CATALYST

Igniting a Learner-Centered Paradigm

Esteemed Colleague,

If we took a random sample of 100 people (administrators, classroom teachers, parents, students, etc.) within your learning community, what percentage do you think could recite your school or district's vision, mission, and values?

I have found this little "test" can tell a lot about the speed and effectiveness of learner-centered transformation. When there is coherence around "why" and "what" we are hoping to accomplish together—from central office to classrooms to family homes—the systems, structures, and practices we implement make sense to everyone involved and are acted on with fidelity.

Of course, this doesn't happen overnight. But, here are four tips that can bring coherence to your learning community more quickly than you might imagine!

With anticipation for our shared journey,

RESOURCES

📖 COMPETENCY-BASED REPORTING PLAYBOOK

YOUR GUIDE TO LEARNER-CENTERED ASSESSMENT PRACTICES

📖 MICRO-CREDENTIALS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS

EXPLORE OUR LIBRARY OF ONLINE COURSES

📖 NEW IN LEARNER-CENTERED EDUCATION

ARTICLES AND RESOURCES I'VE BEEN SHARING WITH MY TEAM

Leading the Instructional Core

"Do people change their practice by changing their beliefs, or do they change their beliefs by changing their practice? I believe in the latter. So if you don’t in some sense make yourself do those things, your beliefs are going to be manifested in a kind of behaviour which is inconsistent with what you’re espousing."

District disconnect and parental exploration

"Some of our findings substantiate what we’ve suspected to be true: information overload is real, pockets of innovation exist, parents value information that pertains to their own child. Others underscore the need to strengthen feedback loops between parents and districts to elevate parents’ shifting desires and, in turn, deliver parents the information they value most."

South Carolina's 5-Year PCBL Journey

"In 2017-19, South Carolina educators and state leaders had the transformative goal of bringing their Profile of the South Carolina Graduate poster to life. They knew what they wanted graduates of the school system to leave being able to do – but which competencies and skills would get them there?"

Do Skills Taught in K-12 Schools Really Lead to Upward Mobility? $3 Million in Grant Money Aims to Find Out

"Today, most schools largely rely on the same measures of student success they’ve used for decades...If our initiative is successful, schools in 2034 will regularly measure a set of skills that drive economic mobility and consciously work to improve them."

Where good ideas come from

"Are there recurring patterns that we can learn from, that we can take and apply to our own lives or our own organizations or our own environments to make them more creative and innovative? I think I've found a few."

AI at Work: Friend and Foe

"On one side, employees are reporting increasing confidence in these tools over the past year as they use the tools more frequently. About half of employees are saving at least five hours a week by using GenAI at work. On the other, employees who regularly use GenAI tools are more likely than others to worry about job loss."

UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY'S LEARNER-CENTERED CATALYZER

Wendy Fairon, CEO of Chico Country Day School, is being recognized for her unwavering commitment to learner-centered leadership. By actively engaging students in decision-making processes, Wendy cultivates a culture of empowerment and ownership, ensuring learner voices are valued and their needs are prioritized. Her leadership in developing a Framework for the Future and maintaining a continued focus on their learner profile highlights her dedication to shaping a forward-thinking educational environment. 

Wendy’s leadership with the governance team has been crucial in ensuring alignment and coherence among all stakeholders, fostering a unified vision for the school’s future. Her efforts in spearheading Measure K facilities improvements have created a safe and nurturing environment conducive to student exploration, play, and physical activity. Her passion for student success, innovative spirit, and collaborative approach have had a transformative effect on the school community, and it is a privilege to recognize her for her significant contributions.

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