Leah Plack
She/Her
"I am intentional about creating space, whether as an employer or a friend, to safely reflect and become more self-aware in order to be more productive and effective."
Resilience
I have a few reset buttons, depending on what kind of luxuries I am afforded! The simplest one is to just try to put down my phone or anything I'm reading, and really be present with my daughter. Having those connections and getting on her level helps me with perspective and grounding myself, plus it's growing our relationship, so it's a win all around. If I have time (hard to come by when I'm overwhelmed!), I'll seek some time in nature, anything from a walk in the neighborhood to a longer excursion like a trail run or a bike ride. The ultimate reset is getting to unplug for a few days on a camping trip with my family.
When it comes to supporting others, I encourage folks to put their needs and their family's needs first before the work that we are doing together. Deep down, I think we all know that if folks come to the work with a cup that is mostly empty, we won't get to do the work we really want to do together. Life happens to us all, and sometimes timelines need to slow down to give space for folks to tend to their most immediate human needs. I especially try to make this space for folks who are impacted in negative ways by racist and classist systems, which cumulatively can really chip away at folks' time and energy in deeply unjust and unfair ways.
Purpose-Driven
One purpose driven decision I've been working on implementing is being intentional about whose voices need to be central to leadership work. I've found that there's a huge wealth of knowledge and leadership ability in STEM education that just isn't being recognized and tapped into, to the detriment to all of us. Being able to tap folks to work with me on projects is a power and privilege that I take seriously, and I try to really consider whose voices may be missing in the STEM education space while also respecting how much I'm asking of peoples' time and energy.
Developmental Leadership
Something I have been moving towards in my leadership work is to recognize the skills, talents, passions and lived experiences of the folks I work with, and to try to ensure folks are seen in those strengths by me, and build from there. I think letting people know what you see in them is huge - so often in our weirdly individualist and competitive culture, we forget to just take a moment to recognize someone's brilliance that they add to a space where it is needed.
In terms of guiding, lots of little examples come to mind. It has been so rewarding to support projects that have leadership development as a component, and to see teachers step into those leadership roles and become really confident and effective leaders in the STEM education space. I know that other educators are learning and growing because of all they are empowered to share about their teaching practice, and the learning space they are creating for others.
Intersectionality
I've done some reflecting on this as a white Jewish middle-class woman who simultaneously has experienced some marginalization and a lot of privilege. My Jewish identity does in many ways inform my work, both because I was taught the Jewish value of tikkun olam, or repairing the world, and because I know on some level what it is like to not experience belonging in spaces due to my cultural identity. I know that as a Jewish woman, solidarity matters, because I care about showing up for others and I might need them to one day show up for me. At the same time, as someone who benefits from racial and class privilege, and is in a leadership position, I am always thinking about the privilege I have up shows up in power dynamics in the work that I do.
Future Facing Legacy
In my work in STEM education, I aspire to lead with the love I have for youth and the educators who serve them, and I hope that comes through in the work that I do. It's been really gratifying to move into projects that have leadership development as a component, because ideally I'm not the one doing all of the work that needs to get done, but maybe I can help grease the gears, pave the way, and do the boring but necessary work like budgeting and working with institutions, so that other folks to step into their own leadership and continue the work, or take it into a new direction. Along the way, I am working to center equity in everything that I do, so that increasing access to STEM opportunities for youth who might not otherwise have it is at the center. I really believe what Dr. Ebony McGee says - we all suffer in society from the loss of innovation when STEMers come predominantly from white male backgrounds! And that is one important outcome. Ultimately, the outcome I hope the most for is that educators will broaden STEM programs and experiences to make space for youth from all different backgrounds to deepen and find beauty in their understanding of the world, to sharpen their approaches to problem solving, and to become more empowered in the process.