From the Head of School: How and Why You Need to Keep Your Mission Top of Mind

I’ve always believed in the mission of Rise Academy. For a long time, I thought that simply living it every day was enough. I showed up for our students, supported our staff, and modeled what it meant to cultivate potential in Richmond’s East End.

But as our school has grown, I’ve realized that belief alone isn’t enough. A mission statement can’t just live on our website or hang on a wall—it has to live in our daily work and language. That realization came as we started discussing our Portrait of a Graduate and educational philosophy. I saw how important it was for every team member to have a shared understanding of what our mission looks like in practice. It’s not just about what we say we do; it’s about how we do it and how we know when we’re living it out.

One of my favorite weekly traditions to keep our mission top of mind came out of a conversation over coffee with Mrs. Barber, Science Teacher. She told me about her dad, who used to come home from work and ask, “What did you do today for the cause?” I loved that question—it was simple but powerful.

That’s where my Friday reflection came from. Each week, I ask our staff, “What did you do this week for the cause—or to push the mission forward?”

Each week, I ask our staff, “What did you do this week for the cause—or to push the mission forward?”

Dr. Brittany Lopes, Head of School

A few weeks ago, we participated in a 48-hour giving campaign where we raised over $60,000 for our school. More than $5,000 gifts were made in honor of specific staff members. I believe this comes from our faculty being able to clearly and proudly articulate our mission to their networks, something that is possible because we’re thinking about it at least once a week.

Recently, I read an article on strategic planning that asked a simple question: What is your one thing? The idea stuck with me. For Rise Academy, that “one thing” is our mission.

We’re not trying to create a uniform group of students who all fit a certain mold. Our goal is to help each student define their own story—and to give them the tools, confidence, and support to write it boldly.

There’s no hidden agenda, just a genuine commitment to seeing every student flourish in their God-given potential. That’s what makes Rise Academy unlike any place I’ve ever been.

Keeping the mission top of mind isn’t about memorizing a statement—it’s about weaving it into the fabric of who we are. And when every decision, reflection, and celebration comes back to that “one thing,” there can be a significant impact.