Cassie Oshinsky

Unwillingness to settle with the awareness that flexibility is what drives true change. I have always had one purpose: leave things better then when I came and do it with the best interest of students in mind. Parents trust us as educators with the most precious things in their lives, and that is no small responsibility. Early in my career I decided that this was not a job that paid my bills, this was a career and I was put there for a purpose. These beliefs truly shape the way that I approach every task, large or small, that I have encountered. If you can balance your own beliefs with the understanding that nothing is accomplished without teams, relationships, and collaboration, you are bound to find success in what you do. Lead with your heart, but don't do it alone.

A mentor of mine taught me early in my career that emotions will always be attached to our work but that I needed to use my emotions as my superpower. Being a leader automatically brings with it people who will dislike you, disagree with you, or want you to fail so that they can succeed. It also brings with it a world of people who want you to do well, who encourage you, and who are behind you. Focus on the good, don't take things personally, and use moments of emotion to create positive change. When the weight of the world is on your shoulders, step away and find a stump to cry on. Then walk back inside and get to work. You will see great things happen when you realize that truly feeling things is what shapes you as a good leader.

Know your why. What is the reason you wanted to be a teacher in the first place? Then don't let anything get in the way of that.

This why cannot be a reason about yourself, it has to be about others. Especially in educational leadership. You have to want to support kids and adults. If you're going into leadership or into education at all because of the feeling that it gives you intrinsically, dig deeper.

Examining your why, and making sure you stay committed to that throughout everything that you do, is critical. It's very easy to get caught up in regulations, and all the tasks that you have to do, and state requirements, and educators complaining about their jobs. Don't get wrapped up in that. Focus on your why, and you will be unstoppable.

The biggest challenge and opportunity continue to be the same. Change. Education is a field that is always changing. Navigating those changes from the federal, state, and local levels will always be a challenge, but if we navigate them well, they become our biggest opportunities for growth. I stay focused on supporting adults and students and making change a bit easier to digest. If we can stay grounded there, we can climb any hill in education.

Kindness, integrity, and hard work. These three values are ones that guide me through every part of my life. Everything you encounter in life will test these three things, so I try my best to keep them on my radar at all times. To keep them as my compass.