There is an adage that great leaders should create a culture so strong that it continues without them when they leave.
I love the idea, but I don’t believe it.
Think of the opposite.
A terrible leader can create such a bad culture that when they leave, no one can come in and make it better.
Of course, the past influences the present and future, but I also believe that a culture can shift because of the actions of one person.
It doesn’t have to be a principal or Superintendent. It can be one enthusiastic staff member, or even someone outside of the organization. who brings great energy to the environment every day, which lifts the mood of many.
Here is a little example I think about often.
Years ago, when I was an assistant principal, I used to grab breakfast at McDonald’s in the drive-thru every morning, and the same person worked that window every day I went. She was so upbeat; it improved my mood and made me much more enthusiastic as I entered the day. That helped everyone at my school.
Another recent example was an administrative assistant I worked with in a school district. She was incredible to work with, and when I mentioned her name to the group in front of me, they all cheered and smiled. I knew that she had a positive effect on everyone.
No matter your role, you can change the culture. I bring this up because I recently saw a very powerful example that reminded me of a lesson I shared with others in the past.
One of my roles in my former school district was as a Covey Leadership trainer, which I believe has shaped much of what I do today. Although it was a “program” that was delivered to our community, there were so many great stories that impacted me.
A favorite from those stories was about Principal Madeleine Cartwright, who started at a new school and wanted to make it better for everyone in that community. One of her frustrations was the smell coming from a bathroom, caused by urine in the concrete from several years ago (sorry for the grossness). Although the custodian had tried to address it before, he couldn’t fix the problem. So Madeleine got onto the floor and brushed it until it was cleaned. The word of that action spread throughout the school, and they basically told the staff, “If the boss is willing to do the hard stuff, so can we.”
The visual of that principal on the floor, scrubbing the smell out of the bathroom has always stuck with me.
One action that example inspired in me, which I still hold to this day, is that when there is garbage on the ground in front of our school, or even in front of my own home, I pick it up. I do not ask anyone else to do it. If I see it, I pick it up. The hope was that students, staff, and my own kids would do the same if they saw I was willing to do it.
This reminds me of a quote from James Baldwin:
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”
Fast forward to September 2026.
I was invited to speak at Bloomingdale School District in Illinois, and I knew ahead of time that they were dealing with construction and the situation was less than ideal. Although they had planned for me to speak in a different space than the one we were using that day, it wasn’t ready because, in the history of schools, construction has never been done on time.
So they pivot to a space that is not ideal, but still better than the alternative.
Knowing this, I go earlier than I anticipated because I figured the technology could be an issue. I walk in, and immediately I know there are going to be some complications.
As I walk up to the projector and screens, a woman is lying on the ground, already trying to figure out the problem. I walk up to her, try to introduce myself, ask who she is, and she tells me she is the Superintendent.
Immediately, my mind goes to that Madeleine video I presented 100s of times. And it wasn’t just that the Superintendent was doing it, but it was her positive attitude in doing so.
Now I am NOT comparing switching wires around between different outlets and moving projectors to cleaning urine off the floor. It was the action of the Superintendent, in her first week of staff, saying, through her actions, this year is going to be messy, but I am going to do whatever I can to make it the best year possible.
That sets the tone.
And immediately, I did my best to help her and pulled out the 57 dongles in my bag to try to figure out the solution. I sat by the computer while she presented, and did my best to ensure everything worked as well as possible for her, because she got there early to make sure that everything worked as well as possible for me.
When people go above and beyond for you, you want to do the same for them.
Now, I am pretty sure the culture there was good before.
I also know that with any school or district, when a new person becomes principal or Superintendent, the concern becomes, “What is this person going to make us do?”
What I saw in Dr. Vicki King’s actions on this day was that she would never ask anyone to do what she wouldn’t do herself. Her actions were so loud that her words were not needed.
In “Forward, Together,” I talk about how students emulate the adults and share the following:
“The kids. They are always watching, and they learn more from our actions than our words. Always.”
What I would add there is that it’s not just the kids who are watching, but the adults as well.
I do not know this Superintendent very well, but I would bet she would be the first to downplay this story or credit someone else.
But she also reminded me that I have to get better. There are times when others were watching and I could have, and should have, done better.
And that is why I share this story.
A great leader doesn’t just help find the best in you. They make you want to be a better version of yourself because of their example.
What I saw on that day was the quote come to life through a superintendent’s actions, and I want to be better because of it.
