Wednesday, January 31, 2018

The How and Why of Change

After reading a blog post by Bruce Dixon titled "2018-The Year For Living Dangerously"  and another one by Will Richardson "Stop Asking How," I ordered the book The Answer to How is Yes - Acting on What Matters by Peter Block.  After the first several pages, I appreciate how Block underscores why change can be so challenging.  “We may not know all of the How, but Why we must change is now so urgent, we can no longer ignore it.”

In Bruce’s blog post, he poses the question: What failures are you most afraid of?

To be very honest, I am most afraid of failing our students.  This fear includes failing to move from the status quo.  While I work in a very good district, I know the learning experiences could be significantly enhanced for our students who will echo the same sentiment.  They have many ideas, but we need to ask the question, listen intently, be prepared to hear their reality and then act on their recommendations.  I know my district is not unique with pockets of innovative learning, but a district-wide culture of innovation remains ellusive.  It reminds me of a quote by Jim Collins; “Good is the enemy of great.”  If we are already good, why do we need to move from the status quo?



In Will’s blog post, he poses the question:  What is the one burning question about education and schools that most keeps you up at night?

My question to answer the question is: “Why isn’t more being urgently done to address the student engagement issue in high school?”  The 2016 Gallup Poll on student engagement depicts what our students are telling us.  If high school students consistently posted standardized test scores just over 30%, there would be widespread concern and urgent corrective action.  Why isn't student engagement a similar or even higher priority?  Students desire school and learning to be more relevant, hands-on, and engaging.  Are we listening and changing accordingly?
These two timely blog posts resonated with me as I wrestle with the question; “How can we recreate school, revisit how students learn in the modern world, and ensure an innovative learning experience for all?”  Our district is undertaking a monumental task to address the question through our newly created district innovations committee.  Prior to our first meeting, we started with a discussion on the question; “What do you believe and know about how students learn best in the modern world?”  At our second meeting, we just started to scratch the surface by posing the question; “If we had a blank slate and we could create a high school track for kids, what would it look like?”  Students, teachers, principals, and district administrators were highly engaged in dreaming big, without limitations.  The ideas highlighted the reasons WHY change is so very important.  We will eventually have to address How?, but we must keep in mind “the how shouldn’t be about a recipe or formula, the HOW should come from a commitment from...being bold and ambitious, taking risks, because the WHY is that important.” (Bruce Dixon)

No one has all the answers.  If we had the answers we, along with many other schools and districts, would have changed a long time ago.  Change is difficult.  Here is a shout out to our district innovations committee and the challenging work that lies ahead.  Let's strive to move well beyond good, to great!  Are we going to wait for “...someone to write the script for what to do next, or is it possible that this year, in 2018, [we] are prepared to take the first steps, [our] first steps to school change?” (Bruce Dixon)