Be Bold: Set the Bar High for Everyone

Here’s the deal: every leader will tell you they have high expectations. But the real trick? Keeping those expectations alive in day-to-day conversations with everyone involved—students, parents, teachers, and the stakeholders. If we want to make a difference in schools, it starts with believing that kids from different backgrounds can absolutely thrive. My optimism? It’s all about the growth mindset, which is basically saying that brainpower isn’t set in stone—every kid has the potential to thrive.

Putting ‘high expectations’ into action means doing everything we can to help every student shine through personal support. It’s vital, especially when working in challenging areas, to jump in and change the game for kids who’ve had a rough start due to their circumstances. Age often shapes the classes students are placed in, which is a reminder that we need to keep giving kids chances to grow and advance across all levels.

The term “growth mindset” is getting a lot of buzz these days, and it totally deserves it! It’s all about moving away from the idea that some people are just smart and others aren’t. Instead, it’s about practice and opportunity—believing that anyone can succeed if given the right circumstances. This mindset changes everything for schools. Think of it this way: effort and determination are often more important than innate talent.

Teaching is all about human connection. I’ve seen it time and time again—teachers project their feelings and expectations onto students, and this can be a double-edged sword. High expectations need to go both ways. Pushing students to achieve means stepping in when they’re not meeting those high standards, helping them rise to their potential and supporting them when they stumble along the way.

“Integrate what you believe in every single area of your life. Take your heart to work and ask the most and best of everybody else, too.”– MERYL STREEP

Love and Light

DAO