Reviews & Endorsements
In Their Own Words
School leaders, teachers, and conference organizers who have experienced TrustED®, sharing what the work meant for them and their schools.
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What participants say
"I am someone who believes that no matter what level of school we run - big or small, well-resourced
or low, in a city or small town - continual school improvement should be pursued at all times and in all
aspects of the school. I love the fact that this book gives insight into the practical characteristics of
who a school leader should be if he or she is to be trusted. I endorse and recommend this book to all
educators who desire to lead their schools to greater heights through continual school improvement."
Adun Akinyemiju
Chairperson | ACSI Africa
"It has been said that the only thing constant on the educational landscape is change. Today's school leaders, charged with building the bridge to continuous school improvement, must look beyond outcomes like test scores and focus on the many factors that contribute to them. Dr. Travis's TrustED provides an excellent framework for doing just that! Using the analogy of a bridge's components, he expertly defines the critical roles and functions necessary to effect positive change. Universities with school leadership programs would be wise to adopt this framework."
Wendy Danaher
Secondary Principal | Village Christian Academy | Fayetteville, NC
"Dr. Travis has summarized everything I have ever read and heard concerning leadership and the importance of trust. Think of a personal relationship, and right away, the word 'trust' comes to mind; the absence of it leaves the relationship weak and near impossible for it to grow. Multiply that by how many faculty and staff members you have in your school, and it almost becomes mind-boggling as to what would happen if there was not a strong level of trust. This book is a must-read for beginning administrators and an absolute for the experienced. This book will not collect dust on my bookshelf."
Dr. Kathleen Herpich
Principal | St. Elizabeth School | Paincourtville, Louisiana
"The research that Dr. Travis presents not only makes sense but also confirms much of what this school leader has thought about the effectiveness of school leaders. The practical and poignant data is not merely facts and figures; it is presented in a way that left me inspired and wanting to do a better job of leading my school. Thank you, Dr. Travis. Inspiring!"
Andrew J. Zawacki
Head of School | Arborbrook Christian Academy | Charlotte, NC
"Toby Travis doesn't waste my time with theories - he bases his advice and answers on research and real life experience."
Ron Sutton
International Relations and Missions Development Manager | Trinity SBC | United States
"Very valuable insights, connected to real life in schools. Providing tools to use immediately."
Oscar Rey
Director Impact | Redcol | Colombia
"Right to the point, very well explained and practical. Thank you very much!"
Roberto Rojas
Music Producer | MakarioMusic | Ecuador
"What I most appreciated in this webinar is the affirmation that trust and the factors which build it are no longer being considered soft skills. The data and references that accompanied the claims were also highly appreciated. You got my trust :)"
Luciane Nunes
Superintendent | Chapel School - Escola Maria Imaculada | Brazil
"Mr. Travis is determinant while speaking and summarizes main ideas so as leaders we can work with our staff."
Jessica Pérez
Preschool Principal | School |
"Dr. Toby Travis has tempted us with snippets of the contents of this book through social media platforms for some time now, and it is with delight that we can now feast on the whole smorgasbord of offerings here. First, he proposes that we see trusted leadership 'as the bridge on which schools travel from where they currently are to where they need to be.' Then, drawing on extensive and significant research, he adds a valuable tool to the box of the school leader who wants to be an agent of effective improvement in their school."
Phillip Nash
Principal | Green Point Christian College | Gosford, New South Wales, Australia
"As a school owner and Director, I apply what I have learned about TrustED every day. My biggest mistakes I make in my day to day practice can always be avoided if I could just keep the TrustED components in the front of my mind."
Erinn Magee
Owner | Chontales Academy | Nicaragua
"This book has much for which to be commended; for me, one of the highest accolades I can offer is the clarity and simplicity of its author's style. After more than sixty years in classrooms with students of all ages and grade-levels, I have become jaded by the jargon and psycho-babble of most educational researchers. Too often for me, what their 'studies show' is how poorly most education writers must have fared in Freshman Comp 101. Not Toby Travis, however. He writes with grace and directness. His rhetorical bridge neither sways nor collapses. It carries me across the gulf and toward the desired goal."
D. Bruce Lockerbie
Chairman/CEO | PAIDEIA, Inc. | Stony Brook, New York
"Building trust is so important, and TrustED by Dr. Travis provides the HOW of building trust with staff, parents, and students."
William Marble
Principal | Kingston Elementary School | NJ
"Dr. Toby Travis is dynamic, humorous, and clearly experienced. His TrustED Training provides practical strategies that can be implemented tomorrow. I know I will be returning to my notes for reflection."
