Courage: Courage enables leaders to make difficult decisions and stay the course, demonstrating
a willingness to implement non-discriminatory access, accommodations, and assessments.

Reflection:

Understanding of the Disposition
Courage in leadership is the ability to make difficult, sometimes unpopular decisions while remaining grounded in values, equity, and student well-being. Courageous leaders stay the course even when change is complex or resistance emerges. This disposition includes a willingness to challenge inequitable practices, ensure non‑discriminatory access to learning, and advocate for appropriate accommodations, assessments, and supports for all students. In Indigenous-centered leadership, courage is rooted in responsibility to community, sovereignty, and future generations, requiring leaders to act with integrity and moral clarity.

Experiences Demonstrating This Disposition in Practice
I have demonstrated courage through my leadership in redesigning systems to better serve all students, particularly through equitable MTSS and assessment practices. This work requires intentionally examining long‑standing practices and advocating for change when systems do not align with identity‑affirming and culturally responsive values. I have supported staff in shifting from exclusionary or deficit‑based approaches toward inclusive, universal supports that emphasize belonging and access. Courage has also been required to hold difficult conversations around instructional practices, data use, and accountability, while maintaining focus on student success and fairness. Remaining committed to equity-driven decisions, even when they require discomfort or sustained effort, reflects my willingness to lead with courage.

Plan for Growth
To continue developing this disposition, I plan to strengthen my confidence in leading courageous conversations and navigating resistance with clarity and respect. I will continue building my capacity to use data, policy, and community voice to support equitable decision-making and to advocate for accommodations and assessment practices that honor diverse learners. Ongoing reflection, mentorship, and engagement with Indigenous leadership frameworks will support my growth as a leader who demonstrates courage not through authority, but through principled, student‑centered action.