Table 3. Additional themes and illustrative quotes

Change agents/implementers

If we emphasize working with the whole child, take a holistic educational approach that we’re in it for the kids. As long as we remember that, we’re mindful of how important, how profoundly important, student health is to outcomes but also how central it is to our mission. All of our districts have mission statements that talk about lifelong learning and productive members of society. If people are morbidly obese, or they can solve a complex mathematical equation but they can’t take care of themselves because we didn’t instill those habits, then we’ve fallen terribly short of what we need to do as educators.

I think the more data you can provide as evidence…but to be perfectly honest, who doesn’t already know that? I mean, sorry, but are we really doubting that healthier kids do better [academically]?….

Adaptive leaders

“Recognize that one or two persons located at the top of the organizational hierarchy are unlikely to know all that they need to know and do all that is required to address complex, novel, and uncertain problems….and they distribute it to others situated lower on the organizational hierarchy”

I think it’s more of a team approach. The district nurse has her part, business manager has another part and the teachers have another part because they’re implementing the standards within the classroom setting. So there’s not like a person doing all of it. It’s a very differentiated approach.

It’s always the superintendent but we have people…there’s certainly layers or levels that help us out. I would say cabinet member officials as well as assistant superintendent that really do the groundwork of everything. Yes, if it’s not implemented correctly, it falls on my shoulders.

Bridging strategies

Leaders’ ability to create networks, establish ‘boundary-crossing’ activities, and facilitate communications, all with the goal of advancing organizational goals

We’ve partnered with a Let’s Move kind of organization. We have a local organization in our city, so the elementary district has partnered with that group to try to increase physical activity for the community, but focusing on starting in schools.

Brokering strategies

Leaders’ ability to adapt the policy to the school district, by translating policy language into shared practices and vocabularies

…All strata of personnel are aware of the policy…if they don’t know it, they can’t implement it, so I take responsibility.’

Buffering\ strategies

Leaders’ ability to minimize or prevent conflict, thereby facilitating implementation activities; this may include strategically allocating or removing time and resources from activities that do not directly meet school goals towards implementation.

I say there are three things I’m focusing on and that’s it. One of them will always be the wellness piece. That message is reiterated over and over and over again [in reference to bully-pulpit].