David Newdeck
Assistant Principal | Holicong Middle School | Doylestown, PA
"This a great and significant work and will be used to push the Trust Movement forward in profound ways. In the past, I have recommended Toby Travis as a leader, consultant, and trainer. Now, I can add... author! I have seen his high-impact contribution on all levels. You can count on him to engage your team and offer relevant and trusted solutions to help your school increase trust, commitment, and performance."
David Horsager
CEO and Wall Street Journal Best-selling Author | Trust Edge Leadership Institute
"As a school leader, the training provided a guided space for reflection, dreaming, and motivating change. Dr. Travis restored my view of myself as a leader engaged in continuous school improvement. I especially appreciated the mix of information, videos, and meaningful learning activities."
Cheryl Hopper
Principal | Edgemont Montessori | Montclair, NJ
"Dr. Travis has given us very provocative, challenging, and practical content that every school leader should be aware of if he or she wants to be effective in this generation. It is practical and extremely helpful for both new and experienced school leaders. I highly recommend TrustED."
Lester Flaquer
Director | Logos Christian School | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
"I recommend TrustED to principals and district leaders who are committed to continual school improvement."
Julio Morel
Assistant Principal | Hackensack Middle School | New Jersey
"The references Toby made, and the data he presented about research. It opens my mind to go further and read the book."
Christian Robles
Customer Development Manager | Kellogg Ecuador | Ecuador
"I would like to share the work of Dr. Travis with many districts. His energy and enthusiasm was inspirational. He 'Rocked It!'"
Deborah Smith, Ed.D.
Principal | JFK Elementary, East Islip School District | NY
"It has been said that organizations rise and fall on leadership, and our school survey data support that claim. School communities with the highest levels of satisfaction and belief in the future are those who define their leadership as trustworthy, stable, and focused. Dr. Travis does a masterful job explaining the key components that every school leader must possess in order to build and sustain a school of strength, vision, and integrity."
Clint Holden
Attribution: Director | SchoolRIGHT, LLC | Littleton, CO
"I enjoyed best receiving an overview while learning about more resources to continue the conversation in my workplace."
Jason Johnston
Primary Principal | Westhill Institute | Mexico
"The components of trusted leaders are clear and attainable."
Victoria Pira
Curriculum Coordinator | Colegio Interamericano | Guatemala
"Attending the TrustED Training was a blessing and also highly self-convicting. Grateful for the exposure to effective strategies for creating a highly trusted environment in our school."
Ianka Vilanova
Head of School | Christian Community School | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
"Identification of the essential components of Trust, especially the need for clarity, the quick activity he asked us to do."
Vickie Swann
Administrator | ISP | Panama
"This book is a MUST READ for those who truly want to develop the essential skills of effective school leadership. The clear relationship between trust and the key behaviors necessary for effective school administration is profound and powerful! The contents have the potential to refocus and revitalize the leadership effectiveness of those willing to develop the skills necessary to ensure that trust is central in the schools they lead."
Dr. David A. Wells
Executive & Managing Consultant / Founder | GLOBAL School Consulting Group | Quito, Ecuador
"Mind-blowing! If you are looking for help identifying leadership needs and implementing strategies to become more successful, TrustED is a must."
Dr. Lin Wheeler
Superintendent | Riverside Christian Academy | Fayetteville, NC
"The webinar was clear and easy to follow. Great tool and research behind it. I very much appreciate books suggested and webinar to be posted on website."
Erika Velez
Deputy Head of School / Head of Primary | The Magellan International School | United States
"It has been a sincere pleasure having Toby Travis as a colleague and advisor. Toby has the experience, energy and professionalism to engage educators, provide immediate diagnostics to issues and navigate complex systems to produce results for success."
Anthony Vandarakis
International Program Coordinator | NYC Charter Schools
"This was Awesome! Motivating! Energizing! Dr. Travis re-energized me to go back to my school and make changes to support teachers, students, and parents!"
Angela Tuck
Principal | Swarthmore Rutledge School | Swarthmore, PA
"There are few books, very few, that are written with the global sensitivity Dr. Travis has shown. His awareness of cultural differences and what type of school leadership is respected/assumed in each demonstrates discernment to understand how leadership must adjust accordingly. Dr. Travis has developed a tool that can improve school leadership and drive comprehensive reform efforts. It is very readable, well-referenced, and based on personal experience, years of consulting, and solid research."
David K. Wilcox, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice President - Global | Association of Christian Schools International | Colorado Springs, CO
"Dr. Toby Travis's TrustED is one of the most practical and research-driven leadership improvement frameworks I have seen. In a time when schools face constant change, tension, and fatigue, Dr. Travis reminds us that authentic trust - not programs, policies, or quick fixes - is the true foundation of sustainable school improvement."
