First, successful change leaders clearly articulate the need for change to a variety of audiences in ways that are intellectually coherent and emotionally compelling. The ability to do this requires that change leaders immerse themselves into radically different worlds
nderstand deeply is the world for which they are preparing their students
what skills, what habits of mind, and what dispositions
how much students know, but rather what they can do with what they know
second world effective change leaders understand is the world of students
the importance of students’ intrinsic motivation for learning and achievement. Finally, they seek out and listen carefully to students to better understand their classroom and school experiences.
They engage them in adult learning about a changing world and how students learn best
adults in the community also deeply understand the need for change, and so these leaders sponsor readings, talks by local experts, and discussions
The best change leaders I know bring their understanding of these two worlds into the classroom every single day
know what good teaching looks like, and they are relentless in their expectations. They understand that their job is, first and foremost, to be an instructional leader and coach.
“isolation is the enemy of improvement,”
Teachers must be given the working conditions that will enable them to improve and to be successful. They need time to learn and to collaborate
Finland, which has the highest-performing education system in the world, teachers spend an average of only 600 hours a year in the classroom teaching lessons; in the US, the number is closer to eleven hundred hours.
Finally, the most effective change leaders I know take calculated risks
Managers do not take risks. Leaders do
They model the behaviors of learning, collaboration, effective teaching, and risk taking that they expect of their teachers.
Gr6-12
"If students could develop their school's curriculum this is what it would look like. Find lessons that teach core academic subjects through popular culture including Math, Science, English, History and many more!"