Setting the Atmosphere for Growing Greatness
A Mentoring, Coaching, and Sponsoring Mission — A Commitment to "Walk in It."
Dr. Deborah L. Wortham
Certified Executive Coach | Superintendent Emeritus | CEO, Wortham Educational Enterprises, LLC
Copyright & Scripture Foundation
© 2025 Dr. Deborah L. Wortham. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or using any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author.
Published by Wortham Educational Enterprises, LLC
Baltimore, Maryland • www.DrDeborahLWortham.com
All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) unless otherwise noted.
ISBN: Pending Registration
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" — Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)
Dedication
To every teacher, leader, learner, and administrator who cultivates confidence and decrees destiny — your presence is the power that shapes tomorrow. May this book ignite your faith, sharpen your purpose, and empower you to walk in it.
To the mentors who molded my mission, the coaches who refined my focus, and the sponsors who lifted my name in rooms I had not yet entered — thank you for seeing me, stretching me, and sending me. Your belief has built bridges that countless others now cross.
This work is dedicated to you — to every atmosphere you shift, every life you lift, and every moment you choose to walk in it.
Acknowledgments
Every great work is born from a community of believers — those who encourage, empower, and elevate the vision until it breathes life.
I thank God, the ultimate Atmosphere Setter, for every door opened, every lesson learned, and every leader placed along this journey.
To my husband, Rev. Chester Wortham, my partner in faith and purpose — thank you for your steadfast love, prayer, and patience. You have been the calm in every storm and the strength behind every assignment.
To my daughter, Dr. Shelley Connell, and my son, Min. Chester Wortham, III, whose leadership and light continue to inspire. You remind me that greatness multiplies when we lead with love.
To my mentors and models — Dr. Walter G. Amprey, Mr. Clifton Ball, Betty Morgan, Dr. Cassandra Jones, Dr. Patricia Newby, Dr. Lorna Lewis, Bishop E. McD. Wortham, and Rev. Dr. Elaine M. Flake — your wisdom, advocacy, and belief set the standard for mentorship, coaching, and sponsorship in action.
To my colleagues, collaborators, and coaching partners across the nation — thank you for creating atmospheres where growth is inevitable and leadership is shared.
To the Wortham Educational Enterprises family and every educator, paraprofessional, and administrator who sets the atmosphere with courage and compassion — this work belongs to you.
And finally, to every reader of this book — may it affirm what you already carry: that your words build worlds, your belief grows greatness, and your leadership shifts atmospheres for generations to come.
Thank you for walking in it.
Affirmation for the Messenger
I am called to cultivate leaders.
I am chosen to champion change.
I am created to grow greatness in others.
I speak life into leadership.
I speak strategy into systems.
I speak courage into calling.
Every story I share today will strengthen someone.
Every tool I teach today will transform someone.
Every word I release today will raise someone.
When I coach, wisdom is unlocked.
When I mentor, purpose is protected.
When I sponsor, destiny is delivered.
I reject fear and embrace faith.
I silence doubt and amplify confidence.
I interrupt the amygdala hijack with God's peace and clarity.
I walk with authority.
I lead with compassion.
I serve with excellence.
I grow greatness.
I grow greatness.
I grow greatness…
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Introduction — Setting the Atmosphere
There are moments in leadership that shape not just your journey but your very identity.
"Setting the Atmosphere for Growing Greatness" was born out of one truth: leaders are not measured by what they accomplish alone, but by how they multiply greatness in others.
Leadership is spiritual. It is relational. It is generational.
In every chapter of my life—teacher, principal, superintendent, coach—I've seen that the atmosphere you create determines the altitude others reach. You cannot cultivate greatness in an atmosphere of fear, competition, or confusion. Growth thrives where belief and belonging intersect.
This eBook is not merely a reflection; it's a roadmap.
It's a mentoring, coaching, and sponsoring mission — a guide for leaders who want to build a legacy through intentional investment in people.
The concentric circles of this mission are simple but powerful:
  • Coaching develops awareness.
  • Mentoring shares wisdom.
  • Sponsorship grants access.
Together, they form the structure for Growing Greatness.
"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." — Matthew 5:16
PART I
The Gift of a Mother Who Shifted Atmosphere
Every atmosphere begins with a word.
For me, that word was spoken by my mother.
She looked at the calendar and refused to let it define me.
