leaders .as. learners

In reflecting back on my growing up years, I can think of many heroes in my life. They range from superheroes like Superman to everyday people like my Great Aunt Bernice. Heroes are so very important for our lives and always give us hope.

In January, the American people had a new set of heroes to add to their list.  The pilot and flight crew of U.S. Airways flight 1549 jumped quickly into the hero column for all of us.  There are so many amazing aspects of that landing on the Hudson River, but one that resonated with my leadership work was their often repeated phrase: “we were doing exactly what we had been trained to do.”  Their training in emergency landings was not one that they ever wanted to implement, but they were ready and capable if called upon to do so.

I have another set of heroes that are “doing what they are trained to do” each and every day.  Within the Washington State Leadership Academy there are 120 educators that are daily being heroes in the lives of each and every student in their schools and districts.  They are working hard to understand the student’s needs, the challenges that are faced by all educators, developing and then implementing a specific plan of action to meet all of those needs and challenges.  Each one is seeking to implement the best possible education for each student in their care.  They may not be landing an airplane on water, but they are facing serious challenges and working to ensure that all students are successful.  That, in my mind, is a true hero.