Stephen writes to many influential people that he is curious about or admires and hopes to hear back. Justice Ginsburg was kind enough to do so. What wonderful advice from an…

Two weeks ago I wrote about my friend and final four college basketball official Roger Ayers and the story of my first playoff game with him. I shared about his leadership and style, and how he made me feel throughout that stressful moment, especially because it was my first time in such a setting. If…

  Here is another great story about who’s really in charge from the bookLeading Narratives, a great book of stories from Dan Spainhour.  Use code Marotta20 for a 20% discount. Organ Meeting All the organs of the body were having a meeting, trying to decide who was in charge. The brain said: “I should be…

This blog is dedicated to all the new school leaders and teachers starting new positions this year. There will be plenty of new things, new experiences, and new situations that you are faced with, so my best to you. It is my hope that you have some mentors, friends, and coaches as I’ve had along…

  Peace. We all want it. We all need it. There’s so much happening around us right now with political turmoil, the racial inequities that are being brought to the surface, and the anxieties and worries of people’s jobs. There’s also the educational uncertainties. What is school going to look like in the fall? What…

I have received a lot of great feedback and comments on last week’s blog about the yard sale and seeing things not for what they are, but what they could be. It made me think of one of my favorite poems that I first heard from Dr. Rob Gilbert and The Success Hotline. (973-743-4690) He…

We recently had our biennial yard sale. We try to do it every 2 to 3 years to help us clean out our house and get organized. We also enjoy meeting our neighbors and the interactions that come throughout the day. Many are return customers and even remember what they had bought at the previous…

It feels like it doesn’t it? This whole time of Covid with the school closures and now the focus on re-opening? It feels like we are running in mud, or like the song Against the Wind. This summer I took a camping trip up to the Finger Lakes region of New York State. West of…

No one wants to go to another meeting, and no one wants that meeting to go any longer than it has to. Many of our required school meetings are virtual these days. Most of the time there is an around the horn part of the meeting, or the question is asked does anyone else have…

I finally reached episode number seven of The Last Dance. The story of Michael Jordan and the lead up to the last championship season with the Chicago Bulls. I’ve enjoyed watching it with my family and having my kids learn about the greatness of Michael Jordan, his drive, his passion, and his will to succeed.…

Here is a great Father’s Day story, yet not about my Dad. This story is about my first experience in buying a car with Ken & Kevin Spainhour. I’ve known the Spainhour family for almost 25 years now and love them dearly. Ken & Diane have been like pseudo-parents, caring for me in so many…

How do some people keep going every single day? How do they continuously have this great energy, and how do they always seem to be at their best? I’d like to share with you a few things that I have found that have helped me in my journey has a school leader. First, have that…

Tom Mapother was an amazing wrestler in New Jersey. All-County, All-State, and had a really bright athletic career in front of him. Yet he always wanted to play football. His parents, however, would not let him because they were afraid he was going to get hurt. Heading into his senior year, he begged and pleaded…

One of the things that my family and I have I have enjoyed doing during this pandemic is watching movies together.  We’ve watched classics, new releases, series, etc. We recently watched “Yesterday”, which is a great story about the Beatles music, and the impact it has on people. We highly recommend it! Without giving away…

I visited the Goshen (NY) Central School District in the spring of 2019 to watch the Ted Talk these two awesome guys set up in their school district.  I have loved Ted Talks for a log time, and to see one up close and personal was amazing.  It was a great, professional production organized and…

Another great story from Dan Spainhour’s collection of stories in his book, Leading Narratives.  You can learn more about Dan and subscribe to his journal, The Coaching & Leadership Journal, at LeadershipPublishingTeam.com.  If you use the code Marotta20, you can save 20% on the annual subscription. I love this story for so many reasons.  It goes for…

My sister, Suzanne Carbonaro, is an energetic and enthusiastic educator who works as the Director of Academic Partnerships at AEFIS Inc. an assessment management platform. She recently did a virtual workshop on best practices while presenting online. It was a big hit and I found her points very useful and spot on.  I asked her…

