One of the most difficult assignments given during my doctoral studies at USC, was to communicate my leadership vision in ten words or less.  For many weeks I struggled to find just the right words to describe what matters most in our work as both teachers and learners.  Then, one weekend on a visit to San Francisco (we lived in Southern California at the time), we took a trip to the top of Twin Peaks.  It was a beautiful, clear day and the view was incredible.  Standing there, looking out over what seemed to be the entire Bay Area, I thought about how our perspective expands whenever we climb.  I began thinking a lot about climbing as a metaphor for teaching, learning and educational leadership.  I define the elements of CLIMB as follows: 

Collaborate

Learn

Inspire

Mentor

Believe