CORE 4
Gina Butters
Weber Superintendent
1. It’s PEOPLE, not programs, at the heart of any meaningful level of growth or achievement in our schools and organizations. It’s the relationships we form, the trust we build, and the empowerment we give to others that ensure a positive, healthy culture of leadership and learning.
2. The POWER of ONE: One leader, educator or paraprofessional can be THE ONE for a student at a critical juncture in life. We must be intentional and aware at all times- Who can I get to higher ground today? Who needs my help? Who needs ME? Those who cross our paths need us to show up for them in meaningful ways. This is the most noble and essential work we can undertake- to foster this type of meaning, purpose, action and culture in our schools and organizations and then powerfully model it, ourselves, day after day.
3. Embrace the Essence of Leadership = The Arena: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” (Theodore Roosevelt) (Leadership is courageously and intentionally embracing being in “the arena,” realizing “what it is,” and going “all in,” anyway, often with a lump in the throat, because we believe we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.)
4. We See You. We’ve Got You. You BELONG in Weber. Our students, employees and families must believe and trust that they are seen, understood, supported, welcomed, and championed in our school communities. A strong sense of belonging is what every child needs and deserves, especially in this divided, polarized, chaotic world. Our schools and classrooms must be safe havens where the “noise” of the day is drowned out and replaced with high expectations, commensurate support, and loving guidance.
We’re all just walking each other home.
Ram Dass