How can you make the most of your influence?

If you’re anything like us, you can’t get your day started without a cup (or two, or three) of coffee. But have you ever considered what it takes to make your morning brew? Farmers grow and harvest the beans; processors hull and dry them; then they’re roasted, packed, and shipped before finally ending up in your favorite mug.

But some of the most important players in this process are also the most easily forgotten: bees. These little helpers carry pollen from one flower to another, fertilizing coffee plants so they’ll bear fruit. Without bees and other pollinators like them, the world’s coffee supply would shrink dramatically, making that all-important cup of joe too expensive and too rare. The same goes for apples, avocados, cucumbers, tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, and pumpkins—just to name a few. You wouldn’t think something so small would have such a massive influence on global supply chains, but bees do. They’re working in the background, quietly making our normal lives possible.

Sometimes, as a school leader, you may feel like you’re not making much of a difference. Change in education is often slow and granular, and it’s hard to know which flowers are going to bloom, which efforts are going to bear fruit. But the smallest moments—a bee buzzing from blossom to blossom or a teacher encouraging a student to keep trying— these are the moments that make the world go ‘round. Every single day, you and your staff are influencing the course of our future.

In this issue, we’re considering what it means to have influence—and how you can use that influence wisely and effectively. You’ll hear from an expert on the science of motivation, who will show you how to create and foster a high-performing culture in your district. We’ll share ways to support and mobilize your teachers, from engaging onboarding to professional development around social media. And we’ll bring you the stories of educators who are already making a buzz with the power of their influence— whether they’re bringing a district back from rock bottom or addressing and redressing inequities in school systems across the country.

Here’s the truth: We need your influence. Society needs the fruit public education bears: thoughtful, productive citizens leading fulfilling lives. But it can’t happen without you. So keep up the good work. We’ll be here to support you every step of the way.