Center the leader.  The leader is the lever for success in schools, and that means their experience, success, and impact is vital. Every leader is on a unique, individual journey, capable of both typical and accelerated growth. Our job is to enhance and engineer conditions for development, maximizing rate and outcomes.  

Confront the context. Nothing exists in isolation. Overlooking context is counterproductive. We acknowledge and work to dismantle systems of power that led to and sustain racial and socioeconomic inequities in our schools. When analyzing challenges, we look to the system that is producing the result and build solutions for the source, rather than the symptom. We look to data, both quantitative and qualitative, to ground and drive decision-making.   

Hold space for humanity. People are at the center of our work—in all their complexity. We know there is no one “right” way to be, and everyone is a work in progress. We value and validate people in their individuality—their Stories, their diversity, their uniqueness. We operate with empathy, grace, and belief in the best of ourselves and others, especially in moments of conflict and uncertainty.  

Raise the bar. We’re here to change the game. We will prove what is possible in leader preparation and support and have a ripple effect on policies and systems across the country. As leading innovators, it’s our job to push the status quo convincingly and with tact, pushing perspectives and increasing partner alignment. We model navigating toward progress through discomfort, and we support and encourage others to do the same. 

Own it. The quality of our work matters; our commitments matter, all the time. We follow through and take outcomes seriously, both individually and collectively. We each share and carry the weight of our collective mission. We show up for each other, and we strive to bring our best selves to this work.