The Kaya Principles on Leading Leaders

My View

“Where are my people?” That’s what Kaya Henderson would exclaim when she opened the school leadership academies in our district. Principals would roar in delight because we knew she had our backs — always. She understood it’s through principals, not the superintendent, that real change happens.

Henderson was the chancellor of D.C. Public Schools from 2012 to 2016. During the years since, in my work as a cluster superintendent overseeing six turnaround schools, I’ve learned to embrace the Kaya Principles for leadership.

Disrupting the status quo in education requires innovation, change and loss. Too often, fear of failure impedes principals from leading bold change. As one with experience disrupting the status quo, I understand this fear.

Just 17 months before I was awarded 2012 principal of the year in the district, I was placed on leave after attacks by former staff members who resisted change. In most districts, the story would have ended there. In DCPS, it didn’t. Henderson returned me to high school leadership, initiatives moved forward, and we reached the coveted 90/90 proficiency in math and reading and earned National Blue Ribbon recognition.