The Red Car Mentality: How to See Greatness in our Schools

Imagine this: on your way to work, I ask you to tell me how many red cars you saw on your drive. Chances are, you wouldn’t be able to give me a number because red cars weren’t something you were paying attention to. But now, imagine I tell you I’ll pay you $100 for every red car you count on your way home. Suddenly, you’re seeing red cars everywhere. Even if it’s a shade that’s just close to red, you’re noticing it. Why? Because your focus has shifted.

This “Red Car Mentality” illustrates a powerful truth about perception: we see more of what we’re looking for. In our schools, this principle can transform the way we lead, the way we connect, and the way we inspire.

Focus Determines Reality

As leaders, it’s easy to get bogged down by challenges—low test scores, discipline issues, staffing shortages. But what if we consciously decided to focus on the great things happening in our schools instead? Just like the red cars, the more we look for greatness, the more we’ll see it.

Start by asking yourself: What do I want to see more of in my school? Maybe it’s student engagement, innovative teaching strategies, or acts of kindness among staff and students. Whatever it is, make a deliberate effort to look for it. When you intentionally seek out the positive, you’re not only more likely to notice it, but you’re also more likely to reinforce it.

Get Out of Your Office

The best way to start seeing “red cars” in your school is to get out of your office. Walk the halls. Visit classrooms. Sit in on a lunch period. Engage with the people who make your school thrive: teachers, students, custodians, cafeteria staff, parents.

When you’re present, you’re better positioned to see the greatness that’s already there. You’ll witness the quiet heroism of a teacher staying late to help a struggling student, the pride of a student presenting their project, or the teamwork of staff pulling together to solve a problem.

Listen to the People

One of the most powerful tools in your leadership toolbox is listening. Ask open-ended questions:

• “What’s something great you saw today?”

• “What’s a moment that made you proud this week?”

When you listen, you’re not only learning about the good things happening in your school, but you’re also building trust and rapport. You’re showing your team that their efforts matter and that you care about their stories.

Taking Care of the Adults

Joe Sanfelippo said it best: “It’s really hard to take care of kids if we aren’t taking care of the adults taking care of kids.” If we’re not taking care of the adults who care for kids, how can we expect them to show up as their best selves? Leadership starts with recognizing that empowered, valued, and supported staff are the foundation of every thriving school.

Here’s the challenge: When you see great things happening in a classroom—don’t keep it to yourself. If something incredible is happening in 3rd grade, go tell the 8th grade science teacher about it, the teacher who has no business being in a third grade classroom. Why? Because inevitably what will happen is that 8th grade science teacher will go tell the 3rd grade teacher they are doing a good job. Why? Because someone did this for them and it felt good. And we want to live and work in a place that feels good, not great, just good! Get yourself to good every day to give yourself a shot at being great.

Let’s get real: the education field is full of open jobs. If your team doesn’t feel good about coming to work, they won’t stick around. And it’s not just about losing a staff member. Kids learn best from teachers who care deeply about their work, feel valued in their efforts, and know they’re supported every step of the way. If we fail in any of these areas, we don’t deserve to lead them.

The stakes are too high to ignore this truth. Recognize the greatness in your people. Acknowledge their hard work. Celebrate their successes. Then amplify their impact so others can see it too.

Storytelling and Positive Narratives

The stories we tell shape the culture of our schools. When we focus on and share the great things we see, we create a ripple effect. Positive narratives inspire more positive actions. Celebrating success—whether it’s a teacher’s innovative lesson plan or a student’s growth—encourages others to strive for success, too.

As a “Lead Storyteller,” your job is to amplify the good. Highlight those red cars for everyone to see. Use newsletters, social media, morning announcements, or staff meetings to share the great things happening in your school. When people see that you’re paying attention to the good, they’ll be motivated to contribute to it.

To be honest, the things going on at Paint Creek, you are already doing in your schools. We are just louder than you are. You have to talk about it.

You also have to build social capital. Do something positive. Say something positive. So that when the negative happens, that’s not the first thing they’re hearing from you. You have to drive the narrative yourself, and to do that, you’ve got to be intentional.

You can’t stop people from saying bad things about your school. But if that’s the only thing that they hear, that becomes the reality in people’s minds. Never give up the opportunity to say something great about your school.

Building the momentum of the people you lead should be a priority. This is what a brand can do for you. You want everyone who walks into that school feeling better about the work they did than when they came in. If they walk in with purpose every day knowing you are going to champion for them and cheerlead for them and make sure everyone knows the work they are doing, then they are going to walk a little taller. Walk with a little more purpose. Be better for kids.

The Power of Perspective

The Red Car Mentality isn’t just a mindset—it’s a practice. It’s about intentionally shifting your focus to what you want to see more of. When you do this, you’re not ignoring challenges; you’re balancing them with the recognition of strengths and successes. And in doing so, you’re creating a culture where greatness is not only noticed but celebrated.

Start and end your day sending a short text message to SOMEONE. Start and end your day with the positive. Because leadership isn’t just about having a vision. It’s about building the culture where people feel inspired to make that vision a reality. Let’s show up for our people—so they can keep showing up for our kids.

So, as you walk through your school today, ask yourself: What are the red cars I’m looking for? Then, make it your mission to find them, celebrate them, and share their stories. Because the more we focus on the great things in our schools, the more greatness we’ll see—and the more greatness we’ll create.