Abstract
Human-Centered Leadership is a transformative approach to leadership that emphasizes purpose, empathy, and collective growth, redefining success by prioritizing individual well-being and organizational inclusivity.
At the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), leaders spearheaded the MAPE Local 1002 Community of Practice to integrate these principles, fostering leadership practices that align personal values with organizational goals. Facilitated by a local assistant superintendent and outside consultant, the initiative utilized action research and a Lunch and Learn framework to empower participants to reflect, listen, co-design solutions, and embrace iterative leadership cycles.
Key themes emerged, such as balancing empathy with accountability, promoting inclusivity, and addressing challenges through emotional intelligence and collaboration. Feedback from the cohort, using the "Rose, Bud, Thorn" framework, highlighted successes in building trust and innovation, while identifying opportunities for growth in scaling individualized approaches and enhancing mental well-being.
This manuscript explores the journey of the MDE cohort, illustrating how Human-Centered Leadership inspires authentic connections and sustainable impact, paving the way for empathetic and collaborative workplaces.
Recommended Citation
Evers-Gerdes, Becky and Matera, Bryan
(2025)
"Human-Centered Leadership: Cultivating Purpose, Empathy, and Collective Growth,"
Essays in Education: Vol. 31:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://openriver.winona.edu/eie/vol31/iss1/4
Primary Author Bio Sketch
Becky Jo Evers-Gerdes is an accomplished educator and administrator with extensive experience across elementary, middle, and high school levels, including roles such as K–12 curriculum director and special education coordinator. She has served as a course developer and adjunct faculty member at various universities, emphasizing social-emotional learning alongside academics while fostering strong community partnerships. Becky holds a doctorate in education administration from Bethel University and has received numerous accolades, including the Southwest Minnesota State University Leadership Award and the Reward School Recognition for high-performing Title I schools.
Secondary Author Bio Sketch
Bryan Matera is an associate professor of Elementary Education with Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota. Bryan leads pre-service teachers through student teaching experiences and coursework while supervising teacher candidates working with elementary students. His research is grounded in climate and culture of schools and the impact on teacher self-efficacy, instructional and student-centered best practices, the Gradual Release of Responsibility, and visible student process learning. Before being appointed to associate professor, Bryan held positions as teacher, adjunct professor, instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal.
Included in
Adult and Continuing Education Commons, Adult and Continuing Education Administration Commons, Community College Education Administration Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration Commons, Elementary Education Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons, Other Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Special Education Administration Commons
