Connecticut, USA, 14th March 2026, ZEX PR WIRE — Education leader Michael Pisseri has announced a new personal initiative called the “Process Over Panic” Pledge, a commitment to promote resilience, strong school culture and practical STEM readiness at a time when students face academic and emotional pressure nationwide.

Pisseri says the pledge is rooted in lessons from his own career, including leading a seven-year turnaround at Davenport Ridge Elementary School and presenting at a National STEM Conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

“The process that leads to the outcome is the most important,” Pisseri said. “That is where you build a team, set up a plan, fail, refine and then achieve success.”

His pledge comes as recent national data shows:

• Student maths and reading scores remain below pre-2020 levels in many US districts.
  

• The CDC reports increased rates of persistent sadness and anxiety among adolescents.
  

• STEM occupations are projected to grow faster than non-STEM roles over the next decade.
  

• Many schools report gaps in student engagement and consistent attendance.
  

“STEM teaches students how to think,” Pisseri said. “Curiosity and problem solving apply to everything. That’s where you have collaboration, team work and higher order thinking skills.”

He also believes resilience must be taught intentionally.

“Never give up. Belief that you can get better every day. It has to be ingrained in you.”

And at the center of it all is trust.

“Be a good listener. Be authentic. Be someone people trust and keep moving forward.”

The “Process Over Panic” Pledge: 7 Personal Commitments

Pisseri is committing to the following behaviours:

1. Prioritise school climate first by modelling calm, respectful communication daily. There should be clear expectations and buy in from all so that students continue to grow and improve.
   

2. Teach process before outcomes by breaking large goals into small, measurable steps.
   

3. Integrate weekly STEM thinking exercises that focus on problem solving, not memorisation.
   

4. Hold structured reflection sessions with students to review progress and refine plans.
   

5. Model resilience publicly by sharing stories of failure and improvement.
   

6. Start each term with direction-setting conversations focused on growth, connection and impact.
   

7. Protect balance by aligning professional goals with personal well-being practices.
   

“I define success as living in alignment with your values while continuing to grow,” he said.

Do It Yourself Toolkit: 10 Free Actions Anyone Can Take

You do not need a title or budget to take part. Here are ten actions individuals can start today:

1. Set one weekly family or classroom check-in focused on growth.
   

2. Replace one performance-based question with a process-based question.
   

3. Introduce a simple STEM challenge at home using everyday materials.
   

4. Create a visible “mistake board” to normalise learning from errors.
   

5. Read one article per week about innovation or environmental science.
   

6. Volunteer one hour at a local school or youth programme.
   

7. Encourage journalling about effort, not just results.
   

8. Reduce screen distractions during study time.
   

9. Ask students what they want more of and less of this year.
   

10. Share one story of perseverance within your community.

30-Day Progress Tracker

Week 1: Define your direction. What do you want more of? What do you want less of?
Week 2: Introduce one new resilience practice. Track consistency daily.
Week 3: Add one STEM-focused activity. Reflect on engagement.
Week 4: Review progress. What improved? What needs refining?

Simple checklist:

•  Weekly check-in completed
  

•  Process goal set
  

•  Reflection session held
  

•  STEM activity completed
  

•  Resilience story shared
  

At the end of 30 days, assess growth in mindset, engagement and consistency.

Call to Action

Michael Pisseri invites educators, parents, students and community members to take the “Process Over Panic” Pledge, commit to one concrete action, and share the toolkit within their own networks. Sustainable change, he believes, starts locally.

“Success is not just achieving outcomes,” he said. “It is becoming someone you respect along the way.”

To read the full interview, visit the website here.

About Michael Pisseri

Michael Pisseri is a Fairfield, Connecticut-based education leader and Social Studies and Intervention Teacher in New York City Public Schools. He previously served as Principal of Davenport Ridge Elementary School, leading a seven-year turnaround that resulted in state recognition for school climate and academic performance. In 2024, he presented at a National STEM Conference at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. His work focuses on resilience, alignment, STEM engagement and long-term student success.