We currently live in a culture of political mistrust, declining confidence in our public leaders and skepticism about the credibility of decision makers, national media outlets, local and state government institutions. In both politics and education, the increasing animosity of the general public has severely detracted any form of unity and bipartisan beliefs. More than ever, finding ways to navigate this type of landscape has become treacherous. Often, school leaders have been forced to justify their actions and the difficult decisions they make for students, staff and others in the school community regarding discipline, funding, personnel and procedures. Knowing there will be pushback on school decisions sometimes can make even the strongest, most professional educator uneasy. For 25 years I have looked forward to each fall and the opportunities of a new school year, the growth of students, the development of teachers and staff, the excitement of athletic contests and the…