Early in our careers, we both believed that educational leadership followed a particular formula. You needed to earn the right degree, hold the correct title(s), and follow a clearly defined ladder. If you didn’t see your specific skills or mindsets reflected in the leaders around you, it was easy to assume that leadership wasn’t meant for you, at least not yet.
Character (Still) Counts: Moral Injury and the Case for Character Education
Many academic leaders remember the Character Counts! initiative from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was visible in schools and youth programs nationwide, emphasizing as core values the Six Pillars
Teresa Maggard Stephens
June 15, 2026
