Turning Feedback Into Fuel: How Trust-Driven Leadership Sparks Growth

Turning Feedback Into Fuel: How Trust-Driven Leadership Sparks Growth

What if feedback didn’t feel like failure—but felt like possibility?

For many teachers, even the word “feedback” triggers anxiety. It’s often associated with judgment, ratings, or being told what’s wrong. But what if we changed that? What if feedback became something teachers actually looked forward to?

As a school leader, I always say:

“I don’t know what I don’t know.”
And I truly believe that applies to all of us—teachers, leaders, support staff alike. We are all on a continuous journey of improvement. But that journey stalls if we view feedback as punishment instead of potential.

🧭 Rethinking the Role of Feedback in Education

We frequently discuss the importance of a growth mindset among students, but what about teachers? It is high time we applied the same principles - taking risks, reflecting, and resilience. Feedback should be considered a gift, not a "gotcha."

Unfortunately, educators often brace themselves for feedback as though it is a performance review rather than a learning opportunity. This reaction does not stem from resistance, but from fear. Fear of being misunderstood, of being labeled as inadequate, of being reduced to a checklist of tasks. As leaders, our responsibility lies in shifting the mindset and experience around feedback.

💡 The Power of Feedback When It’s Done Right

Let me share a memorable incident.

One of my veteran Pre-K teachers was stuck in a monotonous routine, with every circle time beginning in the same manner - same greeting, same structure, same energy. I gently suggested, "What if you started with a student-led question instead of the usual hello?"

The next morning, she walked into my office with a smile on her face. "You wouldn’t believe what happened. One of my quietest students asked if birds sleep in trees—and that turned into our whole morning lesson. The class was on fire." That's the potential of feedback when delivered with clarity, trust, and a spirit of partnership. It is not about fixing, but u