Dr. Joseph M. Serviss - Rethinking Education

04/18/2026

Public education mission statements almost always promise to prepare students for the real world. After 13 years in education, I think it’s fair to ask:
When do we start measuring ourselves against that promise?

04/12/2026

They didn’t realize your value until someone else did.
Funny how that works.
You can show up early, solve problems, carry the team, and still be overlooked.
Then you sit at a different table, and suddenly you’re “impressive” and “hard to replace.”
You didn’t change.
The audience did.
Companies don’t lose talent overnight.
They lose it slowly, by waiting too long to say, “We see you.”

04/11/2026

I saw this headline on EdWeek and behind their paywall is a story about the challenges educators are facing, but...

This is an oversimplification of the actual problem. It's the safe route that places the blame on those with low executive function.

The issue is not that students have suddenly changed. It’s that the management and accountability of behavior have changed, and not for the better.

Strong leadership supports teachers by enforcing clear expectations, maintaining consistent consequences, involving parents, and upholding high levels of accountability. Without those structures, behavior problems escalate and become unmanageable. Let's look a little deeper.

Students have always tested boundaries and challenged authority; that’s not new. What’s changed is the system’s response to those behaviors. The reason the job has become almost impossible is that accountability has weakened and, in some cases, has all but disappeared.

Thoughts?

https://www.edweek.org/the-state-of-teaching/teaching-learning/teachers-say-student-behavior-has-made-the-job-almost-impossible/2026/03

04/11/2026

Been seeing a lot of posts about kindness as a leadership strategy. Kindness can be beneficial, but it is conditional; dependent on circumstances, energy, and pressure. Leadership can’t be built on something that disappears under pressure. Kindness can become visibly fake, even unintentionally, resulting in a loss of trust. Strategies centered on relational leadership are more effective. Employees want leaders who are relational, respectful, consistent, direct, and accountable.
Remember, the best leaders are focused on their people, especially when it’s hardest to be.

04/04/2026

We traded human connection for digital convenience, and now our classrooms are facing an unprecedented wave of student apathy. Read my full thoughts on why I am stripping away the screens and going back to traditional teaching to rebuild cognitive stamina. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/we-gave-every-student-screen-now-would-rather-stare-serviss-ed-d--ztjfe

03/31/2026

We keep saying we’re preparing students for the real world… but what if we’ve removed the very thing that makes the real world real?
This isn’t about rigor. It’s about truth, accountability, and what actually happens after graduation.
If we’re honest, the gap is bigger than we are willing to admit.
hashtag

We say we prepare students for the real world, but then we remove the real consequences. In entrepreneurship, my students don’t just fill out worksheets.

03/22/2026

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we talk about “attrition” and “retention” in education, and I am not convinced we are framing the problem the right way.

In this piece, I challenge some of the assumptions behind those terms and what they reveal about how we view teachers, leadership, and the system as a whole.

If you are in education or care about where it is heading, I would genuinely value your thoughts.

In education, when we look at attrition, we are forced to confront the problems causing people to leave. That kind of thinking is often avoided because it creates discomfort and forces people to face the reality that something is not working.

11/17/2021

I don’t post a lot. Because most of what I do is private. When I see someone in trouble or making negative comments I spring in to action. Life is a journey, with ups and downs, and sometimes we need someone to help us through it. Be there for your friends and family. Even strangers if you can. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t help if I could. Whether it backfires or not, I know the true reason I do things.

08/15/2021

Life is short. It’s much more fun together. Let me know what I can do to help. Booking appointments now.

08/12/2021

One of the hardest things to do is to ask for help. I have helped many people with their career decisions and resumes. I have listened to ideas, given advice, made recommendations, and developed plans to follow. Who's Next?

08/06/2021

What is a life coach or a personal coach? They are individuals who help people improve the lives, relationships, and careers of others. They help identify obstacles that prevent your success, and/or hold you back from achieving your goals. Working together, we will develop an action plan to help overcome those obstacles. Plans usually include many strategies. Previous clients have felt as though these meetings were wake-up calls. Coaching Consultation starts as low as $25.00.