According to Carol Dweck, in a growth mindset, “people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—brains and talent are just the starting point. This view creates a love of learning and a resilience that is essential for great accomplishments”.  A growth mindset is opposed to a fixed mindset where people believe that their success or lack of success is due to their innate abilities, such as how smart they are or how athletic they are.  Dweck’s research has shown that individuals and businesses that live out a growth mindset are more likely to be successful over time. 

It is our goal here at HA to model a growth mindset in all that we do in order to foster the development of our students’ belief that through “grit”, determination, and perseverance we and they can achieve way beyond our wildest dreams.  Our goal here should be to get a little better each day individually and collectively.  I recently read a statement by Dr. Kevin Elko that, “It happens all of a sudden over a long period of time”.  If we teach our students the value of working hard and get them to believe that growth comes as a result we and they will be a success.  By praising and rewarding the hard work; grades and all other types of recognition will ultimately take care of themselves.  Success, however you choose to measure, truly will happen all of a sudden over time.     

As I shared in my introductory letter last summer, I believe that ALL children can grow and learn, and that all adults can, too—me most of all.  I believe that teachers and administrators should model the integrity and citizenship that we want to see in all of our students at HA. I believe that actions truly do speak much more loudly than words.  If we all celebrate in each other these attributes that we want to see more of on a regular basis we will continue to grow as individuals and as a school community.