Dr. Brandon Mowinkel

Stories are a powerful structure for organizing and transmitting information and for creating meaning in our lives and environments” (Green, 2004, p. 1). Storytelling, as a tool, is used within every organization, business, school, etc., to make sense of the past, bring context to the present, and create a vision for the future. This narrative study collected the stories secondary school administrators often share with their students. Twelve secondary school administrators from across the United States, who have attended at least one National Association of Secondary School Principals Advocacy Conference, participated in this study. Stories were collected through semi-structured interviews lasting between 35-75 minutes. Each interview was transcribed, coded, and analyzed for latent themes. The stories shared during each interview were restoried and included as individual narratives within the study. All 12 narratives were member checked for clarity, context, and accuracy. Five themes emerged from the interviews: stories are personal, stories make connections, stories teach lessons, stories create a vision, and COVID-19. Secondary school administrators use their lived experiences to guide students in making sense of their past, providing context to their present, and creating a better vision for their future. Ultimately, stories have the power to change lives.