Take Care of the Adults Taking Care of Kids

If we’re not taking care of the adults who care for kids, how can we expect them to show up as their best selves? Leadership starts with recognizing that empowered, valued, and supported staff are the foundation of every thriving school.

Here’s the challenge: When you see great things happening in a classroom—don’t keep it to yourself. If something incredible is happening in 3rd grade, go tell the 8th grade science teacher about it, the teacher who has no business being in a third grade classroom. Why? Because inevitably what will happen is that 8th grade science teacher will go tell the 3rd grade teacher they are doing a good job. Why? Because someone did this for them and it felt good. And we want to live and work in a place that feels good, not great, just good! Get yourself to good everyday to give yourself a shot at being great.

Let’s get real: the education field is full of open jobs. If your team doesn’t feel good about coming to work, they won’t stick around. And it’s not just about losing a staff member. Kids learn best from teachers who care deeply about their work, feel valued in their efforts, and know they’re supported every step of the way. If we fail in any of these areas, we don’t deserve to lead them.

The stakes are too high to ignore this truth. Recognize the greatness in your people. Acknowledge their hard work. Celebrate their successes. Then amplify their impact so others can see it too.

Because leadership isn’t just about having a vision. It’s about building the culture where people feel inspired to make that vision a reality. Let’s show up for our people—so they can keep showing up for our kids.