“Stand Back,” Said the Elephant: When Leadership Echoes Louder Than We Think
The other day, I was chatting with a new mom, trading favorite childhood books, when one came rushing back to me:
“Stand Back,” Said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!”
If you’ve read it, you know how it goes. A giant elephant announces he’s about to sneeze and total jungle chaos breaks out. Birds panic. Monkeys flip. Even the crocodile gets nervous.
Why? Because the last time he sneezed, the whole forest turned upside down.
As a kid, I thought it was hilarious.
Reading it now, I see something else entirely.
Leadership (and Sneezes) Are Bigger Than They Seem
The elephant wasn’t being reckless. He wasn’t out to scare anyone. In fact, he gave fair warning. But still, his sneeze carried a force he couldn’t fully control. His size made even a simple act feel seismic.
That image has stuck with me. Not just because it’s funny, but because it’s true.
In leadership, we often forget how much weight our words and decisions carry. What feels like a small adjustment, such as a platform update or a new policy, can send ripples through a whole system.
To us, it’s just a sneeze.
To others, it might feel like the whole jungle is shaking.
Leading Innovation with Intention
At our charter school, we’re stepping into bold new territory: integrating artificial intelligence and virtual reality to create immersive, student-centered learning experiences.
It’s exciting, no doubt. But we’re not doing it just because it’s cutting-edge. We’re doing it because we believe it can deepen learning, elevate student voice, and open doors to new ways of thinking and creating.
And that means being intentional at every step.
This kind of innovation requires more than cool tools. It requires care. It requires asking: Are our teachers supported? Are students engaged, not just entertained? Is this helping them grow, or just adding noise?
We’re not handing students a VR headset and saying, “Go.” We’re inviting them to explore the moon, to train with an AI-powered speaking coach, to step into simulations where empathy, critical thinking, and creativity all matter.
Yes, we’re introducing new tech. But more importantly, we’re creating new opportunities for students to see themselves as capable, curious, and connected.
The Pause Before the Sneeze
What I keep coming back to is this: the elephant didn’t sneeze without warning. He paused. He looked around. He gave everyone a chance to prepare.
That’s leadership.
It’s not just about vision or bold ideas. It’s about noticing who’s in your path and being thoughtful about how your actions might affect them. It’s asking: Who will this impact? Are they ready? What support do they need?
Because innovation without awareness can flatten people.
But with empathy, it can lift them.
At Elite Academic, we ask ourselves these questions constantly:
- Is this truly serving students?
- Are we empowering teachers, not overwhelming them?
- Does this leave room for curiosity, for voice, for choice?
Sometimes, the most important thing a leader can do is pause, take a breath, and ask:
Is now the right time to sneeze?
The Books That Stay With Us
I didn’t expect a children’s book to circle back into my life like this. But it did, and not just for the nostalgia.
It reminded me that leadership isn’t always about big moves or dramatic moments. More often, it’s about the quiet awareness of how much our presence can shape what happens around us. Even small decisions can carry weight. Even good intentions can have unintended effects.
And sometimes, the most important thing we can do is slow down long enough to notice that.
I’m still smiling at the story. But now, I’m also thinking about what it means to move through the world, especially as a leader, with care.
So now I’m curious:
Has a children’s book ever stuck with you in an unexpected way?
What story from your childhood keeps showing up in your thinking today?
I’d genuinely love to hear it.
Laura K Spencer, Ed.D. 