Jill Loveall

PI Contributor

ASU Preparatory Academy

When I was invited to participate in the Foundations of Principled Change, the organizers told me to bring an item that represented a relationship to me, which seemed like an unusual request at the time. I quickly learned that before we can make any forward progress, we have to be present and be open to hearing the voices from diverse perspectives. Through guided conversations, I learned how to be quiet within so that I could be introspective and become curious about how I interact with others and the world around me. Normally, I am driven to be productive without taking the time to consider the why or the who of my work. The Principled Innovation framework gave me permission to slow down, ignite conversations, and foster relationships before diving into tasks to ensure all outcomes positively impact all stakeholders. I believe that all people have unique stories to share, and their perspectives should be valued as part of the changemaking process. When we innovate, we innovate for everyone.

My work focuses on building teachers’ capacity in student-centered learning and designing advancement pathways so that teachers can become experts in a variety of topics. I use the character domains from Principled Innovation to thematically guide training sessions. Teachers engage in reflective conversations, review and discuss resources, and set goals to help them grow in those competencies. Even on days when everyone feels overwhelmed or stressed about upcoming deadlines, we never cut out an opportunity to connect as humans first. Principled Innovation helps us prioritize human connection so that we have energy and drive to do meaningful work, leading to future human flourishing for all.