A Heartfelt Thank You

June 28, 2026•4 min read

A Heartfelt Thank You

On June 30, 2026, I will officially close one of the greatest chapters of my life after 38 incredible years in public education. What a privilege it has been to serve as a teacher, coach, principal, superintendent, mentor, and friend. While titles have changed over the years, my purpose has remained the same—to serve others.

To every student, family, staff member, board member, colleague, mentor, and friend who has been part of this journey, thank you.

Thank you for your friendship.

Thank you for your partnership.

Thank you for your professionalism.

Thank you for your collegiality.

Most importantly, thank you for allowing me the honor of walking alongside you. Together, we celebrated successes, navigated challenges, solved difficult problems, and always kept students at the center of our work. I have learned far more from each of you than I could ever hope to teach.

Although this chapter is ending, my passion for serving leaders is not.

I am excited to begin a new chapter throughRLR Leadership Consulting, where my mission remains unchanged:to serve, support, and help leaders and their organizations become the very best they can be.I look forward to continuing to work with school districts, businesses, nonprofits, and leadership teams through coaching, mentoring, strategic planning, professional development, and organizational support.

At the heart of this next journey is a message that has become my life's work—The 3 Ships.

Relationships.

Leadership.

Partnerships.

I firmly believe that when we intentionally strengthen these three "ships," we build stronger people, stronger organizations, and stronger communities. Every meaningful accomplishment begins with people choosing to invest in one another, lead with integrity, and work together toward a common purpose.

While I may be retiring from the superintendent's office, I am certainly not retiring from serving people. In many ways, I feel like I'm simply changing classrooms.

Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for believing in our work together. Thank you for making these past 38 years more rewarding than I ever could have imagined.

I leave with a grateful heart, lifelong friendships, countless memories, and tremendous optimism for the future.

May we all continue to serve with humility, lead with courage, and build relationships that make a lasting difference.

With sincere gratitude,

At RLR Leadership Consulting, our mission remains simple:

Serve. Support. Help Leaders and Their Organizations.

Randy L. Russell, Ph.D.
President, RLR Leadership Consulting

🙌Five-Star Support

We’re grateful for the incredible feedback from our community! Here’s one of the latest five-star reviews that reminds us why we do what we do.

Are you ready to develop or update your Strategic Plan for 2026-27?

Who's In Your Inner Circle?
RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project

Think about the people closest to you. The ones you share ideas with, lean on for support, and let influence your decisions. That group—your inner circle—shapes how you see yourself, the choices you make, and even the risks you’re willing to take.

Sometimes, those relationships give you energy and push you forward. Other times, they hold you back. That’s why RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project have teamed up to create Your Inner Circle—an opportunity to pause, reflect, and intentionally shape the connections that matter most.

In this experience, you’ll:

Identify who truly belongs in your circle
Learn how to set healthy boundaries when needed
Build trust that actually lasts
Choose connections that make you stronger

Because the truth is, leadership isn’t just about strategy or skills—it’s about people. And the people closest to you can either empower your growth or limit your potential.

We’d love for you to join us. As a special opportunity, use code Randy15 for a discounted price—but hurry, this offer won’t last long.
https://thecorepro.com/coregroups/p/your-inner-circle-curriculum

Your circle matters. Choose it wisely.

If you would like me, or someone from our RLR Team, to speak or work with your school and/or school district, please contact us at www.randyrussell.org.