This week, I found myself running the school building on my own. As a new leader, this was both a significant responsibility and an incredible opportunity.

The day began with a challenge: at 9:00 A.M., an irritated parent arrived, demanding to speak with administration. I had no prior context for their visit, so I reached out to a support staff member to gather details about the situation. Together, we facilitated a meeting with the parent, ensuring their concerns were addressed.

Mid-meeting, I was radioed to handle another urgent matter: a student from our school was on the verge of a physical altercation with a peer from a co-located school. I requested support from school safety officers, contacted the student’s guidance counselor, took a deep breath, and approached the student for a conversation.

Although I had never directly worked with this student, she recognized me from my time as a teacher. I was determined to connect with her in a way that demonstrated genuine care and interest in her perspective. After reintroducing myself as the Assistant Principal, I invited her to share her side of the story. She smiled as she opened up, candidly expressing her frustrations and her desire to confront the other student.

To ensure the safety of everyone on an unusually short-staffed day, I called for additional staff support during lunch and dismissal periods. Despite the day’s challenges, there were no major incidents. Staff rose to the occasion, and Students navigated the day as expected—exercising their developmentally appropriate behaviors.

Reflecting on the experience, I wasn’t surprised by my ability to lead in the absence of my principal, student dean, and fellow assistant principal. Instead, I felt honored and grateful. The individuals I called upon for support carried out their roles with care, vigilance, and dedication.

This experience reinforced a vital leadership lesson: rally your supporters not only in times of need but regularly. Consistently engaging your team builds trust, strengthens collaboration, and fosters a culture where support is a shared value, not just a reaction to challenges. It empowers your collective to stay aligned, motivated, and innovative, ensuring long-term success. And always take the time to thank them for their contributions. Leadership thrives on these principles—collaboration, mutual appreciation, and a shared commitment to equitable education and continuous learning. Together, we create the foundation for meaningful and lasting impact.

Catherine Marshall and Maricela Oliva remind us in their book, Leadership for Social Justice: Making Revolutions in Education (2nd Edition): "Leaders cannot make social justice happen by their passion and will alone. The huge shifts in cultural understandings and societal and school expectations will happen only with the shared values, coalitions, networking, and mutual support that come with the power of engaging groups of people in social movements, which results in the building of social capital."

#TheScaryTruth: Passion and will alone are not enough to create equitable educational experiences for our students. While these qualities are essential, the ability to rally supporters is just as crucial. In the coming weeks, I’ll delve deeper into the importance of networking as I continue to grow in this professional journey.

Lesson #10:

Rally & Thank Them. Rally those who support you in this important work, and don’t forget to thank them. We cannot achieve a pro-social justice agenda in the schools we lead without a coalition of like-minded individuals by our side.

Originally written in 2019

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Book referenced: Leadership for Social Justice: Making Revolutions in Education (2nd Edition) by Catherine Marshall & Maricela Oliva 

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