🦋 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.
GALS Denver Pledge, 2026
I know who I am, I know that I matter, I know what matters to me.
I pay attention to what I feel and what I need.Â
I make choices and decisions that are good for me.
I take good care of my body.
I use my voice and listen to others, even when it's hard.
I take responsibility for my actions and my learning.
I am a valuable friend.
I show up for my community.
I stand up for what I believe in.Â
I believe in me.
I know I can make a positive difference in the world in my own unique way.
The updated pledge reflects both who we have always been and who we continue to become.
Several additions intentionally strengthen the values we hope every GALS student carries beyond our walls. We wanted to place greater emphasis on listening as an essential leadership skill, reminding students that leadership requires understanding others as much as expressing ourselves - listening to understand, whether or not you agree. We introduced responsibility for both our actions and our learning, recognizing that academic growth begins with ownership. We added commitments to community and self-belief because we know that confident leaders both contribute to something larger than themselves and trust in their own potential.
These revisions do not represent a departure from our mission. They represent our continued commitment to living it well.Â
Over the coming months, you'll begin seeing the updated pledge throughout campus. New GALS Gear will be available at registration that proudly displays the new pledge on the back of the T-shirt. New displays, classroom materials, and student activities will introduce the revised language, and GALS Series classes will spend time helping students understand not only the words themselves, but the values and leadership skills they represent.
Like the butterfly, our evolution is not about becoming something different—it is about becoming more fully who we are meant to be. As we continue our commitment to educating remarkable young people, we also recognize that the world they are growing up in is different from the one that shaped our founding in 2010. By evolving our pledge, we honor both our enduring mission and our responsibility to prepare students with the knowledge, character, and social-emotional skills they need to thrive today and tomorrow.