Our language and the ways we conduct ourselves can be the catalyst for what makes our school and district a place people love. A great leader always strives to connect with staff and in the process, conveys his or her belief that success can’t happen without each other.
I realize that in order to see the type of teaching, learning, leadership, and support that I want to see in schools and across our district, I have to paint a portrait of what it looks like using expressive, asset-based language that builds upon the current strengths of employees and reinforces their existing foundation of knowledge and skill. Using clear, powerful, and uplifting language takes a great deal of practice and awareness, and doesn’t necessarily come naturally to me. Therefore, I spend a great deal of time reflecting about my word choice in order to improve.
We are all leaders because we want to make a difference. And those of us…
The term ‘soup’ is also an abbreviated play on words for my present job title, “supt.”. I currently serve as the superintendent of the Casa Grande School District. In this role, I have the opportunity to set the tone for the teachers, staff members, students, and families. I get to focus on their happiness, fulfillment, and success. I am able to build confidence and create a learning environment where all feel a sense of belonging and connection.
Just Leading 