Maintaining Trust Amid a Culture of Polarization

By Dr. Toby A. Travis

Abstract

This article explores the urgent need for trust-based leadership within today’s polarized educational climate. Drawing on research from TrustED: The Bridge to School Improvement (Travis, 2021) and contemporary scholarship, this article argues that trust remains the most reliable indicator of school success, particularly amid ideological division. The article concludes with actionable strategies for school leaders and teachers, as well as a faith-based reflection for Christian educators.

The Crisis of Trust

As polarization intensifies across society, schools increasingly reflect the divisions of the wider culture. Teachers report feeling “caught in the crossfire of a culture war” (ASCD, 2023), and leaders describe navigating communities split over curriculum, diversity initiatives, and social issues. A recent RAND survey found that 64% of district leaders believe public discourse about education has grown significantly more contentious over the past three years (RAND, 2024).

In such an environment, leadership cannot rely solely on positional authority. As I argued in TrustED: The Bridge to School Improvement, “trust is the single most significant indicator of successful leadership in any organization” (Travis, 2021, p. 12). Decades of research support this claim. Leithwood and Sun (2012) found that leadership is second only to classroom instruction in its impact on student outcomes. Similarly, Bryk and Schneider (2003) demonstrated that schools with higher relational trust report stronger academic performance, better teacher retention, and greater parent satisfaction.

The erosion of trust (whether caused by political division, inconsistent communication, or perceived partisanship) cripples a school’s capacity to improve. Rebuilding that trust requires intentional, consistent leadership rooted in transparency, empathy, and shared mission.

Anchoring Leadership in Polarized Times

Trusted leadership functions much like a suspension bridge: each behavior, value, and discipline acts as a supporting cable. When any of these cables weakens, the bridge, and thus the organization, loses stability. The following practices, adapted from the TrustED framework, offer a roadmap for maintaining credibility and cohesion amid cultural tension.

Re-ground the Mission in Shared Values

When communities splinter, leaders must reassert the school’s unifying purpose. Mission statements grounded in timeless values (e.g., excellence, respect, integrity, service) remind stakeholders that education transcends politics. Research on organizational resilience confirms that clearly articulated core values buffer institutions against ideological fragmentation (Horsager, 2012).

Communicating with Transparency and Empathy

In polarized environments, information vacuums breed suspicion. Leaders should consistently explain the rationale behind key decisions, invite feedback, and address misinformation promptly. Transparent communication consistently correlated with high-trust organizational climates (Dirks & Ferrin, 2002).

Creating Spaces for Listening

Schools thrive when stakeholders feel heard. Structured listening sessions, community dialogues, and surveys allow leaders to identify shared concerns beneath polarized rhetoric. Listening signals humility and reinforces the leader’s credibility as a servant rather than a partisan.

Empower Shared Leadership

Distributed leadership (e.g., what I describe in TrustED as “essential agreements”) builds ownership across the organization. When teachers and staff co-author norms and professional commitments, trust deepens. Studies of collaborative governance show that participatory structures strengthen institutional legitimacy, particularly during conflict (Louis et al., 2010).

Respond to Conflict with Clarity and Grace

Polarization demands courage tempered by gentleness. Jim Collins (2011) describes “Level 5 Leaders” as both humble and determined; able to act decisively while prioritizing long-term mission over personal popularity. In times of controversy, trusted school leaders must articulate decisions clearly, ground them in institutional values, and communicate with grace rather than defensiveness.

Teachers as Frontline Trust Builders

Leadership is not confined to administrative offices. Teachers reinforce, or undermine, trust daily through their interactions with students, parents, and peers. Practical classroom-level applications include:

• Establishing relational norms: Co-create classroom “essential agreements” that define respect, inquiry, and empathy.

• Modeling civil discourse: Teach students how to disagree constructively, cultivating both critical thinking and compassion.

• Engaging parents proactively: Communicate early and often, explaining pedagogical decisions and inviting partnership.

• Collaborating with peers: A collegial faculty culture provides the stability needed to withstand external pressures.

When educators exemplify relational trust, they embody the organizational values leaders espouse. Trust becomes not merely a policy but a lived experience throughout the school community.

Rebuilding Trust When It Is Broken

In TrustED, I outline four commitments for restoring damaged trust: (1) commit to small and consistent actions; (2) commit to humility and listening; (3) commit to extending forgiveness and trust to others; and (4) commit to completing the repairs. These principles remain critical today. Restoring credibility requires both structural reform and moral courage. Leaders must admit missteps, follow through on promises, and model the consistency they expect from others.

A Faith-Based Reflection for Christian Educators

For those of us serving in Christian schools, this work carries an even deeper calling. Our ultimate example of leadership is Christ Himself, “who came not to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). Scripture describes us as ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18), entrusted with modeling the unity and grace that our culture desperately lacks.

Trust-building, then, is not only strategic but spiritual. To lead with integrity, humility, and compassion is to reflect the character of Christ in the workplace. When Christian leaders and teachers cultivate trust, anchored in biblical truth, guided by love, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, they bear witness to the transforming power of the Gospel.

In a polarized world, our schools can become sanctuaries of grace and truth. As we serve with faith, wisdom, and courage, we demonstrate that trust is both our strategy and our stewardship — and ultimately how we reflect the heart of the Kingdom.

©2025 Toby A. Travis, Ed.D.

Reprinted by permission

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Author Note

Dr. Toby A. Travis is an educational consultant, speaker, and author of the award-winning book, TrustED: The Bridge to School Improvement (2021). He serves as an executive consultant with the Global School Consulting Group and has held multiple head-of-school and executive leadership roles in the United States and internationally. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Dr. Toby Travis at drtobytravis@gmail.com.

References

ASCD. (2023). Leading schools in a highly polarized world. Retrieved from https://www.ascd.org

Bryk, A. S., & Schneider, B. (2003). Trust in schools: A core resource for school reform. Educational Leadership, 60(6), 40–45.

Collins, J. (2011). Good to great and the social sectors. HarperCollins.

Dirks, K. T., & Ferrin, D. L. (2002). Trust in leadership: Meta-analytic findings and implications. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(4), 611–628.

Horsager, D. (2012). The trust edge: How top leaders gain faster results, deeper relationships, and a stronger bottom line. Free Press.

Leithwood, K., & Sun, J. P. (2012). The nature and effects of transformational school leadership: A meta-analytic review. Educational Administration Quarterly, 48(3), 387–423.

Louis, K. S., Leithwood, K., Wahlstrom, K., & Anderson, S. E. (2010). Investigating the links to improved student learning: Final report of research findings. Wallace Foundation.

RAND Corporation. (2024). K–12 education polarization survey report. RAND.

Travis, T. A. (2021). TrustED: The bridge to school improvement. KDP.