John Dewey writes that education “represents not only the development of children and youth, but also the future of the society of which they will be the constituents.” As a committed progressive educator, I believe my role is to help young people discover who they are and determine how they will use this understanding to contribute positively to the world. Great schools build on children’s unique gifts and provide the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for them to be active participants in their communities: active intellectually, active physically, active politically, active socially, active morally. As an educational leader, my role is to cultivate the community in which this important work can occur, striking a delicate balance between honoring and preserving the school’s culture and its most essential traditions while, at the same time, inviting the community into conversation that will push its thinking in bold and innovative ways.My work in education for the past 30 years as a teacher, administrator, consultant, and head of school has been the primary way in which I choose to serve my community and the world. My day-to-day practice is dedicated to cultivating relationships and partnering with members of my school community to create an educational environment that inspires both young people and adults to be their best and most powerful selves.