Being out of school during this time really makes you miss the great people you work with. Sure, there are some headaches that you don’t miss, yet it always goes back to the people in the relationships. This story reminds me of just one of the many great people I am fortunate to work with,…

I received great feedback from last week’s blog regarding the University Basketball Camp and so many of the lessons learned there. That blog focused on my job as a “gofer” and the lessons I learned blowing up so many of those basketballs to give to the kids as they registered for the camp. Well, eventually…

When I was around 12 or 13 years old I got one of the most important jobs in my life: I was a “gofer” (as in go for this and go for that) at University Basketball Camp in Staten Island. This legendary basketball camp was run by Greg and Gela Mikalauskas. Held in Staten Island, New…

ell rings. You pop up and head into the hallway, and all of the following happens in the next three minutes: A student approaches you to tell you that they are being bullied. A teacher is sick and has to leave early. There’s a broken door handle on a first-floor classroom door. There’s a parent…

Hey friends.  I wrote this blog about a month ago, before all this #coronavirus hit.  God bless you and your families during this time.  The topic of this blog still rings true, even though we are not in schools, and may not be for quite some time.  I challenge you to let them see you…

Dear friends, these are tricky times and have presented numerous challenges not only for educators but for families, small business owners, etc. There has been a ton of literature put out about how to lead through these times. I’d like to get back to several of my older scheduled posts. During these times there are…

As we hit March Madness in college basketball playoff time, I write the second in a series of leadership lessons I learned through my time officiating. Thanksgiving Eve, November 2003. My first big game! My first televised game! The Famous Peters/Curtis game.  Well, I tried to be calm in the locker room, but I was…

Over the next couple of weeks, as we approach March Madness in the college basketball season, I’d like to share two stories from my officiating background that afforded life long lessons. The first is this week’s blog: Get It Right! It is the 2015-2016 college basketball season and on this particular Saturday, I’m officiating a…

I was absolutely appalled watching the press conference of the Houston Astros and their owner Jim Crane. On the first day of MLB’s spring training, I expected (and I believe many others did too) for the owner to stand up there, dressed professionally, and totally own the sign-stealing cheating scandal.  For him to maybe say…

An old drunken man was wandering down by the river where a pastor was baptizing people from the local church. The pastor said to him “Are you ready to find Jesus?” The old man said “yes” and went to the pastor, where he was dunked in the water. The pastor pulled him out and asked:…

In last weeks #ELBlog, I wrote that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. Yet what happens when you make a mistake or a slip of the tongue? We’re all human and we all make mistakes. The older I get the greater my filter gets.  I was trained by…

We learned as kids that if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all. My parents over and over reinforced that message. I was shocked when I began my refereeing career and heard the same thing. If you weren’t sure what to say to coaches or didn’t have anything nice to…

It was the week before Christmas, and my mom was driving to an appointment out on Staten Island. Staten Island can be a very busy place anytime but considering that it was the week before Christmas, the busyness was multiplied. While she was stopped at a stoplight, she got rear-ended. Mom is 77 years old,…

I recently went to my son’s indoor soccer game which was in a dome and on turf. The field was a bit smaller than a regulation soccer field. My son’s team lost all four games, yet it wasn’t for a lack of effort. The boys played hard and gave it everything they had. In looking…

Santa is always watching. Isn’t that what we told our children growing up? Now, in this generation, there’s even an elf that flies back to Santa each night and gives a report. Well, we as school leaders and educators live in a very similar world. Someone is always watching. Whether it’s cameras, phone recordings, or…

I’ve always liked baseball, yet the older I get the less I watch. I’ve also enjoyed coaching my son’s baseball team over the years, but he has now switched to lacrosse, so my exposure to baseball has really been diminished in the last couple of years. My sister Suzanne (Suzy Pinstripe) is a huge Yankees…