I was born on Friday the 13th, but she insisted I was a Mother's Day baby.
She replaced superstition with celebration and fear with faith.
She declared, "You are my Christian child, born on Mother's Day."
She did not lie; she declared.
She was setting the atmosphere for my life before I had language to understand it.
That day, my mother taught me the first law of leadership:
The words you speak over others create the world they will walk in.
From that moment forward, I understood that leaders are atmosphere-setters.
They speak destiny where others speak doubt.
They plant purpose in the soil of uncertainty.
My mother, Bessie Smith, was not a superintendent or an executive coach.
But she was my first mentor—the one who shaped my belief system.
She taught me to face challenges with faith, to see Jesus in every circumstance, and to believe that education was the pathway to independence and success.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." — Proverbs 18:21
Her words built my courage.
Her faith formed my philosophy.
And her love set my foundation.
Be the Best That You Can Be
After my mother came another great voice of wisdom—my sister, Lori.
Before she passed away, she took my hand and said words that have followed me all my life:
"Be the best that you can be."
It was not a suggestion. It was a summons.
That sentence became my personal standard, my professional code, and my spiritual assignment.
When she spoke those words, I didn't yet understand what "best" meant.
But I learned that "best" is not about comparison; it's about calling.
It's about being faithful to the assignment God has placed in your hands.
Lori was my first sponsor—long before I understood what sponsorship meant.
A sponsor doesn't just cheer you on; a sponsor challenges you to rise.
Lori expected excellence. She saw potential where I saw preparation.
Her declaration—"Be the best that you can be"—was a mirror and a mandate.
I carried that charge into every classroom, boardroom, and district office.
It became the framework for what I now teach others:
Sponsorship is advocacy in action.
Sponsorship means lifting someone's name in rooms they've never entered.
It means believing out loud.
It means taking a risk for someone else's reward.
"Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." — 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Reflection Moment:
Who has spoken a "Be the best that you can be" into your life?
Who can you sponsor today by affirming their excellence and opening a door for their next opportunity?
PART II
Mentors Who Molded My Mission
Mentorship is not a title—it is a transfer of wisdom.
It is the act of pouring what you have into someone ready to be filled.
Throughout my journey, God sent mentors who not only molded my leadership style but also my faith, fortitude, and focus. Their influence became the architecture of my assignment.
Dr. Walter G. Amprey — The Visionary Mentor
Dr. Walter Amprey was a leader who saw a rose growing through concrete. He saw my school's thriving culture and said, "Whatever is happening here needs to happen districtwide." He didn't just commend the success—he commissioned it. He mentored me through a process that later became the Philosophy of Efficacy, a belief that confidence releases effective effort, which in turn produces achievement, as introduced by Dr. Jeff Howard. He didn't simply teach leadership; he modeled it. He promoted me, positioned me, and poured into me. He was my mentor and, unknowingly, my atmospheric architect. From Dr. Amprey, I learned to lead with courage, to enter rooms with warmth, and to shift the atmosphere through kindness and competence.
Mr. Clifton Ball — The Gentle Giant
Mr. Ball believed that kindness is not weakness—it is wisdom. He used to say, "You can catch more bees with honey." He never raised his voice, yet everyone listened when he spoke. He offered me refuge after a challenging experience and taught me that leadership and humility can coexist. When he invited me to join the "Success for All" initiative with Johns Hopkins University, he opened the door to a new level of professional growth. Through him, I discovered that mentoring is not about control—it's about cultivation.
Dr. Betty Morgan — The Bridge Builder
Betty Morgan introduced me to the Hispanic community. Even though I didn't speak Spanish, she gave me space on the agenda and arranged an interpreter. That act of inclusion changed the trajectory of my career. Years later, I became superintendent of a district that was 70% Hispanic. Dr. Morgan had mentored me to understand that cultural competence is not learned from books—it's learned from relationships.
"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." — Colossians 4:6
More Mentors Who Shaped My Path
Dr. Cassandra Jones — The Faith Integrator
Dr. Jones taught me that faith belongs in leadership. She began a gospel choir at work, reminding us that it's okay to worship while you work. She often said, "You're going somewhere!"—and every time, I believed it a little more. She taught me to lead with authenticity, to blend devotion with direction, and to make room for God in the workplace.
