Yes, You’re Tired—And Your Work Still Matters

We’re getting close to the end of the first semester in many districts across the region, and over the past few weeks, I’ve had quite a few conversations with school leaders that all sound the same.

“I’m tired.”

Not just the kind of tired that comes from a long day. It’s deeper. It’s the kind of fatigue that builds after months of putting out fires (not to discredit actual firefighting), solving problems, and carrying the responsibility of an entire school community on your back. It’s what happens when you’re doing your absolute best every single day, and still feel like there’s never quite enough time for the things that matter most. Things like getting into classrooms, building relationships, developing culture, or having meaningful conversations with students and staff.

It’s a familiar kind of tired. I’ve felt it myself. I remember staring at a to-do list that never seemed to shrink, wondering how the job I loved had become more about managing problems than leading people.

Most of us got into this work to make a difference. To support kids. To lift up teachers. To lead learning. But more and more, the reality feels less like transformation and more like triage.

And yet, in the middle of that exhaustion, I’ve seen something else. I’ve seen leaders who are still asking the hard questions. Still pushing forward. Still holding on to the vision, even if it’s quiet. Even when they’re worn out, they haven’t let go of hope.

Lately, our team has been working closely with school districts to take an honest, detailed look at their facilities. On the surface, it’s about assessing buildings, gathering data, and identifying challenges. But what’s really happening goes far beyond construction or planning. These leaders are stepping back and asking questions that matter. Questions like: Does our learning environment support the kind of education we believe in? Are we designing spaces that meet the needs of today’s learners? Are we moving forward with purpose, or just reacting to what’s always been?

A community meeting where we invite questions from schools and community members to help shape how learning happens.

Some of these districts are looking ahead to a potential referendum vote in June. And what I see in those communities isn’t just preparation. It’s vision. It’s leadership. It’s people who, even in the middle of burnout, still care deeply enough to ask, “What’s next?” It reminds me that the work we do still matters. It tells me that people still believe in building something better for their students and staff.

December has always been a heavy month in education. Emotions run high. The days are short. Everyone feels pressure. It’s easy to forget the bigger picture when you’re buried in the to-do lists. I want to say something I wish I had heard more often when I was in the chair:

You don’t have to earn your rest.

You don’t have to fix everything before you take a breath. You don’t need to reply to every email before you unplug for a few days. You don’t have to stay late or show up early to prove you’re working hard enough. You already are.

And for the people who count on you, it’s not your productivity they need most. It’s your presence.

So if you’re heading into winter break feeling worn out, you’re not alone. You’re not falling short. You’re human. A human doing important and difficult work.

Maybe the most important thing you can do right now is give yourself permission to pause. Take a breath. Reflect; not on everything that didn’t get done, but on everything that’s still possible.

The new year will bring new chances to lead, to build, to refocus. For many of the leaders we work with, that means shaping the future through thoughtful facility planning, stronger culture, deeper community engagement, or simply reconnecting with their purpose.

Yes, you’re tired. But you’re still showing up. You’re still leading. And that matters more than you know.

I hope this break gives you the time to rest, and maybe more importantly, the space to remember why you started.

From all of us, we wish you peace, clarity, and purpose during this holiday season.

Travis Jordan Project Development and Community Engagement ICON Architectural Group