Real Moments. Hard Lessons.

Behind every polished leader's message and every mission statement is a human being-doing their best, making mistakes, holding secrets, and surviving the job. We Listen and We Don't Judge opens the door to the main office, the staff meeting, the principal's car-and tells the truth.

From the fifth-grade drug dealer to the valedictorian with a secret, from the TikTok that took down an AP to the recommendation letter written for a student no one liked-this book invites you into thirty-five stories drawn from the trenches of school leadership. Some will make you laugh. Some will make you wince. All will make you think. Some told to Dr. Tony Lamair Burks II. Some witnessed by him. Some lived in his own skin. An internationally respected educator and coach, and the former Superintendent-in-Residence with the National Center for Urban School Transformation, Dr. Burks brings his bought wisdom of experience-and the courage of reflection.

With built-in discussion prompts and raw honesty, We Listen and We Don't Judge is a mirror. A mentor in your bag. A safe space for the moments you can't say out loud. It's EduLeadership's Chicken Soup for the Soul...perfect for school faculty professional learning, aspiring leader book studies, district leadership teams, and university course work. If you've ever led a school and wondered, "Is it just me?" and if you've ever considered educational leadership-this book is your answer.