In the Best Interest of Students? It Starts with One Teacher and a S.N.A.P.

S.N.A.P. Coaching Framework

About the S.N.A.P. Method™: The S.N.A.P. Method™ is a reflective framework created for teachers navigating the real world.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Reflection:

We often hear the phrase: “At the end of the day, we’re doing what’s best for students.” But what does that really mean?

Here’s the truth: if a teacher doesn’t understand, embrace, and walk in their purpose, how can students truly receive the best education has to offer?

Teachers are more than just employees. They are the roots of the system. Parents are the trunk, offering strength and support. Students are the branches, reaching outward, growing, and eventually bearing fruit. But without healthy, nourishing roots, even the most promising tree will wither.

If we want students to thrive, we must first invest in our teachers. Yes, school leaders! Principals, instructional coaches, and district officials should foster environments where teachers feel seen, supported, and empowered. But what happens when they don’t?

What occurs when leadership has the title but lacks the preparation, the position but not the purpose?

One of the reasons I was led to start S.N.A.P was because I’ve seen this brokenness up close.

As a teacher in the trenches, I saw broken teachers trying to heal broken students in a broken system. And when the system collapsed, the world outside didn’t lend a hand; it pointed fingers.

Over time, I started feeling a deep discomfort. I loved the trenches, but I also felt a calling to lead. I believed I had something to offer, but I also recognized I needed to grow.

So I equipped myself. I pursued a higher degree, attended professional development workshops, connected with mentors, devoured books, joined virtual education academies, and was fortunate enough to participate in my district’s leadership academy. I was eager and committed to doing the work.

Eventually, I was invited to the table.

But what I discovered there was eye-opening. Many of the people sitting around didn’t see education the way I did. They asked questions about students and teachers, but their choices showed a disconnect and a lack of interest. The values I held close weren’t shared.

It was daunting. Because a healthy school culture cannot be built until everyone in education, from the classroom to the boardroom, takes a moment to look in the mirror and ask, “Why did I come into this work in the first place?”

That’s when S.N.A.P. was born.

Not just as a framework, but as a mindset shift for teachers, especially those leading in environments that feel unhealthy, unsupportive, or uncertain.

It’s a method to regain your power and purpose, even when the system appears broken.

S – Stop

Stop outsourcing your worth.

Stop waiting for your value to be validated by titles or test scores.

Stop settling for just survival when you were created to lead with purpose.

N – Notice

Notice the light you bring into your classroom.

Notice the student who thrives under your consistency.

Notice that faith may be using you as a bridge for someone’s breakthrough.

A – Action

Take action, no matter how small.

Shift your routines, encourage a colleague, and bring joy into your lesson.

Your daily faithfulness is part of the harvest that Galatians 6:9 promises.

P – Plan

Focus on growth, not perfection.

Plan how you’ll lead from your current position.

Plan intentionally, knowing that every investment in yourself will benefit your students.

Too often, schools feel like hospitals: exhausting, reactive, and overwhelmed by burnout. But what if our schools became more like banks? Spaces where we intentionally make deposits and withdrawals. Places where teachers, students, families, and leaders all contribute and all benefit.

That’s truly in the best interest of students: not slogans, but systems that nurture the soul. Not perfect leadership, but intentional teachers guiding even in imperfection.

You don’t need a title to lead. You don’t need permission to make a difference. You just need to start right where you are.

Because when teachers succeed, students thrive. And it only takes one person to make the change.

Maybe that one… is you.

Reflect:

Where do you see yourself in the S.N.A.P. process today?
What’s one “deposit” you can make into your purpose this week?