Shari Spangrud

I attribute much of my success to my family and to the people who believed in me, especially during the times when I struggled to believe in myself. They saw potential in me that I could not always see in myself, and their support played an important role in helping me move forward.

Going through my divorce was a particularly difficult period in my life. For a time, I lost sight of who I was, what I wanted, and what I was capable of achieving. It took several years to find my way back to myself and rebuild my confidence.

That experience taught me valuable lessons about resilience, self-worth, and the importance of having people who believe in you when you are struggling to believe in yourself. Those lessons have continued to shape both my personal and professional journey.

Don't become so focused on where you're trying to go that you miss the opportunity to make a difference where you are. Leadership doesn't always come with a title. Titles and positions will change, but the way you make people feel, and the opportunities you create for others, can last much longer. You don't have to wait for someone to call you a leader to start leading, and when someone opens a door for you, don't forget to hold it open for the person coming behind you.

I would encourage young women not to rule themselves out of an opportunity simply because they do not believe they are qualified or capable. Some of the people who have made the greatest impact on my life recognized potential in me before I was able to recognize it in myself.

I encourage others to find people who will challenge them, surround themselves with people they can learn from, and then become that source of encouragement and opportunity for someone else. Growth often comes from stepping outside of what feels comfortable and being willing to learn along the way.

When life does not unfold according to the plan you originally envisioned, I would not automatically consider that a failure. Sometimes what feels like a detour can ultimately lead you exactly where you are meant to go. My own career and educational journey certainly did not follow a straight path, but each experience led me to the next opportunity.

Education is constantly changing, and one of the biggest challenges I see is that teachers are increasingly overwhelmed by procedural compliance requirements and administrative responsibilities in addition to the actual work of teaching. When those demands become excessive, it can be easy for educators to lose sight of the passion and purpose that brought them into the profession.

I believe there is an opportunity to strengthen educational procedures and structures in ways that better support teachers in the classroom. By streamlining processes and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, we can help teachers regain valuable time and energy.

Ultimately, I believe we need to give teachers the opportunity to focus on what they entered education to do: teach, connect with students, inspire them, and experience the joy of making a difference in their lives.

My faith is an important part of who I am, along with my family, serving others, and treating people with respect. I believe strongly in making people feel that their voices matter. When someone has a stake in something being discussed or planned, I want that person to know that their perspective is heard and valued.

I also believe that bringing different perspectives together makes our work stronger. It does not always have to be my way, because there can be more than one right way to accomplish something. What matters is listening to one another, respecting different perspectives, and remaining focused on the outcome we are trying to achieve together.

These values guide the way I work with students, educators, families, and colleagues. I want to create environments where people feel respected, included, and empowered to contribute.