Moral Courage is the courage to stand up for one’s beliefs in the face of overwhelming opposition. In sections which follow, the types of everyday courage are discussed in greater detail to clarify and explain each one as it relates to the work of school leaders. These four types of courage are described and illustrated (Figure 1.1) below. More specifically, everyday courage consists of four distinct types of courage that when activated will enable principals to face the daily challenges inherent in the job.

This is everyday courage, and it is the kind of courage school leaders need to succeed. Making decisions aligned with these ideals may cause fear or anxiety because they challenge the status quo, irritate a privileged group or lead you into uncharted waters. It is about facing the daily leadership challenges with a willful spirit to support the ideals of equity, excellence and inclusion for all students, even when it is not easy or convenient. Rather, it is about the grit and determination necessary to make tough calls that keep the best interests of children ahead of all other concerns in a school. In this article, I will describe everyday courage for school leaders and offer strategies for developing a courageous mindset to meet these challenges and lead more effectively.Įveryday courage is not about heroes or heroism. It is for these reasons and more we must have a conversation about the courage required to take on these challenges and make the tough decisions that come with them.

The types of challenges facing school leaders today may range from pressures to raise test scores, hold teachers accountable while nurturing their development, and create schools which serve all learners with equity and excellence. Consequently, per the survey, 32 percent of current principals are likely to leave the profession for another occupation.

In a survey conducted by MetLife in 2012 and reported in 2013 entitled, The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher: Challenges of School Leadership, 75 percent of school principals reported their responsibilities have changed significantly in recent years, leading to a job principals say has become too complex and highly stressful, and almost half of those surveyed reported feeling under great stress several days a week. If you have been a school principal for any amount of time, you would most likely agree the job has become much more challenging and complex over the years, and the research supports this claim.

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