Kenneth TrotmanLearning & Instructional Design Leader | Leesburg, VA
"The first president of ACSI, Dr. Roy W. Lowrie Jr., repeatedly taught global leaders that 'integrity' was the linchpin of character. It is this core character that builds credibility and trust in one's personal and professional life. Dr. Travis argues that trust is a commodity that can be developed, redeemed, and strengthened - enabling transformation into trusted leaders! Thank you, Dr. Travis, for the practicality of this book that is desperately needed today for school leaders around the world!"
Dr. Janet Lowrie Nason
Former Dean of International Studies; Senior Consultant | Cairn University; Global School Consulting Group
"Dr. Travis is one of the best communicators in the country. As Dr. Lockerbie states in his Foreword of the book, TrustED, "After more than 60 years in classrooms with students of all ages and grade levels, I have become jaded by the jargon and psychobabble of most educational researchers... Dr. Travis writes with grace and directness." Very true! The entire book is full of nuggets of wisdom. Trust is essential for any organization to thrive. Several areas of the book are highlighted, and I've gone back (and will go back) several times to review. Early in TrustED is a section entitled "Know thyself." Dr. Travis states, "Two general observations are true in practically any profession. Still, especially in school leaders who operate based on core values: (1) they possess a healthy and honest understanding of themselves, and (2) they possess a strong measure of personal integrity." This is true in and through the organization. Trust is essential for building and maintaining a thriving school/organization. Without Trust (as demonstrated by the bridge metaphor), any weak link and/or low level of Trust jeopardizes the entire organization. Well done, Dr. Travis! I'm looking forward to seeing more in your next book."
Joe Bradley
Chief Executive Officer | Bradley Resource Group | Nashville, TN
"As Head of School at an international school, I have found TrustED transformative in reassessing how we approach relationships, trust, and partnerships. There are so many stakeholders involved, each with a different point of view, that navigating genuine inclusion and empowerment can be a challenge. TrustED has provided a clear and comprehensive framework for establishing and sustaining what is ostensibly the most important part of school: building purposeful and meaningful relationships. For me, the greatest takeaway was the sustainability component. TrustED aims to build the best systems of practice rather than focusing on singular outcomes and moving on. There is a thoughtfulness and patience required, but it pays immense dividends. I recommend TrustED for anyone who needs a re-evaluation of how they navigate school leadership and the importance of what they should be doing each and every day."
Gavin C. Latham
Head of School | The Dewey Schools | Hai Phong City, Vietnam
"Very clear, concise and inspiring. Research based."
Julieta Carrillo
Attribution: International Program Coordinator | The Magellan International School | United States
"Dr. Travis provides a thought-provoking, engaging, and practical set of strategies for school leaders. In a readable, fact-based approach, he wrestles with core issues of trust and integrity facing schools around the world today. Highly recommended for anyone seeking personal transformation to become an effective leader in education."
David Durance
President | TeachBeyond
"Refreshing and clear!"
Mary-Jo Gill
Head of School | Westhill Institute | Mexico
In this guide, Toby Travis offers a wealth of practical and clear insights that give school leaders the vital tools they need to achieve real success.
Janet Hale
Educational Consultant and Best-selling Author | Curriculum Decisions
"Understanding of what works for students in schools and having the boldness to put it into practice is quite uncommon... not for Dr. Travis. He trains school leaders and teachers to understand and build meaningful relationships as a prerequisite for any academic improvement. This approach is needed in all European schools, especially in the Visegrad Group: Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland."
Filip Kachnic
Faculty of Education; Affiliated Researcher | Charles University; The International Observatory for School Climate and Violence Prevention, University of Seville | Prague, Czech Republic; Seville, Spain
"This book is a must for any school leader or aspiring school leader. Dr. Travis lays out in great detail and personal anecdotes, a masterpiece of leadership. I found myself taking copious notes and nodding in happy agreement! I have started applying the concepts and strategies directly and immediately to my own life. What a fantastic and extremely helpful work."
Kjell Fenn
Head of School and author of Engage: Motivational Strategies for a Dynamic Classroom
"What sets TrustED apart is its balance of research and real-world application. Each session includes stories, reflection tools, and insights that invite honest self-assessment. The training and his book feel less like theory and more like coaching from someone who has been there - humble, experienced, and deeply committed to helping leaders grow."
Kenneth Trotman
Attribution: Learning & Instructional Design Leader | Leesburg, VA
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Your feedback helps other school leaders take the next step.
"If you have worked with TrustED® in any capacity, I would genuinely love to hear from you. Your experience , honest and specific, is one of the most valuable things you can offer to a school leader who is still deciding. I read every review personally."
Dr. Toby A. Travis
Founder, TrustED® · Head of School
Intermountain Christian School