🦋 GALS Denver Updates our Pledge for Year 17

By Timeri Tolnay
July 15, 2026

Transformation is one of nature's greatest reminders that growth requires change. A butterfly does not become something new by abandoning its past—it becomes more fully what it was always meant to be. In the same way, organizations evolve by building upon the strong foundations that came before them while embracing new learning and new possibilities. Our willingness to grow ensures that we continue to meet the moment and prepare students for the world they are inheriting. As GALS Denver enters its seventeenth year, we are excited to introduce an evolved GALS Pledge in service of the same mission: to empower students to succeed academically, lead confidently, live boldly, and thrive physically.

When GALS Denver opened in 2010, our founders created a pledge that reflected the values and aspirations of the school. It has served as a daily reminder to generations of students that they matter, that their voices matter, and that they have the power to make a positive difference in the world.

Six years later, when GALS Los Angeles opened, they thoughtfully adapted the pledge to reflect their own community and emerging understandings of student development, including new pieces around taking responsibility for one's actions and listening with heart and mind.

As our staff reflected on these two versions over the past year, we began asking an important question: If our school has continued to learn and grow over the last sixteen years, should our pledge grow with us? Since 2010, our understanding of adolescent development, leadership, and social-emotional learning has deepened considerably. We know more today about emotional regulation, restorative practices, healthy communication, and collaborative problem-solving than we did when our original pledge was written.

One line in particular prompted meaningful discussion:

"I let people know what I think, even when I'm angry or confused or in disagreement with everyone else."

While the intention behind this statement was to encourage bravery and authenticity, our staff recognized that its wording no longer fully reflected the skills we strive to teach. Today, we want students to learn that strong leaders do not simply react to difficult situations—they regulate their emotions, ask more questions, seek understanding, consider evidence, and respond thoughtfully. We want our students to use their voices with both courage and wisdom. The goal is not less voice, but more effective voice. We want students to advocate for themselves, challenge ideas, and express disagreement; we also want them to develop the skills to do so thoughtfully and effectively, in ways that make coming together to create change possible.

Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, our faculty engaged in a collaborative process of reviewing the pledge. Staff brainstormed possible revisions, discussed each line together, incorporated feedback from the Board of Directors, and refined the language through multiple rounds of thoughtful conversation. In March 2026, after months of discussion and careful consideration, the revised pledge was unanimously approved by every member of the GALS Denver staff.