From Bud to Bloom: Lessons in Leading with Heart

I remember watching a child in one of my early classrooms stare at the floor while the rest of the class read aloud. His silence was met with assumptions. His pace was mistaken for defiance. But what no one saw—not in his test scores, not in his IEP—was his brilliance. He wasn’t lost. He was waiting for someone to meet him where he was.

That moment planted something in me.

Not just a question—but a calling:
What if education made space for every kind of growth—on every timeline?

That question became a path of its own. First in my classrooms, then in my doctoral research, and now through Hilltop Communities and PATH—Promoting Arts, Teamwork, and Hope. These initiatives were built not out of ambition, but out of necessity: to offer children and communities something different. Something human.

Growth Looks Different for Everyone

In nature, we don’t rush a bloom.
We don’t shame a seed.
We don’t compare a vine to a tree.

Why, then, do we do this to children?

Our systems often reward speed, sameness, and compliance. But children are not data points. They are living stories. Some bloom brightly. Others stretch slowly. And all of it—all of them—is worthy.

The bud is not broken for being closed.
It is simply on its way.

What We’re Cultivating

Through PATH and Hilltop, we’re creating spaces for growth that honor both inner and outer worlds. Whether it’s a student in Honduras painting with purpose, or a college intern discovering their leadership through service, the learning is rooted in something deeper: connection, dignity, timing.

We offer:

• Strengths-based learning

• Expression through art, story, movement, and sound

• Culturally immersive experiences

• Educational consulting and leadership development

• A belief that children—and communities—already hold the wisdom they need to thrive

This work spans borders, but the philosophy is simple:
Meet people where they are. Water what’s already growing. Trust the process.

I’ve spent my career building tools, training educators, and reframing what “support” really looks like. My Trifecta model—developed during my doctoral research—combines inclusive co-teaching practices, collaboration, and community-building. I may share more about that soon. For now, I’m sharing this story because it feels like a seed worth planting.

If it resonates, you can follow the journey on Instagram @hilltopcommunities
You’re welcome here—exactly as you are.