Dr. Patricia Newby — The Model of Excellence
Dr. Newby loved frogs— "Leap to Learn!" I followed her closely, carrying her bags, observing her grace, and absorbing her excellence. She would laugh and say, "You don't have to carry my bags!" But I knew I was carrying more than bags—I was carrying lessons. She taught me that observation is a form of education. Her life modeled what I now call mentorship by example.
Dr. Lorna Lewis — Mentor, Coach, and Sponsor
When I arrived in New York after already serving as a superintendent for five years, I expected to stand alone. Instead, I was assigned a mentor — Dr. Lorna Lewis. What began as an assignment became an anointing. She mentored me with grace, coached me through transition, and sponsored me into visibility. Dr. Lewis lifted my name in rooms where I was not present. She used her influence to ensure others recognized my leadership, voice, and vision. Today, she remains my forever friend. Her faith in me multiplied my faith in others.
The Bishop E. McD. — Builder of Confidence
The Bishop stated, "You are going to be a superintendent!" During his morning sermon, he said this 3 times. The Bishop has always been a prayer partner and one who fosters faith!
The Rev. Dr. Elaine M. Flake – Favor is Fair
With 25,000 members, Rev. Dr. Elaine Flake made me feel like I was the only member! She exhibits extraordinary leadership skills and is the inimitable mentor to all in ministry.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up." — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Reflection Moment:
Who has been your Dr. Lorna Lewis—someone who not only guided you but lifted your name in rooms you had not yet entered? How are you mentoring others to carry forward the lessons you've received?
Coaching the Next Generation
Coaching is the art of asking, not telling.
It is the sacred partnership between awareness and action.
Unlike mentoring, which shares wisdom, coaching unlocks wisdom already within the individual.
As a Certified Executive Coach (ACC) trained in the ICF framework and the University of Pennsylvania's Self-Management techniques, I learned that coaching is about co-creating clarity.
The best coaching sessions begin with a question that opens with a possibility:
"What does success look like for you?"
From there, a coach listens deeply—not to respond, but to reflect.
A coach creates a mirror, not a map.
The Science of Coaching: The Amygdala Hijack
In moments of stress, the emotional brain (the amygdala) overrides the thinking brain (the prefrontal cortex).
It's called the Amygdala Hijack.
When the hijack happens, logic is silent, fear floods, and faith fades.
The leader who understands this can intervene with calmness, compassion, and coaching.
Neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Lieberman introduced the phrase "name it to tame it" after fMRI scans revealed that labeling emotions decreases activity in the amygdala (the brain's fear center) and boosts activity in the prefrontal cortex, responsible for rational thought.
In brief, identifying your feelings helps you regain control.
To "Name It to Tame It" is the method one can teach:
  • Pause when emotion rises.
  • Pray for peace.
  • Proceed with perspective.
That pause is power. It interrupts the hijack and restores reason.
Coaching helps leaders transform their reactions into reflections.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." — John 14:27
The 8 ICF Coaching Competencies
In coaching, excellence is measured not by answers but by alignment.
The International Coaching Federation identifies eight core competencies, and I see them as spiritual as structural:
1
Demonstrates Ethical Practice
Integrity builds trust.
2
Embodies a Coaching Mindset
Self-awareness shapes service.
3
Establishes and Maintains Agreements
Clarity invites accountability.
4
Cultivates Trust and Safety
Growth requires vulnerability.
5
Maintains Presence
Be still and listen.
6
Listens Actively
Hear both the heart and the words.
7
Evokes Awareness
Draw out, don't pour in.
8
Facilitates Client Growth
Empower next steps, not dependency.
When I coach, I often remind leaders:
"You can't coach what you haven't conquered."
We must first manage our own emotions, our own amygdala, before helping others master theirs.
UPenn Self-Management Techniques for Coaches
UPenn's self-management framework complements biblical truth:
Emotional Regulation
"Be quick to listen, slow to speak."
Positive Outlook
"Think on these things."
Adaptability
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
Transparency
"Let your yes be yes, and your no be no."
Achievement Orientation
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart."
When faith meets science, greatness grows.

Reflection Moment:
Where in your leadership are you reacting instead of responding? How can you "pause, pray, and proceed" to restore peace and clarity?
The Grasshopper Story — Sponsorship in Action
Sponsorship is advocacy in motion.
It is the act of using your influence to open a door for someone else.
When I served as superintendent, I created a leadership development program called "Boot Camp."
