‘We,’ ‘Us,’ ‘Our,’ may seem like just words to many, but to me, they are a mindset. Pronouns are important. As John Maxwell states, “One is too small a number to achieve greatness. No accomplishment of real value has ever been achieved by a human being working alone.” As an educational leader, I believed in establishing a shared leadership school environment by playing the game of chess. I want to be strategic and methodical with each “move” or decision I make to ensure the advancement of our school. Always working towards a shared mission; to empower students to achieve their potential and acquire the skills they need to be successful learners and citizens.  In the game of chess each piece moves differently and has different capabilities. As a leader, it is important that I understand how to strategically move, support, encourage, and empower others to work together to build capacity. I believe the way to do this is to endlessly invest in relationships with others. I want to take time to learn and know others' strengths so I can thoughtfully place people in positions where they will succeed not only as individuals but as a team working together for the betterment of our students. I am committed to continuously collaborating with staff members, students, families, and the community. I want to make others feel heard, seen, and most importantly valued.  Everyone's voice and perspective matters.  I am committed to being a lifelong learner. Leaders must create a culture of inclusion, compassion, and trust. Through this culture we will collectively work together as one family towards a shared vision to love, serve, and care for our students, staff, and community.