Hidden in Plain Sight: 3 Catalysts for School Success

This summer, in addition to refining the 2025–26 school year master calendar, implementing new systems, and updating staffing plans, you may also be revisiting and fine tuning your school improvement plan. Often, real breakthroughs in school leadership don’t come from new tools alone, but from fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and spark innovation.

Sometimes what your school improvement efforts need most is an outside voice, whether it’s a colleague from another district, an engaged community member, or a trusted consultant. These external perspectives can highlight blind spots and inspire strategies that internal teams may miss.

No matter who you invite into the conversation, be intentional. Ask them deep, strategic questions:

• These are my goals, do they align with my school’s long-term vision?

• What data points might I be overlooking?

• What patterns or opportunities do you see from the outside?

You can take this even further by forming a summer leadership committee composed of teacher leaders and stakeholders. This team can co-design actionable solutions, leading to stronger buy-in and more sustainable implementation in the fall.

1. Support Staff as Community Leaders

Front office staff and para's are more than operational support they are trusted liaisons and culture keepers. When empowered and supported they bring leadership, insight, and relational capital that transforms school culture. How can they be positioned to lead no matter their role.

These team members don't just keep the school running and the day running they lead it forward. They carry deep relational capital with families, staff and students. They spot tension before it escalates. They protect the trust fabric of your school community. They see disruption in patterns and patterns before its officially tracked as data and they are usually one of the most observant team members you have.

If you're asking yourself and your team:

• How do I reduce leadership burnout without adding headcount

• How do I strengthen culture when I can't be in all places in once?

• How do I unlock more leadership from the talent I already have?

Let's talk they might be sitting right in front of you!

2. Students as Co-Creators

Student voice isn't just a trend, it is a key driver of school improvement and student engagement. Students don't just need a seat at the table, they deserve a voice in shaping the design of their learning environment. When we treat students as partners, not just participants we can unlock deeper innovation in education, authentic student leadership and a stronger sense of student agency.

This can look like student advisory councils, peer led leadership initiatives, or student government associations where students regularly present actionable solutions directly to school administrator and school leadership teams and participate in the feedback cycle to learn how to improve on those ideas for a sharper presentation . ( So many skills can develop from the feedback cycle experiences on its own) These structures allow students to surface real time issues from their peers and propose and deliver meaningful solutions.

When we treat students as partners, not just participants, we unlock deeper innovation in education, authentic student leadership, and a stronger sense of student agency.

Whether your approach includes :

• Monthly forums

• Leadership classes

• Rotating council

The key to success is consistency. When student feedback is embedded in your school cultures, that is when long term transformational change begins.

3. Families as Strategic Partners

 Families hold wisdom, history and a deep understanding of student needs. Inviting their perspective not only build trust , it creates authentic pathways improve school outreach , boost student success and drive lasting change.

Family engagement in schools goes far beyond event nights and newsletters. I get it you've sent the surveys with little or no response. You've hosted the curriculm nights and community events that may not received the turn our you hoped for. And yes, sometimes the contact information is outdated and unreachable.

•  Think about how can you meet families where they are? Do you know where that is for your families?

• What community partners can co-host school updates and events with you

• Do you have a family advisory council with rotating voices to give input or feedback on school decisions.(Where appropriate of course)

• Do you have translation and interpretation services are recordings with translation beyond Google translate?

• Can you host a pop up parent/family event in a community

• How often are you sending out updates and surveys? Think bout the amount of information families are receiving information from you.

What hidden catalysts have you uncovered in your school community?