The Spirit of PSJA is Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD’s definition of great leadership. Developed during the 2017-2018 school year through a comprehensive approach engaging several members of the PSJA Family through the process.

The purpose of the Spirit of PSJA Leadership Definition is to guide the district’s work in developing our current and future leaders. The goal is for this definition to be used by each member of the family to evaluate their work and potential as they continue to grow as leaders within their role and within our organization. 

The first category, Positive Engagement, describes how we welcome staff, students, parents and community as honored members at the district table. 

Characteristics:

Builds relationships

Builds positive, trusting relationships through frequent interactions which demonstrate care and interest in the well-being of all stakeholders

Communicates effectively

Maintains open lines of two-way communication with staff, students, parents, and community to receive input and provide information for engagement with district vision

Models ethics

Exemplifies the values and priorities of the district through consistent actions and service to stakeholders

Exhibits professionalism

Exhibits awareness and reflection to manage emotions and engage in continuous personal growth

Behaviors:

Builds relationships 

• Demonstrates concern, respect and understanding for the needs of others  

• Fosters hospitality -- sense of belonging to the same team 

• Builds relationships and rapport that nurture growth and invite stakeholders to collective action 

• Frequent availability, contact, and visibility with stakeholders 

Communicates effectively 

• Maintains open lines of clear, effective, and engaging communication with and among stakeholders 

• Effectively synthesizes and presents information in a way that advocates and connects the district and community 

Models ethics 

• Establishes trust by acting in ways that consistently reflect high standards of honesty, fairness, and confidentiality 

• Demonstrates service orientation 

• Maintains orderly environments for the physical and emotional safety of all stakeholders   

Exhibits professionalism 

• Reflects on actions/decisions and seeks development and feedback for growth 

• Possesses self-awareness around emotions, behaviors, and mindset 

• Transitions skillfully between different leadership styles to respond to context, individuals, and challenges 

• Maintains work-life balance and promotes a sense of well-being to address professional responsibilities 

Through Student-Centered Excellence, the second category of the Spirit of PSJA, we hold the highest vision and expectations for the success of all students and staff.

Characteristics:

Demonstrates expertise

Possesses up-to-date knowledge and skills to perform organizational role at a high level of competence  

Establishes shared vision

Develops and communicates a clear vision for the future with deep buyin from all stakeholders 

Implements plan

Works with all stakeholders to implement vision by establishing goals, monitoring progress, and providing resources  

Expects results

Pursues exceptional results for all students by holding self and others accountable and driving for continuous improvement 

Behaviors:

Demonstrates expertise

• Possesses expertise and continuous desire to learn and ask questions in order to better serve students
• Encourages and partners with all stakeholders in pursuing excellence and success 

Establishes shared vision

• Engages staff, students, and community in creation of shared vision, which is clear, specific, and operational 

Implements plan

• Collaboratively establishes realistic and measurable short- and mid-term goals aligned to vision and mission 
• Engages team in monitoring progress through use of data  
• Followsthrough to achieve goals through organization, prioritization, and time management  
• Anticipateschallenges and plans for them, utilizing effective problem-solving models as appropriate  
• Maintains focus on vision and goals when involved in decision making about strategies and programs
• Procures and manages resources necessary to accomplish plan  
  
  

Expects results

• Establishes high, concrete goals and expectations for all stakeholders through words and actions 
• Designs systems and structures to support environment for optimal results 
• Exhibits strong commitment to fairness and equitable access, opportunities, and resources for success
• Meets demands for external accountability 

Joint Empowerment, the third category, describes how we develop and empower individuals and teams for effective action.  

Characteristics:

Builds capacity

Provides opportunities for growth to ensure all staff build capacity to support district goals  

Promotes collaboration

Designs organizational structures to promote collaboration and teamwork for distributed leadership throughout the district  

Inspires action

Motivates others to take responsible risks and perform at their highest level to support district vision and goals  

Develops leaders

Identifies, develops, and places future leaders through rigorous processes and strategic leadership assignments 

Behaviors:

Builds capacity

• Ensures opportunities to develop strengths, build capacity, and address identified needs of all individuals

• Supports growth through mentoring and coaching by providing specific, constructive, and actionable feedback

Promotes collaboration

• Values the capacity of all to contribute and engage in decisions that impact their work  
• Encourages development of collective, organizational norms and structures that promote community of collaboration and distributed leadership 

Inspires action

• Inspiresothersto accomplish things that might seem beyond their grasp  
• Motivates staff to assume responsibility for achieving campus/district vision for all students  

Develops leaders 

• Utilizes rigorous processes to identify, hire, place, and retain skilled staff  
• Focuses on identifying the strengths in all staff and matching staff to roles that grow capacity 
• Develops future leaders through fair allocation of strategic assignments and delegated leadership responsibilities 

And through Adaptive Innovation, the fourth and last category, we maintain PSJA at the forefront of educational programs and services.  

Characteristics: 

Scans Environment 

Analyzes and applies understanding of internal organization and external environment to assess and respond to the district’s future advancement  

Champions solutions 

Challenges the status quo by collaboratively exploring new and better ways of doing things  

Manages change

Demonstrates courage, initiative, and perseverance in bringing about meaningful change to support the shared vision  

Acknowledges outcomes 

Creates a positive environment for growth by celebrating success and learning from failure 

 
Behaviors:

Scans Environment 

• Exhibits understanding of dense and complex connections between organizational elements and external environment  
• Demonstrates foresight by engaging the organization in likely futures and scenario planning to identify concerns and opportunities for improvement 

Champions solutions

• Demonstratesintellectual curiosity and actively challenges the status quo  
• Receptive to new ideas/perspectives from diverse stakeholders 
• Supports staff to try new practices and engage in risk-taking, aligned to vision and goals 
• Engagesorganization with current research  

Manages change 

• Demonstrates courage, initiative, and perseverance in bringing about meaningful change  
• Resilient amid challenging circumstances  
• Anticipates and manages conflict in a constructive manner  

Acknowledges outcomes 

• Creates a positive environment by recognizing and celebrating individual and team effort and success

• Acknowledges failure as opportunity to learn and improve

This is The Spirit of PSJA, who we are, who we strive to be and who we will become!
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