Superintendent Michelle Whitney of the Pasco School District in Washington attributes her rise to leadership to "the gifts of strangers," mentors along the way who amplified her talents and breathed the confidence into her that she needed to continue. That's what she strives to do for her own staff and students today, leading with vulnerability from a place, "where life experience and professional experience collide." Her approaches have worked. Pasco School District has seen massive improvements in graduation rates among other things and Whitney has continued to rise as well, serving currently as president of the Washington Association of School Administrators.

"Outliers in Education" is a project of CEE, The Center for Educational Effectiveness. Find out more at effectiveness.org.

Produced by Jamie Howell at Howell at the Moon Productions.