Leadership that shows up looks different in every district, but the heart of it is the same. It is about being present, listening with intention, and creating space for others to grow." “
The programs that truly succeed are not the ones with perfect conditions. They are the ones built on supported teams. They are able to care for students well because leadership first chose to care for the people serving them. Leadership That Shows Up The most impactful directors and supervisors are not only found behind a desk or sitting in meetings. They are found in cafeterias. They are willing to step in at a moment’s notice, put on gloves and a hair net, and help when help is needed. Leadership does not lose respect by getting dirty. It gains it. When leaders step in, ask what needs to be done, and work beside their teams during a busy lunch period, something powerful happens. Whether they are covering a call out or helping solve problems in real time, trust is built. Staff feel valued. Morale improves. Teams shift from simply working to truly working together. When I served as a Director, I often told my team, “My job is to set you up for success and not failure so you can take care of the children.” That belief changes everything. It shifts leadership from control to collaboration and keeps the focus where it belongs. For collaboration to happen, leadership must be willing to listen. At one point, I was responsible for thirty-five schools with only one supervisor at the central office to help me. We could not be in thirty-five schools at the same time, and most days we were putting out fires. I never wanted my staff to feel unseen simply because I could not physically be in their kitchens regularly. That is when we created an Advisory Committee made up of managers from the elementary,
middle, and high school levels who were voted on by their peers. This group allowed us to collaborate on new ideas, discuss what was working and what was not, and address challenges before they became larger problems. The committee did not replace regular manager meetings, but it did allow trusted team members to help shape and strengthen the program. We also began holding assistant manager meetings, giving those team members opportunities to grow, develop leadership skills, and prepare for future roles. Investing in people early created a stronger leadership pipeline and more prepared teams. Leadership that shows up looks different in every district, but the heart of it is the same. It is about being present, listening with intention, and creating space for others to grow. Support Is More Than a Word Support is not just something we talk about. It is something teams feel. You cannot expect high-level performance from a team that is constantly working without the tools, training, and support they need. Passion alone cannot carry a program. People must be set up to win.
Effective teams are built when leadership is intentional about providing resources. That includes functioning equipment, clear procedures, realistic expectations, and training that builds confidence instead of stress. When staff are forced to constantly make do or figure things out on their own, frustration and burnout quickly follow. Support also means communication, and this is where knowledge becomes power. I always wanted my team to understand the why behind the decisions I was making. When people are given the full picture, they are better equipped to adapt, support change, and take ownership of their work. Even difficult decisions feel less frustrating when teams understand the reasoning behind them. When staff are included in conversations and informed about what is happening and why, trust grows. Buy-in increases. People are far more likely to stand behind decisions when they understand how those decisions impact students, operations, and the bigger picture of the program. Time is another critical resource that is often overlooked. Rushed training, unrealistic
Powered by FlippingBook