Donna Doucette

I’ve been fortunate to stand on the shoulders of strong female mentors who believed in me long before I saw my own potential. My path hasn't always been easy, but I’ve learned that setbacks don't have to be the end of the story—they are often just a call to adapt. I truly believe that resilience isn't about never falling; it’s about the courage to keep moving forward, even when you have to wear blinders to stay focused on your goals.

I’ve also learned that we cannot pour from an empty cup. As the oldest sibling, I’ve been a caregiver since I was young, but I’ve realized that taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's what allows you to eventually reach back and lift others up. When life changes the coordinates, don’t let it stop you. Pivot, keep your head up, and know that you have the strength to find a new way through.

Trust your instincts as you navigate your path. Public education is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers you can choose, but to sustain yourself in it, you must first understand who you are. I always recommend the book What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles. Whether you read the teen or adult version, it is an essential tool for mapping your personality to your purpose. The goal is to find what you love, and then find a way to make a living doing it.

Always remember that career development is rarely a straight line; it meanders. The decisions you make today and the skills you pick up in unexpected places will eventually fuel a future you haven’t even imagined yet. I learned this firsthand. The patience and creativity I developed working as a nanny during college became the very same 'tool bag' I rely on today. Whether I’m working with toddlers or teenagers, if you show up as your authentic self and build a genuine rapport with people, you’ve already won half the battle.

Public education is the backbone of our democracy, but right now, that backbone is fracturing. We are seeing a historic exodus of educators and support staff, leaving those of us remaining to fill gaps that are simply too wide. With looming budget cuts and layoffs, we aren't just losing jobs, we are losing the vital support systems that help students survive and thrive.

My deepest concern is a systemic loss of critical thinking skills. In our 'quick-fix' society, learning has too often become a series of buttons to click rather than ideas to explore. Students are not being challenged as previous generations and are losing the academic stamina required for deep reading and complex problem-solving. We need the public to understand that public education is a collective investment, not a private commodity. We must move away from the 'transactional' and get back to the 'transformational.' If we want a nation of thinkers, we have to start by protecting the public schools that teach them how.

Integrity and authenticity are the twin pillars of everything I do. We all have to put on the 'costume of the day' sometimes, the uniform or the title required to get the job done, but you can still bring your true self into that role. And as you climb, don't forget to reach back. Lift up those behind you; they might be facing hurdles you were lucky enough to avoid, or lacking the advantages you were fortunate to find.

In education, authenticity isn't optional, kids have a built-in radar for anything fake. You can’t 'instant-mix' a connection; relationships are built over time, not like Kool-Aid where you just add water. My secret weapon is humor. If I can get a student to laugh with me, I’ve found a way in. I never take myself too seriously, and I never walk into a room acting like the smartest person there. I lead with respect. A cherished mentor of mine, Rhonda Cormier, taught me a simple but profound lesson: no matter what, you say 'good morning.' A student might tell you off the first ten times, but eventually, they get bored of the fight and realize you’re the real deal. You’re still there. You’re for real.