Key points:
- The best leaders understand that their role is to empower people around them
- Most districts still struggle to fill specialist roles
- Leading in the in-between: A multi-track approach to leadership growth
- For more news on K-12 leadership, visit eSN’s Educational Leadership hub
As the Director of Maintenance and Operations for 42 campuses across our district, my work is never small. From managing facilities and construction to navigating procurement and public sector regulations, the responsibility can feel like a heavy lift.
But leading a team of people who make that work possible has taught me that leadership is about far more than logistics. Every success I’ve had in this role comes down to one thing: the people. Over the years, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about managing systems — it’s about empowering our team.
Admiral William H. McRaven once wrote that “leadership is difficult, not complicated,” and that idea has stuck with me. Too often, we make leadership complicated. We overthink it, fear tough decisions, or retreat when faced with criticism. But real leadership means stepping forward when things get uncomfortable. There’s nowhere to hide, and that’s okay.
Because the truth is, leadership isn’t about control; it’s about courage. It’s taking responsibility for others, guiding them, and believing in their potential, even when they may not see it themselves. Leaders create clarity, build confidence, and help people find purpose in their work.
In schools, that mindset changes everything. Whether you’re leading a classroom, a campus, or a district, the goal is the same: to inspire, unite, and elevate your team.
Here are three ways the best leaders can make that difference by guiding their teams with vision, trust, and a focus on what truly matters.
Question the status quo to clear the path forward
One of the most important things a leader can do is ask, “Why do we do it that way?” It’s a deceptively simple question, but one that often reveals the habits, inefficiencies, and outdated processes that hold teams back. Most red tape exists because no one has stopped to challenge it. My personal pet peeve is when someone says, “We’ve always done it that way.” In my department, that phrase is almost a warning signal, and my team knows it means we’re about to dig in, examine the process, and ask whether it still serves our purpose.
Leaders don’t question for the sake of disruption; they question to create clarity. Doing something well doesn’t automatically make it important, and the leader’s role is to identify what is important and ensure it’s done well. That often means cutting through the clutter, removing ambiguity, and setting a clear vision rooted in the “why.” When people understand the reason behind what they do, they find renewed motivation and meaning in their work.
Connect purpose to practice with clarity
Great leaders don’t just set a direction—they make sure everyone knows the route and their role in getting there. Bill Walsh, the legendary 49ers coach, created a meticulously detailed plan that outlined what every person on the team, from the quarterback to the secretary, needed to do and why it mattered. The result was alignment, accountability, and confidence in the mission.
In schools, clarity works the same way. When people understand the why behind a decision, and how their work contributes to the larger vision, they’re far more likely to embrace change, even when it means letting go of familiar habits.
For instance, when our district shifted from stacks of paper work orders and manual tracking to a modern facilities management system, not everyone was eager to trade in the old routines. Some were skeptical, even resistant. But communicating our vision helped them soon understand that the goal wasn’t to add work, but to take the weight of managing facilities off the shoulders of administrators so that they could focus on teaching and learning. Once people saw how the new system streamlined communication, saved time, and reduced stress, the change began to feel less like a disruption and more like relief.
Turn vision into measurable progress
Leaders are vision keepers, but they’re also builders.
Setting and achieving goals turns vision into reality. It’s the difference between talking about improvement and actually measuring it. Effective leaders define success, break it into actionable steps, and help teams see their progress along the way.
In schools, this might mean setting clear benchmarks for literacy growth, reducing maintenance backlogs, or improving school climate. Whatever the goal, the process is the same: Establish expectations, equip your team, then step back enough for them to deliver.
Leadership in schools is never easy, and it’s never finished. It’s a daily choice to step forward, to challenge assumptions, and to lift others along the way. The best leaders understand that their role isn’t to control every detail, but to empower the people around them, provide clarity and purpose, and guide teams toward shared goals. When we do that, we create workplaces where people feel valued, capable, and inspired, and students ultimately benefit from the ripple effects of that leadership.
True impact comes not from the systems we manage, but from the people we elevate.