Leading Schools with Abundance: Shifting from Scarcity to Possibility - Derek Mitchell on the Toddle School Leaders Project Podcast
"My greatest fear is that we're passing to the next generation problems that we ourselves haven't been able to solve." — Dr. Derek Mitchell
In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, fear and scarcity can dominate the conversation. Educators face unprecedented challenges: political polarization, environmental uncertainty, and systemic inequities can make even the most experienced leaders feel overwhelmed.
On the Toddle School Leaders Project podcast, Dr. Derek Mitchell, CEO of Partners in School Innovation, offers a refreshing perspective: leading through abundance and possibility. We specialize in helping schools build “lively, loving, learning communities” — environments where academic excellence and positive culture thrive together.
Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset
A scarcity mindset emphasizes deficits: what students lack, what resources are missing, what problems loom. Leaders and teachers who adopt this approach risk burnout, frustration, and stagnation.
Abundance reframes challenges as opportunities, highlighting strengths, agency, and collaboration. “If you’re driving to school thinking about abundance… that positions each person with an openness to the possibility of being better,” Derek explains.
With Partners in School Innovation, schools learn to identify these opportunities and leverage assets already present — from staff strengths to community resources — to create meaningful, measurable impact.
The Skill-Will-Way Framework
Derek emphasizes three pillars for transformational leadership:
Skill: Leaders and teachers need the capabilities to execute their vision effectively. From literacy instruction to classroom facilitation, skill development grows through practice, coaching, and emotional safety.
Will: Motivation and mindset drive sustainable change. Peer collaboration, successful experiences, and opportunities to exercise agency help educators lean into possibilities rather than fear.
Way: A clear, actionable plan ensures that skill and will translate into real results. Without structures for implementation, even the best ideas remain unrealized.
When these elements align, schools operate as vibrant, thriving communities — the antithesis of “warehousing kids.”
Leading in a Climate of Fear
Current challenges can provoke fear: budget uncertainties, shifting policies, societal pressures. Derek encourages leaders to focus on their locus of control: what they can influence, rather than what’s beyond reach. Transparency, vulnerability, and collaboration are critical tools for building trust and resilience among staff.
"They won’t get there with us living in fear…they’re going to get there because we’re going to build [their] skills, learn what they need to think critically, and be in community with others to solve these problems."
Toward Possibility and Impact
Schools are more than academic factories — they are powerful instruments for preparing the next generation to confront complex societal challenges. By adopting an abundance mindset, fostering skill, will, and way, and leaning into collaboration, leaders can transform schools into environments where both students and adults flourish.
With support from Partners in School Innovation, schools can turn this vision into reality — creating classrooms and communities where every student has the chance to thrive.
The “School Leaders Project” podcast from Toddle aims to discuss how school leaders can create lasting change, build mission-driven teams, and navigate complex challenges.
More Partners in School Innovation thought leadership
Visit the full catalog of pieces here which includes podcast episodes, webinars on-demand, and featured articles.
Graphic of dark blue microphone. Underneath is the Partners in School Innovation logo and words “featured on” next to the logo of the Toddle School Leaders Project podcast.
