Introduction

Dr. Kim:
Hey everybody, welcome back to Rise Up and Lead: Real Lessons, Real Stories, Real Talk. This is Dr. Kim, and if it’s your first time tuning in, welcome to the table—you are jumping in at just the right time.

I am so excited to introduce our next guest. We actually met at the International Literacy Conference, and during my session I asked for volunteers—and he stepped up so willingly. That already told me something about him.

So I’m going to turn the mic over to Jonathan Coates. Did I say it correctly?

Jonathan Coates:
Yes, yes—you got it right!

Dr. Kim:
Perfect! Welcome. And just for context, we’re recording this the day after Easter, so he could be somewhere else—but he chose to be here with us. So I’m going to ask you to introduce yourself to our listeners—who you are, what you do, and how that connects to leadership.

Jonathan’s Story Begins

Jonathan Coates:
Absolutely. Hello again, Dr. Kim, and hello everyone. As Dr. Kim mentioned, we met at the Literacy Conference in New Orleans, and her session was so engaging. It felt like we connected immediately through our shared passion, so I’m truly honored to be here.

My name is Jonathan Coates. I’m from Zachary, Louisiana, which is about 40 miles outside of Baton Rouge. I currently serve as a principal in the Zachary Community School District. I’ve been a principal for three years, in leadership for over a decade, and in education for 18 years.

Dr. Kim:
Eighteen years?! No, you haven’t!

Jonathan:
(Laughing) Yes—18 years!

Dr. Kim:
Wow! Did you always know you wanted to be in education?

The Unexpected Path

Jonathan:
Not at all. I actually majored in English at Southeastern Louisiana University because my grandfather told me I was going to be the family attorney. So I said, “Okay, if that’s the plan, that’s the plan.”

After graduating, I was preparing to take the LSAT and go to law school. But during that time, I started substituting.

And… I never got out.
I never left.

Dr. Kim:
There’s something about substituting…

Jonathan:
There really is. What happened for me was—I started to feel a sense of belonging. The students were pulling on my knowledge, engaging with me, and I realized I had something to offer.

At the same time, veteran teachers on my hallway supported me. They mentored me, encouraged me, and never made me feel like I didn’t belong—even as a young educator.

So between the students pulling from me and the teachers pouring into me, I felt successful in a way I hadn’t expected.

And while education wasn’t the most lucrative path compared to law, the non-tangible rewards were far more valuable.

The Call to Leadership (Enlistment Moment)

Jonathan:
Later, I transitioned to a high school and was teaching freshman English. I was content—just doing my job, enjoying my classroom.

There was a teacher down the hall—Madame Nikki, who taught French. One day she asked me to sit down and talk.

She said, “Have you ever considered going back to school for your master’s degree?”

And I immediately said, “No.”
(Laughs) I had just finished school—I didn’t want to go back.

But then she said something that changed everything:

“The question is not if the opportunity will come. The question is—will you be ready when it does?”

Dr. Kim:
Whew…

Wrestling with Comfort

Jonathan:
That moment caused me to reflect deeply. I didn’t want to agree with her—not because she was wrong, but because I was comfortable.

I was doing well. I felt successful. And I knew that stepping into leadership would require sacrifice.

So I had to ask myself:
Am I willing to give up comfort to step into something greater?

The Turning Point

Jonathan:
Eventually, I said yes. I enrolled in a master’s program.

And I remember being so excited to go back and tell Madame Nikki that I had done it.

But she never came back.

She passed away after battling cancer.

Dr. Kim:
Oh…

Jonathan:
In that moment, everything shifted for me. I realized—time is not guaranteed.

She saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself, and she made sure to say it. She planted that seed.

And even though she didn’t live to see who I became, every step I took after that was in gratitude for her investment.

That changed how I view leadership.

Because people will pour into you—and they may never see the outcome. But that doesn’t make their impact any less powerful.

Stepping Into Leadership

Jonathan:
Fast forward—I’m finishing my program, presenting my final research, nervous… and my phone is vibrating in my pocket.

After I finished, I checked it—and it was a voicemail inviting me to interview for an assistant principal position.

Everything aligned.

I interviewed, got the position, and stepped directly into leadership.

Leading Without Having All the Answers

Jonathan:
One of my biggest challenges was my age. I was a young administrator, leading people who had far more experience than me.

So I made a decision early:
I would not pretend to know everything.

Instead, I said:
“I don’t have all the answers—but I know you do.”

That shifted everything. It built trust, collaboration, and respect.

Because leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about recognizing that the answers exist within your team.

Leadership Growth & Delayed Timing

Jonathan:
I served as an assistant principal for many years. I was passed over for principal roles multiple times.

People told me to leave and go elsewhere—but I believed in growing where I was planted.

And now, looking back, I understand why the timing mattered.

Because where I ended up—it’s exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Final Leadership Insight

Jonathan:
If I could say anything about leadership and relationships, it’s this:

Conflict often happens because we’re only seeing one perspective.

The solution is to return to the mission and vision.

In education, that means asking:
“Is this what’s best for students?”

Because what’s best for students is often uncomfortable for adults.

But leadership requires us to stay grounded in purpose—even when it’s hard.

Closing

Dr. Kim:
I could listen to you all day. Your story, your lessons—there’s so much here for our listeners.

To everyone tuning in, I hope you found something that resonated—something that challenged you, or reminded you of your own journey.

And I want to leave you with this:

Keep rising.
Keep leading.
And above all, stay true to who you are becoming.

Thank you for tuning in to Rise Up and Lead: Real Lessons, Real Stories, Real Talk. I’m Dr. Kim—adios.

Rise Up and Lead

Real Lessons. Real Stories. Real Talk.