2021 SEED Core Values award winner Justin Chiu’s superpower is the way that he helps everyone around him excel in their position. Justin is constantly looking for ways to grow professionally, bringing training and support tools that help him and his colleagues work more collaboratively and effectively. His commitment to growth for himself and SEED Miami have had far-reaching impact on the school community.
When Justin saw the job listing for the student life counselor at SEED Miami in 2014, he immediately knew it was for him. Counselors who live in the dorms with students make SEED’s 24-hour wraparound support possible, and Justin’s compassionate nature made him ideal for the role. He helped with homework, maintained daily routines, and led Spark activities like origami, cooking, and fitness classes.
As SEED Miami grew, so did Justin’s role. In his current role as executive associate to the head of school and data manager, he has facilitated Community of Practice sessions where SEED Miami staff work together to build an environment of communication, common implementation of school culture and curriculum, and continuous learning. He implemented the Kickboard system, a tool that helps the team use school culture data to inform decisions, involve parents with continuous updates on their child’s progress, incentivize positive behavior, and advise how SEED Miami focuses its efforts. Miami’s success led to the whole SEED network of schools adopting the program Justin implemented—and this is just one example of the extensive impact of his work.
While much of Justin’s work takes place behind the scenes, he is front and center in shaping SEED Miami’s success. Justin inspires his colleagues with his work ethic, his curiosity, and his relentless search for better systems. Each new undertaking is a growth opportunity for him. “Next time, I’m going to…” he’ll say after trying something new, using every success and setback as a learning experience. Kara Locke, SEED Miami head of school says, “The responsibility that Justin models in managing these tasks is directly tied to his organization, his high standards for the quality of his work (and others!), his ability to prioritize tasks and effectively manage others, and his ability to care for his own wellbeing in moments of high stress.”
Kara credits Justin’s perseverance and team-driven, solution-oriented approach to helping her and SEED Miami’s leadership team manage all obstacles. Together, Justin and the SEED Miami team have persisted through challenges like multiple moves, Hurricane Irma, and a pandemic—all before getting a permanent campus. Through it all, Justin’s attitude and willingness to do anything that needs to be done has helped the entire school in its mission.
Kara says that Justin “…models SEED’s Core Values in three ways that set him apart: authentically, consistently, and over time. For seven years, day in and day out, Justin has modeled an unwavering commitment to respect, responsibility, integrity, perseverance, growth, compassion and gratitude which has been a source of inspiration and admiration to me and my colleagues.”