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Where we are:
Evolution... ...with dreams of transformation.
But...
Flawed perspectives;
An uncertain future;
Not to mention... The constantly changing environment...
...around our constantly changing system.
We need...
...to rethink what it is we want;
rethink what we’re doing to get there (or not!);
and THEN make a plan for moving forward.
We need to stop thinking of educational reform as an engine to fix and accept that we will NEVER know exactly what the future holds
This is not leaving everything to fate, it is accepting reality (Inshallah and mumkin mishmumkin)
Accepting this reality allows us to objectively consider what needs to be changed and what needs to be left alone
First step
1) Design systems that balance accountability/liability issues with thoughtful mixes of centralization and local control
I want to be able to fire you and shut down your school
◦ Fine, I also want to be able to reward you and let you keep the extra money
If everything is done at only one level, nothing will ever get done
A blast from 1926: giving orders is not the same as providing training
◦ Structural reform requires personnel reform
Next Steps
2) Rethink what we expect teachers to do and then hire, retain, train, and promote accordingly
“What makes you think you’re qualified?” “I don’t care how long you’ve been here...” Very expensive and time consuming training Lead from the middle Believers in data, research, and “information
uptake” Long story short, SOOO much more than
curricula transmitters
Next Steps
3) Consider what types of leaders we need to make such a system (policies, resources, and people) work effectively and efficiently
Move beyond a collection of skills to demanding◦ divergent thinkers,◦ multi-talented/multi-disciplinary,◦ flexible/adaptive, and◦ believers in data, research, and “information uptake”.
Given the complexity of the systems, the day of the hero has passed
Next Steps
More to the point for leaders...
Society
Educational SystemSchool
Leaders
Set clear and measurable goals◦ No more “student achievement”, “reading ability”, etc.
Design assessment systems that give fuller, diversified, and more precise feedback on outcomes AND processes (summative and formative)
Divest more liability to the school level which increases multiple types of accountability◦ Bureaucratic, legal, professional, political◦ Accountability means more freedom (staff and parents)
All of this makes the system delicate and flexible!
Systemically
The expectations for people change dramatically Teachers have to be much more than content
specialists and be organizational levers Hiring, retention, and promotion now hinge on
measurable performance and diverse skills Chief among those skills will be the ability to
balance the art and science of education
Crucially, people can no longer drift along and bank on the mysticism surrounding education
Within such a system...
Recognize that they can’t do it all and figure out how to best share leadership
Beyond assessments, possess multiple “information uptake” mechanisms◦ This is not just data generation, but data usage to
monitor progress and adjust goals as needed Know that there is more to successful schools
than teaching and learning
And the leaders?
1) Establish the school’s fundamental valuesa) I beg of you, no hollow mission statements!
2) Negotiate space in the systema) In the short term, this gives a school flexibilityb) In the long term, this puts pressure on the system to
figure out ways to change
3) Figure out how best to answer the question: “What is going on with my school and the people connected to it?”
So what do leaders do?
