The Match Weekly Content

The Match | Tension

By Chad Thomas | April 30, 2026 |

Word: Tension Sentence: Tension is what we carry when two truths exist and neither lets go. Passage: This week held both joy and heartbreak. I ran…

The Match | Resonance

By Chad Thomas | April 23, 2026 |

Word: Resonance Sentence: Resonance is what remains when the role ends, but the meaning still rings true. Passage: Leaving the principalship was harder for me than…

The Match | Connection

By Chad Thomas | April 16, 2026 |

Word: Connection Sentence: Connection begins when we look past what is different and stay long enough to discover what is shared. Passage: Connection often comes easiest…

The Match | Momentum

By Chad Thomas | April 9, 2026 |

Word: Momentum Sentence: Momentum starts when the vision becomes shared and belief starts to spread. Passage: By year five, I could feel something changing at the…

The Match | Forward

By Chad Thomas | April 2, 2026 |

Word: Forward Sentence: Sometimes the thing that moves us forward is not success, but what failure shows us. Passage: In my third year as principal, Mayor…

The Match | Values

By Chad Thomas | March 26, 2026 |

Word: Values Sentence: Values are what people carry with them after being with us. Passage: Recently, I ran into three former students, and each time I…

The Match | Enough

By Chad Thomas | March 19, 2026 |

Word: Enough Sentence: Enough is learning to trust your worth, honor your effort, and recognize when no more is required. Passage: I spent years asking if…

The Match | Ownership

By Chad Thomas | March 12, 2026 |

Word: Ownership Sentence: Ownership is the courage to say, “This part is mine.” Passage: Ownership sounds simple. In practice, it rarely is. It is hard to…

The Match | Progress

By Chad Thomas | March 5, 2026 |

Word: Progress Sentence: What used to knock you down can become the very place where progress takes root. Passage: Progress is hard to see in ourselves.…

The Match | Rhythm

By Chad Thomas | February 26, 2026 |

Word: Rhythm Sentence: Rhythm is knowing when to push, when to pause, and when to let time do its work. Passage: After leaving the principal role…

The Match | Steady

By Chad Thomas | December 11, 2025 |

Word: Steady Sentence: Steady is being the calm when everything else speeds up. Passage: In some of my darkest moments I have felt the calmest. My…

The Match | Curiosity

By Chad Thomas | December 4, 2025 |

Word: Curiosity Sentence: Curiosity is the doorway to empathy, learning, and better leadership. Passage: Somewhere along the way, as our kid brain quiets and our adult…

The Match | Energy

By Chad Thomas | November 29, 2025 |

Word: Energy Sentence: Energy is the bond that keeps us connected, and the force that keeps us going. Passage: Leaders hold a quiet power in the…

The Match | Gratitude

By Chad Thomas | November 20, 2025 |

Word: Gratitude Sentence: Gratitude is more than appreciation; it’s how we pay forward what others once gave to us. Passage: My first real mentor came by…

The Match | Perspective

By Chad Thomas | November 13, 2025 |

Word: Perspective Sentence: Perspective is not about how high you climb, but how clearly you see. Passage: In any profession, there are steps on the ladder.…

The Match | Reflection

By Chad Thomas | November 6, 2025 |

A short climb to the balcony can change how you see the whole dance floor. Word: Reflection Sentence: The future can be changed only by your…

The Match | Culture

By Chad Thomas | October 30, 2025 |

The Match each week: One word. One sentence. One passage. Word: Culture Sentence: The behavior of the leader becomes the culture of the team. Passage: You…

The Match | Consistency

By Chad Thomas | October 23, 2025 |

If The Match has sparked something for you, I’d be grateful if you shared it with someone. That’s how this community grows. Word: Consistency Sentence: Consistency…

The Match | Joy

By Chad Thomas | October 16, 2025 |

A small spark each week to help you live with heart and keep your fire lit! Word: Joy Sentence: Joy often grows from the soil of…

The Match | Patience

By Chad Thomas | October 9, 2025 |

The Match Newsletter: A small spark each week to help you keep your fire lit. Word: Patience Sentence: Patience is the pause that turns reaction into…

News/Media

Washington Post: A Chicago High School Helping Refugee Students Navigate American Life

By Chad Thomas | August 5, 2021 |

Roger C. Sullivan High School in Chicago serves as a historic…

Chicago Sun-Times Refugee Thanksgiving

By admin | November 6, 2019 |

At Sullivan High School, students from refugee and immigrant families…

Sullivan High Receives $25M Renovation

By admin | September 5, 2019 |

After years of planning, Sullivan High celebrated a $25 million…

K-12 Dive: Listening to and Caring for Staff

By admin | January 4, 2019 |

Sullivan High’s principal, Chad Thomas, emphasizes that building trust and…

Chalkbeat: Caring for His Teachers

By admin | January 2, 2019 |

Chad Adams‑Thomas, principal of Sullivan High School, made a personal…

Washington Post: A Chicago High School Helping Refugee Students Navigate American Life

By Chad Thomas | August 5, 2021 |

Roger C. Sullivan High School in Chicago serves as a historic…

Chicago Sun-Times Refugee Thanksgiving

By admin | November 6, 2019 |

At Sullivan High School, students from refugee and immigrant families…

Sullivan High Receives $25M Renovation

By admin | September 5, 2019 |

After years of planning, Sullivan High celebrated a $25 million…

K-12 Dive: Listening to and Caring for Staff

By admin | January 4, 2019 |

Sullivan High’s principal, Chad Thomas, emphasizes that building trust and…

Chalkbeat: Caring for His Teachers

By admin | January 2, 2019 |

Chad Adams‑Thomas, principal of Sullivan High School, made a personal…