“If you
don’t like the weather in New England now, just wait a few minutes.” Mark Twain has been credited with first using
this phrase, although others have claimed it as well and applied it to numerous
areas of the country, including Virginia.
Perhaps its popularity is because people everywhere can relate to both
strange weather and constant change. A
similar phrase has also been used in conjunction with education initiatives: “If
you don’t like what we’re doing this year, just wait, there will be something
different next year.” To be fair, there
is some truth in this statement in our profession. We are often guilty of trying the next trendy
thing—a magic bullet for student achievement—that often proves elusive.
Some
of the “latest and greatest” techniques prove to be quite useful, while others are
simply timeless strategies in new wrapping paper. And then there are strategies that are nothing
more than gimmicks with no proven results.
While there is clearly a benefit to trying new ideas or approaches, we
know that the most successful organizations sustain a well-articulated focus on
their mission over a long period of time while simultaneously seeking to remain
innovative. As we began last school year,
we concentrated on ensuring the “relevance” of our educational opportunities
and “equity” in our delivery. As the
year progressed, a third theme, “innovation,” naturally emerged as a priority.
As
I visited schools around the division last school year, I quickly noted that
these are neither nebulous, lofty ideas, nor the latest trends. Rather, they represent the best of who we are
and what we do. They were being lived
out tangibly in all facets of the school division. They could be seen in everything from the
formation of coding clubs at elementary schools, to equity teams examining
practices at both the school and division level, to all administrators
committing to read The Innovator’s
Mindset.
This
year, the next new thing will be…wait for it…relevance, equity, and
innovation. Ironically, having the same
focus areas as last year may not appear to be very innovative. However, these areas of focus are not intended
to be boxes to check off on an education-jargon laden to-do list. Rather, they represent the commitment that we
make to our students every day.
Building from our
momentum last year, we have already seen progress before this school year has
even begun. In the area of equity, our
division was recognized this summer by the Governor for our leadership in
implementing the Virginia Tiered Systems of Support to promote positive
behaviors among students. We have hired
a new Coordinator for Safety and Security to ensure that the unique needs of
each building are addressed, and each schools’ leadership team is examining
best practices to ensure all learners’ needs are met. In the area of innovation, work is being completed
on our first two “Classrooms of the Future,” which will be ready by the first
day of school. Professional development
offerings promoting relevance and innovation are being offered in every content
area, and the planning of technology infused lessons will transform instruction
this year in ways never previously possible.
We are on a wonderful
path and making significant progress.
Thank you for helping us to achieve success last year and recognizing
that continuous improvement is essential to sustaining that success. We will continue to focus on offering the
most relevant, equitable, and innovative education possible for the students
and community we serve. This year, in order to highlight the great work in our
division and to assist us all in learning from our own experts, I will be
inviting guest bloggers to share some of our educators’ amazing accomplishments.
I am truly excited about what this year
holds for us, and I look forward to continuing this important work with you.
