The Radical Power of Steadiness

Kristi Kraychy

January 2026

I’ve always been a bit of a radical in education.

I believe in change. I believe in forward momentum.

But after years on the more radical edge of education, I find myself newly appreciating the role that simplicity and some steady traditions can play, especially right now.

In a world where children are already navigating digital overwhelm, constant stimulation, and rising anxiety, schools that offer calm, clarity, and consistency are doing something often deeply underestimated: they are creating psychological safety.

Psychological safety creates the conditions for curiosity, risk-taking, deep learning, and real growth, for students and educators alike.

That steadiness can come from long-standing practices and traditions that work. It can also come from thoughtful, well-paced change. But at the root, there is always human co-regulation: calm, empathy, and care.

What I am learning is this: innovation, creativity and growth needs grounding. When too many new ideas are introduced at once, even good ones, they become noise. It becomes harder to stay oriented around what matters, where boundaries are, and what is worth protecting.

Sometimes what looks like slowing down is exactly what allows learning, creativity, and meaningful change to take hold.