There is a trust problem in school leadership
3×
High-trust schools are three times more likely to show measurable improvement in student achievement
Bryk & Schneider · University of Chicago · 10-year study of 400+ schools
The good news: trust can be measured, built, and sustained.
The Research is Clear
Trust is not a soft skill. It is the single most significant predictor of whether a school will improve, and the research shows most schools are dangerously underinvesting in it.
70%
Most improvement initiatives fail, and little causal evidence that school improvement initiatives succeed, frequently due to low levels of trust in leadership.
Beer & Nohria’s, HBR / Meyers & VanGronegin, Education Leadership
1 in 7
Low-trust schools had just a one-in-seven chance of academic improvement versus one-in-two for high-trust schools
Bryk & Schneider · longitudinal analysis · Education Week
A bridge to school improvement,
built on six measurable components
of trusted leadership.
Foundation:
Beliefs & Values
Substructure:
Connect & Support
Bearings:
Flexible & Involved
Adapt & Contextualize
Girders:
Culture & Relationships
Superstructure:
Clarity & Order
Deck:
The TrustED® framework equips stakeholders (e.g., leaders, teachers, boards, owners) to build the trust essential for healthy, sustainable improvement. More than an idea or aspiration, TrustED® is a structured, research-informed, practice-based model that helps leaders assess current practices, strengthen relationships, and align leadership decisions with what builds confidence and credibility. When trust is developed intentionally, schools gain clarity, deepen culture, and move forward with greater unity, confidence, and momentum.
Four Ways to Bring TrustED® to Your School
Start treating trust as the core improvement strategy it is, by intentionally investing in the conditions that help schools grow, improve, and thrive.
What Education Leaders Say
“When one is looking for an expert in a specific professional field for wisdom, advice, and counsel, you want to identify someone who has had significant experience reflected in their overwhelming success. Plus, if you can find someone who is not only professionally gifted but also has high levels of integrity interwoven with a strong foundation of character, then you’ve found someone who could be a very special advisor. In my view, Dr. Toby Travis is that person.”
Dr. Alan Cureton
President Emeritus, University of Northwestern St. Paul, Roseville, MN
“I have had multiple opportunities to work directly with Dr. Travis. He is a highly effective and trusted coach and trainer who works well alongside school leaders and stakeholders. His positive and encouraging rapport with faculty and staff are also commendable when involved in implementing school-improvement initiatives.”
Janet HaleConsultant, Best-Selling Author, Curriculum Decisions
Not Sure Where to Start? Here is a Simple Path
WHERE TO BEGIN
Whether you are new to TrustED® or ready to go deep, there is a clear entry point for every school and leader.
1
Take the Assessment
The TrustEd 360 gives you a data backed picture of where your leadership trust stands across six components.
The TrustED® Journal
Monthly insights on trust, culture, and what it really takes to lead a school with purpose.
Dr. Travis writes from the front lines of school leadership, sharing what he is learning, reading, and thinking, along with insights from a network of education thought leaders, so you do not have to figure it out alone. Join school leaders in 20+ countries who receive the journal.
"Schools don't struggle because of strategy. they struggle because of lack of trust."
Toby A. Travis, Ed.D., Developer of the TrustED® framework,
Amazon #1 best selling author.
Amazon #1 · Educational Leadership
TrustED®: The Bridge to School Improvement
The research-backed book behind the framework. Dr. Travis lays out the six components of trusted school leadership with clarity, depth, and practical application. Featured in Forbes and eSchool News. Used by school leaders in over 20 countries.
"Toby is a passionate educator and school leader committed to authentic, high-quality Christian education. With decades of experience as a teacher, administrator, head of school, consultant, and mentor across private, international, Christian, charter, and public school settings, he brings a rare breadth of insight to school improvement. Through his book, TrustED: The Bridge to School Improvement, professional development programs, and assessment tools, Toby equips schools with the data, clarity, and leadership support needed to strengthen their communities and advance their mission"
Global EmpowerED Leaders Initiative