#GivingTuesday: Give students the education leaders they need

While 2020 has been full of challenges, The Leadership Academy has so much to be thankful for.

We have been honored to partner with school and system leaders across the country who are working harder than ever to give every one of their students the best possible learning experiences under incredibly difficult circumstances.

We are seeing leaders take incredible risks to become culturally responsive leaders. They are reflecting on their own biases and helping their teams do the same. They are examining their policies and practices with an eye toward creating schools that are intentionally built for every student.

Thank you aspiring superintendents in Massachusetts’ Influence 100 fellowship for your commitment to learning to lead as culturally responsive leaders. Thank you, district leaders across Texas, for taking the first steps toward examining student learning data and publicly acknowledging where students need better access to rigorous and culturally responsive learning experiences. Thank you, Des Moines Public Schools, for creating space to listen to the needs of students, families and teachers, and responding to those needs.

Thank you to every leader who is taking a stand, who is taking the time to examine everything from the way kindergarten teachers are talking about Thanksgiving to why some families are deciding not to return to in-person school. Thank you, leaders who are courageous enough to name that returning to business as usual in schools means returning to an unjust, inequitable system – and thus are willing to disrupt what existed and create inclusive affirming learning spaces for every student.

Please know that The Leadership Academy stands with you. We are here to support you. We are in this work together.

If you are committed to making sure every child has access to rigorous learning experiences, if you believe, as we do, that every child needs and deserves a learning environment that values them for who they are, where each child can bring their whole selves every day and feel safe and valued, then support The Leadership Academy on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 1.

Adelante,

Nancy