Post by David W. Armstrong, Ed.D.

Leadership in education is about more than just managing classrooms or overseeing schools. It's about creating a shared story that unites teachers, students, and administrators in a common purpose. Early in my career, our district superintendent introduced the theme, "Climb Mount Joplin." At the time, I often joked about it, but over the years, this idea has stuck with me and evolved into a powerful metaphor for leadership. Just like Sir Edmund Hillary’s ascent of Mount Everest, students, teachers, principals, and staff all play essential roles in scaling the peak of Mount Joplin. This metaphor offers important lessons about leadership, group identity, buy-in, and how collective efforts lead to success.