Over the coming weeks I’m going to be posting some leadership qualities I believe are important. Here’s my first one.
Passion
Passion is an important part of leadership because it can be contagious, energizing those around you. You can tell when someone generally cares about their work, and it can inspire those around them. Passion can strengthen loyalty and retention as well as building trust. It is also very noticeable when passion is absent from a leader.
I have a passion for working with kids. I still talk to former students from every school I’ve worked at. When school got out for Covid, I took it upon myself to mail each and every student at Sunrise a hand written postcard. That was 690 postcards. I also offered teachers a virtual story time both so students could see another adult who cared about them and so the teacher could have a short break. I continued volunteering for in person story times at Sunrise after I left because it brought both me and the students joy. While working as a 1:1 at Crestwood, I gave my students the opportunity to receive mail from me. I still tell students I know that if they ever write to me, I will write back.
I am deeply passionate about students and education, and I believe that commitment will be reflected in my work as a board director. I would welcome the opportunity to visit all of our schools and programs to better understand and support their unique strengths. If teachers are interested, I’d be thrilled to participate in activities like story time with students. I also plan to attend a wide range of school events throughout the year to celebrate and support our students in their interests and achievements. My core belief is that every student deserves access to the highest quality education, and I am committed to serving on the school board to ensure that the needs of all students are met.