Start With Why

To create meaningful change, you must win both the hearts and minds of people (Kotter, 2011). Although we believe ourselves to be rational, thoughtful beings, our actions and behaviors prove otherwise. It is our desires, stories, and who we believe we are that move us (Asacker, 2014). To compel people towards change, we must start with the heart. "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." (Sinek, 2009) Sinek's quote reminds us that we must appeal to deeply-held values in order to affect people. And to successfully implement change, you need to compel people towards action by creating a sense of urgency (Kotter, 2013). Otherwise, it is just another initiative that gets lost in the whirlwind of daily activities.

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In my call to action, I repeat the phrase "every student deserves" because I am appealing to those who believe that every student is worthy of a great education, regardless of background, race, or socio-economic status. This also creates a sense of urgency, as we have a limited amount of time in which to provide a significant learning experience for our students. It is not enough to be satisfied with our students performance on a standardized test. We must empower our students to become life-long learners in order to be successful in a future they will create. We must provide the opportunities that allow students to learn how to learn. To learn how I will change the hearts and minds of my colleagues, please read my page on Influencing Change.