Edward Liu: Teaching with Belief, Leading with Expectation

When Edward Liu reflects on what kindness means, he discusses belief in those who are too often underestimated. With over 28 years in education, including 15 years as a Bronx high school social studies teacher, Edward has spent his career reaching students others had written off. For him, kindness is about doing what is in someone’s best interest, especially when it is hard.

Edward was inspired to become a teacher after watching a documentary about Jane Elliott’s 1968 classroom experiment on discrimination. The power of one teacher to shape how children see themselves stayed with him. That ripple effect has informed every aspect of his journey, from the classroom to leadership roles to his book, The More We Become, which explores how personal growth fuels positive impact.

Now serving as the District Attendance Coordinator for 27 Bronx high schools, Edward focuses on improving attendance not only by tracking numbers, but by transforming relationships. He encourages teachers to genuinely get to know their students as a key to improving relationships and increasing attendance. “You cannot be kind to someone if you do not really know them or of their needs,” he said. “To be truly kind, find out more about the student, be their advocate.“ His approach centers on building connection, raising expectations, and rejecting the “soft bigotry of low expectations” that so often undermines students of color. “Instead of just focusing on getting the kids here, set an expectation for kids to get 80 or higher in all their classes,” he noted. “If their belief is that they should just pass, then they don’t need to come every day.”

He challenges educators to abandon the fixed mindset that limits what students can become. “If a student sees themselves as a C student, an average student, and you get them to see that they’re capable of becoming B and A students, that changes their future,” he said. Edward believes that real kindness means pushing students, even when it is uncomfortable, because pushing is a form of belief, and a way to help students see the genius they may not yet recognize in themselves. That shift can help students redefine their own futures, and can potentially change the trajectory of their families for generations.

Edward points to the Pygmalion effect, a psychological phenomenon where higher expectations lead to improved performance. In his view, this is the essence of kind leadership: helping others rise by seeing what they can become, not just who they are today.

He also brings a nuanced view of kindness across cultures. Raised in Taiwan and now living in New York, Edward has experienced both collectivist and individualist societies. While Taiwan’s strong norms around respect and cleanliness foster a shared sense of space, he appreciates how American culture encourages questioning norms and expanding thought. He acknowledges that kindness must be both culturally aware and individually intentional.

Looking ahead, Edward hopes to continue expanding his work beyond school systems. He envisions a future in coaching, instructional consulting, and speaking—helping more educators become what he calls “master teachers.” He believes that kindness, when paired with rigor and belief, can change lives.

“To be kind is to see the light in someone and help them draw it out.”

Edward Liu is a leader in education and personal development who believes kindness is not about easing discomfort but empowering growth. Keep an eye out for more interviews.