As you step into 2025, I’m sure your annual implementation plan, overarching strategic goals, and frameworks are ready to roll. But here’s a crucial reminder: take a moment to pause and look beyond the surface. Examine the cracks, the spaces between those plans, and the one element that often undermines our best intentions: What BELIEFS need to shift to do this work?

Humans are creatures of habit. Over time, we settle into doing things a certain way, driven by deeply rooted, often unconscious beliefs. These habits shape a culture where “this is how we do things around here” becomes the norm, and the status quo takes hold.

But as educators, our responsibility is clear: challenge the status quo for our students’ sake, not defend it for our own comforts’ sake.

Education comes with centuries of embedded beliefs about teaching and learning. Yet, in today’s rapidly changing world, it’s imperative that we question these beliefs with curiosity and robust debate—not through polarised arguments. At the core of this work lies the need to examine what we believe and why.

True leadership requires us to look inward, not to defend our beliefs, but to explore their relevance in today’s world—for the benefit of our students and their futures.

Schools making this shift are asking bold questions:

• How do we partner with generative AI rather than fear it?
• How do we increase student agency?
• What does personalised education look like in practice?
• How do we address wellbeing and culture for both students and staff?
• How can we drive equity in education?
• What role does global citizenship and social responsibility play?

These conversations require time, care, and courage. Yet too often, they don’t get the attention they deserve.

As you revisit your strategy for the year, consider the beliefs underpinning it. Are they helping or hindering progress? For example, if your focus is on student agency, one of the most powerful drivers of change is a shift in educators’ beliefs about their role and students’ capacity to take charge of their learning.

(If this resonates, check out the work of the Northern Territory Learning Commission—an inspiring example of how student agency can transform education: learningcommission.com.)

 

How to Make Examining Beliefs a Professional Practice

Here are some ways to cultivate an environment where examining beliefs becomes part of your team’s DNA. I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!

1. Safety: Create a psychologically safe space for discussing beliefs and assumptions. For many, this will be the first time they’ve been asked to articulate their beliefs, so tread gently. Build trust by sharing your own beliefs, including how they’ve evolved, been challenged, or faltered. Tools like Professor Chris Argyris’ Ladder of Inference can help unpack assumptions and encourage curiosity over judgement.

2. Provocations: Use books, articles, videos, and other resources to broaden perspectives. Foster a mindset of possibility and optimism. Consider starting a book or journal club to explore key topics together.

3. Exemplars: Connect with schools that are further along in their journey. Engage with them at a belief level: What shifts have they made? How did they happen? What were the outcomes?

4. Perspective: Look at your own beliefs through the eyes of your students and school community. What would they say about your school’s beliefs? How can you find out?

5. Experiment: Rediscover the power of experimentation. Take risks, test ideas, gather feedback, and reflect on outcomes.

 

The Strategy Compass

A few years ago, I developed the Strategy Compass to help schools align their strategic initiatives through both head and heart. It integrates vision and evidence (head) with beliefs and narrative (heart).

Many schools now use this framework to create a one-page summary for each strategic goal. But the real magic? Dialogue. Deep, collaborative discussions that surface beliefs, provoke curiosity, and align our work with the ever-evolving needs of our students and society.

If you’d like the pdf and guide to help you, contact me on tracey@traceyezard.com

Good luck as you implement belief discussions throughout 2025. I’d love to hear how you are going with it. I am examining cultures that thrive doing this innovative and courageous work this year to keep pushing that status quo. If you have a learning culture just like that- I’d love to hear from you and come and visit!