Leading with a Growth Mindset: Reflections from the Classroom to Innovation
- Thomas Robinson
- Jul 5
- 5 min read
Leadership, to me, isn’t about having a fancy title, it's about showing up every day with a genuine commitment to help others and keep growing, both personally and as a team. Over my 15 years in education, I’ve learned that the best leaders are the ones who reflect honestly, stay curious, and aren’t afraid to serve alongside their colleagues. My journey from Midland ISD to Hillcrest School has been full of both tough moments and incredible chances to learn. Looking back, I realize that leadership is really about being open to change, supporting others, and never losing sight of why we do what we do. As I continue to lead, especially with technology and innovation in our schools, I’m more focused than ever on putting these ideas into practice and helping our community thrive together.
What I’ve Learned About Leadership
My time at MISD taught me a lot about the power of working together. Through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), I saw firsthand how much we can accomplish when educators support each other. But as the years went by, I started to notice that new ideas and creativity were often met with hesitation. Even though I did my best to keep an open mind, always looking for better ways to teach, welcoming feedback, and trying out the latest tech I felt like some of my colleagues got stuck in their routines. The idea of always learning and improving became more of a catchphrase than a real practice. That’s when I realized: leadership isn’t about running meetings or following rules. It’s about being the example, day in and day out, of curiosity and growth. Sometimes, though, you must recognize when an environment just isn’t a good fit anymore. Leaving MISD after ten years wasn’t easy, but I knew it was time for a change. Moving to Hillcrest School, a place that genuinely values innovation, has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. The last five years here have shown me what happens when you’re surrounded by people who want to grow and try new things. Teachers at Hillcrest are not just willing, they're excited to explore new teaching methods, bring technology into the classroom, and lift each other up in professional growth. There’s a sense of teamwork and energy here that I rarely found before, and it’s made all the difference for me and for the students we serve.
My Leadership Style: Servant Leadership
If I had to put a name to the way I lead, I’d call it servant leadership. At its heart, according to Keiser (2023) it means, I put people first whether that’s students, teachers, or our whole school community. I try to listen, build trust, and help others before I think about my own goals. Honestly, this style just feels right to me, because I truly believe leadership is about lifting others up. When I’m mentoring a new teacher, sharing lesson ideas, or running a tech training, what matters to me most is helping others grow and succeed. I’ve found that this approach really works in my history classes, too. Teaching 8th grade U.S. History and 10th grade World History has shown me that context is everything, not just for what we learn, but for how we treat each other. I do my best to create a classroom where students feel safe to ask questions, make mistakes, and explore new ideas. That same spirit guides me when I work with colleagues. Instead of telling people what to do, I focus on supporting them and cheering them on. In the end, it’s about working together, learning together, and celebrating each other’s wins big or small.
Growth Mindset and Technology Integration
Having a growth mindset isn’t just something you talk about, it's something you live, day in and day out. (Wilson & Conyers, 2016) That’s what I’ve found at Hillcrest, where the atmosphere is genuinely open to new ideas. Because I’m surrounded by people who want to try new things, I’ve been able to lead some pretty exciting tech projects. We’ve experimented with interactive digital timelines in history classes, helped students share their voices through Flipgrid, and made good use of Google Workspace to help everyone work together more easily. In my leadership role, I’ve run hands-on workshops on making technology work in the classroom. My goal isn’t just to get people using the latest tool, it's about making sure whatever we use actually helps students learn. What I’ve learned, especially from the work of Carol Dweck (2006) on growth mindset, is that real progress comes when we’re willing to take on challenges and stick with things, even when it gets tough. Trying out new tech can be a little bumpy at first, but those bumps are where the best learning happens. I always encourage my colleagues to play around with new tools, to be curious and patient, and I try to set that example myself even if it means messing up sometimes. Looking ahead, I’m hoping we can take things further by letting students lead more tech projects, maybe even bring coding into our social studies lessons, and explore new platforms, like AI tools for writing. It’s not about adding gadgets for the sake of it. It’s about giving students more ways to think critically and solve problems in creative ways. That’s what keeps me excited to lead and keeps our school moving forward.
Looking Ahead: The Leader I Strive to Be
I want to keep growing as a leader, but I also want to stay connected to what matters most: helping others and remembering why I started teaching in the first place. My goal is to inspire my fellow educators to be brave about trying new things, to see challenges as opportunities, and to never be afraid of making mistakes along the way. I really believe leadership in schools isn’t about having power or running the show, it's about making a difference, showing up for people, and being intentional in everything we do. Whether I’m showing students the twists and turns of history or helping a colleague try out a new teaching strategy, I try to lead with the idea that we’re all in this together and we can all keep improving. Looking back at my time at MISD and now here at Hillcrest, I’ve truly seen how important it is for a school to live out a growth mindset, not just talk about it. At Hillcrest, this attitude is real, and it’s what keeps me inspired to teach, to lead, and to learn right alongside everyone else.
References
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
Keiser, R. (2023, October 30). Leadership styles in education: Nine ways educators guide
talent. Keiser University.
de-talent/
Wilson, D., & Conyers, M. (2016, December 15). Incorporating a growth mindset into teaching
practice. Edutopia.
na-wilson-marcus-conyers/
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