Visible Leadership By Dr. Steve Little In the real work of high school leadership, the most important moments rarely happen behind my desk. They happen before first period begins, during lunch waves, in crowded hallways, and long after the last bus pulls away. Over time, I come to understand something that reshapes how I lead: visibility is not something extra I do as a principal, it is the work. For me, being visible is never about being on a stage or in front of a camera. I

The hallway felt heavier than usual as November crept toward the holidays. Mrs. Jones, a veteran urban educator, could feel it before the first bell even rang—the slumped shoulders, the rushed footsteps, the unspoken tension simmering beneath her students’ morning greetings. Every year it arrived the same way, quietly at first, then all at once: the weight her students carried into the building right before the holiday season. But this year, Mrs. Jones noticed a difference in

In the heart of every urban classroom lies a powerful truth: relationships are the foundation of learning. Students in urban schools—often navigating complex social, economic, and emotional realities—crave connection, respect, and belonging as much as they need academic instruction. One of the simplest yet most profound ways an educator can build that connection is through eye contact. As urban educators, our social and emotional competency (SEC) is tested daily. We juggle be