It wasn't a classroom—it was a launching pad.
I would ask every participant, "Who's up next?"
One rising star caught my attention—a talented educator eager to grow —who came to the district because he had heard about "Boot Camp."
I nicknamed him Grasshopper.
Under my guidance, Grasshopper studied instruction, culture, and courage.
He graduated from Boot Camp and became a superintendent.
When people saw his success, others started saying,
"Can I be Grasshopper too?"
That's how you know sponsorship works—when others start craving the culture you've created.
"A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children." — Proverbs 13:22
From Safety Coordinator to Principal
Another moment of sponsorship came when a district safety coordinator confided, "I want to become a principal."
I saw his passion immediately.
I changed his title to assistant principal at a school in need of new leadership.
He attended professional development sessions on curriculum instead of discipline.
He participated in Cabinet meetings where culture was created and continued to be a constant in developing systems of success and establishing systemic standards.
Within three years, he became the school's principal.
That's sponsorship.
That's belief in action.
That's growing greatness.
That's growing IN greatness.
The Doctoral Mentees
As a dissertation chair for over a decade, I have mentored and sponsored dozens of doctoral candidates.
I've guided their research, celebrated their defenses, and prayed over their purpose.
To this day, they know they can "Reach Out and Touch Me."
Mentorship doesn't end with the semester or the degree.
Sponsorship continues long after the diploma.

Reflection Moment:
Who is your "Grasshopper"? What title, opportunity, or platform can you offer to help someone else grow into their next level?
PART III
When the Mind Meets the Mission
Leadership is not only spiritual — it is scientific.
The most outstanding leaders understand that faith and neuroscience are not opponents; they are partners.
The Amygdala and the Atmosphere
Every day, educators lead through storms — budget cuts, board meetings, social pressures, and personal sacrifices.
Under stress, the amygdala, the small almond-shaped structure in the brain, floods the body with emotion.
Blood leaves the reasoning center and races toward survival.
It's the Amygdala Hijack.
When that happens, creativity closes. Collaboration collapses. Confidence drains.
But the coach who knows the science can interrupt the spiral.
Pause. Breathe. Pray. Proceed.
When you pause, you reclaim your peace.
When you pray, you re-center your purpose.
When you proceed, you restore your power.
"Be still, and know that I am God." — Psalm 46:10
Coaching is the antidote to the hijack—it invites calm through curiosity.
Mentoring reframes the fear with wisdom.
Sponsorship overrides paralysis with promotion.
That is the concentric-circle model of Growing Greatness:
Coaching → Mentoring → Sponsoring.
Each ring expands the reach of restoration.
Emotional Intelligence for Educational Leaders
Dr. Daniel Goleman's research on Emotional Intelligence transformed how we understand leadership effectiveness.
He identified six leadership styles born from emotional awareness:
1
Authoritative
Leads with vision: "Come with me."
2
Affiliative
Leads with connection: "People come first."
3
Democratic
Leads through collaboration: "What do you think?"
4
Coaching
Leads by development: "Try this and grow."
5
Pacesetting
Leads by example: "Follow my lead."
6
Coercive
Leads by command: "Do what I say."
Of these, the Coaching and Affiliative styles most align with faith-filled leadership.
They create atmospheres where others can breathe, believe, and become.
When Emotional Intelligence and Spiritual Intelligence intersect, leaders model:
  • Self-Awareness — "Search me, O God."
  • Self-Management — "Let patience have her perfect work."
  • Social Awareness — "Weep with those who weep."
  • Relationship Management — "Love your neighbor as yourself."
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." — Proverbs 15:1
These are not merely competencies; they are commandments for climate change in our schools and systems.
Leadership in Action
In Roosevelt, in Baltimore, in every district I have served, the emotional culture of leadership set the tone for academic performance.
When I walked into a building where teachers felt valued, student achievement followed.
When I entered a room filled with fear, test scores weren't the only low thing—morale was too.
That's why I communicate:
"Culture rises where confidence is restored."
Leaders who coach rather than command, who listen rather than lecture, who reflect rather than react—grow greatness that lasts.

Reflection Moment:
Think of a time when your amygdala hijacked your response. What could have changed if you had paused, prayed, and proceeded instead? How can you cultivate Emotional Intelligence as a daily spiritual discipline?
The Sponsorship Mandate — Growing Systems, Not Just People
Mentoring changes lives.
