Governing with Dignity
At the AASB Annual Conference, we had the unique opportunity to hear from Tami Pyfer, the co-creator of the Dignity Index[1]. AASB leadership and staff were introduced to the Dignity Index at the 2024 NSBA Annual Conference last April when Tim Schriver spoke to the assembly of over 5,000 school board members nationwide. The message was simple: through dignity, we can find ways to communicate, develop relationships, and work together to address the many challenges our society faces. Upon the conclusion of his remarks, we knew this timely message was something we needed to bring to Alaska.
We were fortunate to connect with Tami Pyfer, the co-creator and Chief of Staff for UNITE, the nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the Dignity Index. She graciously agreed to discuss the Dignity Index and her work with us.
It’s no surprise to learn that Tami has an extensive background in public education in Utah. She served four years on the Utah State Board of Education and spent another eight years as the Education Policy Advisor to Utah Governor Gary Herbert. During this time, Tami developed various practices and gained insights that ultimately contributed to the creation of the Dignity Index.
The timing could not have been more perfect. Only three days after one of the most contentious and undignified Presidential elections in history, I sensed we needed a hopeful message. Nearly every day since Tami’s address, I have thought about the necessity for each of us to use the guidance and wisdom of dignity to help us do the important job of moving public education forward and ensuring not only that every child is treated with dignity, but every adult involved in a child’s education is due our dignified attention to make sure they get an excellent education.
With this in mind, the phrase “governing with dignity” stands out. When we work with boards, we often emphasize that it’s unlikely you can change someone’s behavior or a board’s culture without first changing yourself. Your best chance for success comes from your own actions. Reflecting on this idea, along with the stress surrounding the election and the new national leadership, I’ve realized that the most effective support we can provide to board members is to help them govern with dignity.
Here are a few skills taken from the Dignity Index eight-point scale that we can work on that will allow us to disagree with dignity:
- Be curious, not furious
- Regulate then debate
- Listen to hear, not to respond ( This is very similar to our working agreement of “Listen to Understand, speak to be understood”)
- Challenge ideas; don’t attack people
- Build up rather than tear down
So, with the holidays approaching and the eminent start of the next legislature, I urge you to embrace these ideas and put them into practice. As Alaskans, we can and must do this for our students and the posterity of our state.
Have a wonderful, and “dignified” holiday season.
[1] Dignity Index Eight Point Scale, from UNITE at dignityindex.us