Imagine if public education was one of the most trusted institutions in America. We do. Every day.
The Lincoln Intermediate Unit and bravEd are two educational support organizations that share a profound belief: that if the public truly understood what happens in our school, public schools would be among the most trusted organizations in the state.
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8 Weeks to Trust was created to lay the groundwork for a new, trust-centered narrative about our schools.
1. What We Know About Trust:
1. It takes time to build
2. It can be lost in an instant, and,
3. It requires vigilance to maintain
But building lasting trust requires more than just effort—it requires a foundation.
2. So What’s Missing in our Schools?
Ask a room full of people what the foundation of trust is, and you’ll hear familiar answers: follow-through, responsibility, clear communication.
These are essential—but not enough.
Even when schools do all of those things, trust doesn’t automatically follow. Because something foundational is missing.
3. A Common Shared Vocabulary
To be trusted, schools must be understood, and that means speaking a language that the public recognizes, exactly the thing missing in public education.
In every trusted profession, a shared vocabulary exists that allows trust to happen:
- Patients can describe care in non-medical terms
- Clients can express goals without technical training
- Stakeholders can name what matters—and professionals can respond in kind
But in education, this kind of shared language has never fully emerged. The reasons for that are both complex and interesting, but at the end of the day they don't matter. What does matter is that we fill in the missing piece.
4. The Urgency
Without the foundation of a Common Shared Vocabulary, broad institutional trust remains out of reach.Â
And without that trust, public misunderstanding and harmful policies are all but guaranteed to be the norm going forward.
That is not acceptable.
We now have the tools to fix it, and so we must.
5. Our Goal
8 Weeks to Trust is about creating the dialogue needed to surface the benefits communities expect from their schools—and turning those insights into a shared vocabulary that allows schools to be seen clearly and trusted fully.
Because when people understand the value of public education, they’re far more likely to believe in it.
And when they believe in it, they fight for it.
We’re here to build the foundation that makes that possible.
Get Involved through our Partnership
Option 1:Â
Enroll as a Friends of Texas Public Schools District Member
Throughout the 2025-2026 school year, any Texas district that enrolls as a Friends member is automatically enrolled in this effort.
From there, a superintendent needs to assign a facilitator (or opt to do it themselves) and then bring together a group of ten educators and community members for the dialogue.
The details are below.
 Here is How it Works
8 Weeks to Trust will run Cohorts 4 times during the 2025–26 school year
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Back to School: Sept 14 – Nov 2
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Late Fall: Oct 26 – Dec 14
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Winter: Jan 11 – Mar 3
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Spring: Mar 8 – Apr 26
Participation is as simple as...
 1. Decide to lead a discussion
You'll register as a lead. Then, shortly after that, you'll receive instructions on how to register those in your group.
Once each week, you'll all participate in a guided conversation focused on one of the ways organizations built trust with those they serve.
One of these dialogs can have a terrific impact at the local level. So imagine what thousands could do all across the state. That impact could be huge.
2. Look Forward to the Weekly Kickoff Emails
Every Sunday, participants receive a short video and email introducing the theme for the week—designed to spark thought and set the tone.
In under five minutes you'll have a sense of what the topic is and the chance to start reflecting on what it means to you.
3. Discuss the Weekly Theme
Each week centers on a powerful theme (e.g., How Complex Organizations Build Stakeholder Trust), explored through two different conversations.
The first will take place within your local Pod.
Then, join the national Friday Town Hall, where participants from across the country lead the dialogue to share what they’re learning. Our goal is that Texas educators be at the forefront of these conversationsÂ
4. Make and Keep a Simple Commitment
Participants:
Show up. and engage in the dialogues. That is where the value lies.
Leads:
Assemble your team, find a location, choose, do some light prep, and keep everyone leaning in and learning.
Everyone:
Commit to make this a first step towards a better place for public education in the eyes of Texans.