Sponsorship changes legacies.
"A true sponsor doesn't just help someone reach their next job; they reshape an entire system so that opportunity becomes the norm, not the exception."
A Superintendent's Question
Whenever I entered a new district, I would ask my cabinet:
"Who's up next? Who will sit in my seat when I leave?"
That question shifted culture.
It told every leader that advancement was expected, not elusive.
I didn't wait for succession plans to appear; I built them.
Every "Boot Camp" I designed was a sponsorship incubator.
Every coaching conversation was a seed of succession.
When I left those districts, they didn't scramble for leadership—
they harvested it.
The Math of Multiplication
When a system gains a reputation for advancing others, the best talent comes running.
Performance improves. Retention rises.
Greatness reproduces itself.
That's sponsorship at scale.
It's not a program—it's a posture.
"The things you have heard me say … entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." — 2 Timothy 2:2
Practical Pathways for Sponsors
Name
Name someone you will advocate for this year.
Notice
Notice where bias or fear blocks access.
Nurture
Nurture potential with coaching, not control.
Nominate
Nominate leaders publicly for advancement.
Network
Network them into circles of opportunity.
To sponsor is to speak destiny into motion.

Reflection Moment:
Who are you preparing to sit in your seat? What structures can you build today that will make greatness inevitable tomorrow?
PART IV
Lift as You Lead
Great leaders don't just lead systems — they lift spirits.
We rise higher when we are responsible for others' ascent.
Every mentor, coach, and sponsor who poured into me built a bridge for the next generation.
They understood that leadership is legacy-building — not ladder-climbing.
When I sponsored "Grasshopper," when I mentored my doctoral mentees, and when I coached emerging superintendents, I discovered this truth:
The more you give away, the more God gives you to give.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap." — Luke 6:38
The Leadership Legacy — Growing Greatness in Generations
Legacy is not what you leave behind; it's what you leave within.
When I look back on my journey—from classroom to central office, from Baltimore to New York, from mentee to mentor—I see concentric circles of leadership.
Each one expanded as I grew in faith, favor, and focus.
Those circles—Coaching, Mentoring, Sponsoring—continue to ripple outward, touching every educator, student, and community I've encountered.
Legacy leadership asks two questions:
  1. Who shaped you?
  1. Who will say you shaped them?
The answer to both defines your atmosphere of greatness.
"We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done." — Psalm 78:4
The Sponsorship Mandate Renewed
Each leader reading this carries a divine mandate:
  • To coach with clarity.
  • To mentor with meaning.
  • To sponsor with courage.
You don't need a title to grow greatness.
You just need the intention to invest and the heart to believe.
Every time you believe in someone, you participate in the miracle of multiplication.
Practical Commitments for the Leader
Today I commit to:
  1. Set the atmosphere for growth everywhere I go.
  1. Coach others with compassion and curiosity.
  1. Mentor others with honesty and humility.
  1. Sponsor others with boldness and bravery.
  1. Walk in my purpose without fear.
These commitments turn philosophy into practice and faith into fruit.

Reflection Moment:
What legacy are you intentionally building right now? What will future leaders inherit because you believed in them today?
The Great Commissioning — This Is the Way
Growing greatness requires two movements:
Look behind you — Who are you pulling up?
Look beside you — Who are you partnering with?
And then, listen.
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.'" — Isaiah 30:21
That voice calls us not just to lead — but to lift.
Not just to achieve — but to advance others.
Not just to teach — but to transform.
This is the divine directive of leadership:
Walk in it.
Commissioning Declaration
I will grow greatness.
I will elevate leaders.
I will change systems.
I will set the atmosphere.
I will hear God's voice — and walk in it.
When you speak these words, you activate destiny.
You join a lineage of leaders who coach, mentor, and sponsor greatness on purpose.
This is how the world changes — one leader, one believer, one atmosphere at a time.
Closing Benediction
May you go forth as a carrier of atmosphere,
A cultivator of greatness,
A coach of hearts,
A mentor of minds,
And a sponsor of destinies.
May your words set atmospheres of hope.
May your actions write legacies of light.
And may your leadership forever echo Isaiah 30:21 —
"This is the way; walk in it."
Walk in purpose.
Walk in promise.
Walk in power.
Walk in peace.
Amen.
Amen.
And Amen.