Two years ago, Americans were embarking on a Spring Break that would change their lives forever.
When the pandemic hit, educators were among the ranks of essential workers who shouldered the greatest impacts of the disruption to American life.
Teachers, principals, administrators and staff have put in countless hours wearing multiple hats – public safety aide, emotional support person, resource distributor, Zoom manager, mask exemplar, and as much as possible, educator.
And they’re still doing it today.
What have we learned from the past two years about leadership that can help us move forward in a positive direction? (Particularly when it seems unlikely we will eradicate COVID-19, and instead must learn to live with it.)
We asked the education leaders in our programs for help answering these questions. When it comes to student success, we believe educators on the ground are best positioned to identify and work on the unique challenges facing their districts and campuses.
Their reflections on the leadership lessons of the past two years and what we can all do to better support them hold rich insights.
How are you different today because of the pandemic? How is public education different?
The leader I was two years ago was not as introspective as I am now. The pandemic has changed the landscape of every decision we make. I feel responsible to leverage opportunities that may not bring back the way we were, but will forge forward even stronger than before.
– Sandra Clement, Chief Officer of School Innovation, Corpus Christi ISD
I’m more confident in my leadership skills today because of the pandemic. Going through hard things makes us stronger. Having to rely on each other during uncertain times made our team stronger too. I believe public education is more adaptable now. The pandemic really showed us what we’re capable of providing students when options are limited. Now that we’re back in school, I think it gives us options and new skills to enrich our previous approaches.
– Ashley Chohlis, Executive Director of Student and Community Engagement, East Central ISD
I now view all stakeholders as valuable, and I need to take time to understand and listen to these voices in order to make better decisions.
– Karla Montemayor, Principal, Drs. Reed and Mock Elementary, Pharr-San-Juan-Alamo ISD
I must be more intentional and creative about reaching out to both staff and families. It is the leader’s job to communicate often, and with a positive mindset. “Tell your own story, or someone else will.”
– Kim Banuelos, Principal, Shaw Elementary, Mesquite ISD
I have learned what can be let go of and focus more on what is in my power to control. I also rely on my students to have more self-efficacy and advocate for themselves more. They are rising to this challenge due to having been virtual learners. I’ve noticed that more students have grown as independent workers and they know how to ask for help when needed.
– Allison DeSantis, Teacher, Hopewell Middle School, Round Rock ISD
I have become more of an innovator. If there’s no policy for something we haven’t seen before, the question becomes, “What can we do to create a solution rather than apply one?”
– Ethan Hoeft, Assistant Principal, Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie ISD
What is your hope for the future, for yourself or for public education in general?
I hope that society remembers what it was like without teachers, without public schools. I hope that memory leads to actions that support public education.
– Loren Riedel, Counselor, Clear Fork Elementary, Lockhart ISD
My hope is that a sense of community and connection will return, and ownership by all will help to develop our children so they can lead rewarding and meaningful lives.
– Marlene Roddy, Principal, Martin High School, Arlington ISD
My hope for the future is that the grace is not soon forgotten as we learn our new normal in a post-pandemic world. The pandemic equalized us to such a degree that our humanity was refocused on our shared experiences and not our differences.
– Chauncey D. Reese, Dean of Instruction, Sam Houston High School, Arlington ISD
My hope for myself is that I continue to have what I need within me to serve those around me and pour into the next generation what they need to create, learn and innovate. My hope for public education is that the profession gains more renown and respect.
– Ethan Hoeft, Assistant Principal, Grand Prairie High School, Grand Prairie ISD
I hope that having to rethink things to make education happen during the pandemic can lead educators to continue to rethink things and make them work for a variety of people that we serve.
– Allison DeSantis, Teacher, Hopewell Middle School, Round Rock ISD
How can people better support educators?
Helping educators to recapture their why, listening to their concerns, and empowering them to make decisions that improve their programs would better support them.
– Marlene Roddy, Principal, Martin High School, Arlington ISD
Truly listen to the teachers and allow for them to task risk. When failure does happen, provide encouragement and coaching for their growth.
– Vivian Oliver-Hernandez, Digital Learning Coach-Literacy, Carl Wunsche High School, Spring ISD
Affirmation is one of the biggest things we can do for educators. No educator goes into the profession thinking that we will become rich, we want to make a difference for kids. Valuing the hard work that teachers, principals and staff do to educate our children and take care of families by affirming their work would be a good start. Communities need to come together and stand by their teachers in a concerted effort to keep our classrooms staffed with the best and brightest teachers.
– Sarah Bonser, Superintendent, Plano ISD
Educators need the support and trust from our communities that they often do not receive. Public schools are on attack and every educator has stepped up to navigate the rough pandemic road. Many have stepped down, but many more have held strong in their belief that what they do every day, as exhausting and emotionally draining as it is, matters. It matters to that 2nd grade student starting school for the first time and that junior in high school whose last normal school year was in 8th grade. They and everyone in between matter to public school educators. We turn no one away.
– Sandra Clement, Chief Officer of School Innovation, Corpus Christi ISD
What have you learned in the past two years about leadership?
If there was one trait I saw strengthen the most in myself and those around me, it was resilience – bouncing back, pushing forward, lifting others and never wavering from the important work of serving students.
– Sandra Clement, Chief Officer of School Innovation, Corpus Christi ISD
I don’t need to be perfect or know the answers to everything. I’m much kinder to myself and have learned that it’s essential to take care of myself and be in a good headspace when I show up every day. I can’t make things happen unless I’m physically and mentally strong.
– Allison DeSantis, Teacher, Hopewell Middle School, Round Rock ISD
With so many things out of my control, I try to focus on the present moment. What can I do right now? Tomorrow is not guaranteed to look the same as today, so the present moment has become the most critical for educators.
– Loren Riedel, Counselor, Clear Fork Elementary, Lockhart ISD
To transform our schools, we’ll need many, many more leaders. We’ll need the leaders who don’t yet think they’re leaders, and those of us who are apprehensive about embracing the roles and responsibilities of leadership, and we’ll need to have reflected deeply on what we mean by leadership and on who we are as leaders.
– Sherese Nix, Executive Director of Communication, Garland ISD
Technical leadership skills will only get a leader so far. Leadership during extended, difficult times requires so many skills leaders must acquire intentionally, over time, through thoughtful self-reflection, and holding themselves accountable for growth. It demands strength of will and character, inner peace, trustworthiness, determination, persistence, adaptability, grace, humility and love. It requires the leader to inspire others to walk alongside them, and to carry some until they are strong enough to walk on their own.
– Ashley Chohlis, Executive Director of Student and Community Engagement, East Central ISD
True innovative leadership requires you to “fail” so you can learn and grow. You cannot be afraid to fail if you are going to lead a campus of innovation.
– Vivian Oliver-Hernandez, Digital Learning Coach-Literacy, Carl Wunsche High School, Spring ISD
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