Leading with Empathy and Purpose:

Key Lessons from 35 Weeks as a First-Year Assistant Principal

Step into leadership with heart and purpose through Wadadli Native’s blog series, "Leading with Empathy and Purpose: Key Lessons from 35 Weeks as a First-Year Assistant Principal." Discover real challenges, impactful insights, and practical strategies to balance work, build relationships, and create lasting impact. Subscribe now for weekly reflections that will inspire and empower your leadership journey!

Subscribe Here

The Leadership Gap: Women of Color in K-12 Education

Despite making up a significant portion of the teaching workforce, women of color remain underrepresented in K-12 educational leadership roles. Women of color often face additional hurdles, including bias, limited mentorship opportunities, and systemic barriers to advancement.

Karima Hughes, M.Ed. 10/23/24 Karima Hughes, M.Ed. 10/23/24

Week 6: Stay Low — On The Inference Ladder!

[. . .] As a new leader, this reaction was challenging. Some even questioned my competency because they felt personally offended by my assessment—despite acknowledging that their performance that day wasn’t up to their usual standard.

This situation highlights a common challenge in leadership: when evaluations are based on a rubric, the intent is to provide feedback on professional practice, not to judge personal identity. Yet, feedback is often perceived as a reflection of self-worth, especially when it touches on areas perceived as sensitive or triggering.