EXPLO Elevate scours the world for exceptional ideas, practices, and wisdom to help schools and their communities thrive now and in the future.
Dear Friend,
From the Desk of Ross Peters, EXPLO Elevate Managing Partner
We have packed in a great deal in the last thirteen years when I first created the term “Progress Culture” because I couldn’t find anything that exactly captured what I was thinking about.
Somehow the most recent years can feel like a blur, as if we remember less about them than things that may have happened much earlier. It is a strange effect, yet it is perhaps similar to the way we see the world from a passenger side window–things close are highly blurred, while the distant tree line is clear. For me, the last decade-plus is indeed difficult to see with any real perspective. Some clarity on it will come from historians and with the distance that time provides.
Recently, I have been reflecting on things that have not changed over the intervening years. What haven’t I changed my mind about? What continues to guide my actions? What continues to keep my shoulders as square as possible to the future?
We need some guiding ideas and principles not to block us from future learning and growth, but rather to open us to it. This is never more critical than today in schools and school leadership. There are two pieces I wrote in 2011/2012 that have stayed relevant–indeed they may be more relevant now than when I first wrote them.
I don’t know if you’ve had this feeling. I’ve sometimes left sessions where design thinking was employed and have left unsatisfied. Too often, the vibe in the room was that the real work was done. Then people go back to their schools, departments, offices, businesses, lives and the idea/design/plan goes … well, nowhere.
Then I ran across a few words from Robert Fabricant that caught my attention.
…as design thinking went viral in business, it required a different management class to operationalize and institutionalize this new capability. Change requires change management. Many creative leaders were left floundering. Design thinking didn’t come with any management approach or operational playbook…. Even as design thinking packaged itself successfully as a mainstream business process to senior management, we neglected to mention that designers, by nature, are pretty lousy managers… Robert Fabricant, Fast Company
The hard part, as we all know, is that a new design or plan – if it actually is going to be implemented – means change and managing the change. We’re finding more and more often at Elevate that we are helping school leaders manage the change.
Insights from Tyton Partners
At Elevate, we’re in the midst of wrapping up a number of strategic plans including work with Tyton Partners. Their research capabilities are extraordinary and we think their work on Choose to Learn is something all school leaders should read.
“Findings from Tyton Partners latest research, Part 1 of Choose to Learn 2024, reveals that 48% of K-12 parents are seeking alternative education pathways outside of public school. 10% of these parents want to switch schools, seeking alternative models that better address their child’s mental health and academic needs. With data drawn from a nationally representative sample of 2,000+ parents, Choose to Learn 2024 explores what’s motivating parents, the options they're seeking, and what the K-12 sector can do."
Finally, a shout out to Jeff Wetzler for his new book: Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You. Jeff and I worked together many a moon ago and I’m happy to be part of his book launch village. While waiting for the book to publish, I’d recommend checking out his recent article in Harvard Business Review: How to Get the Honest Input You Need From Your Employees. Practical and wise and something I recommend to anyone who manages people.
Finally, thanks to Donna Milani Luther, who yesterday graciously led me on a tour of the Inly School, a Pre-K-8 Montessori+ School. They have a remarkable tradition at Inly of putting on a community musical each spring that includes students, faculty, parents, grandparents, alums, and professional actors. I’ve seen the endeavor –preparing and performance – for a few years now. I’m struck by how it has helped build what David Brooks would call a thick organization. This weekend Annie opens at Inly. Break a leg, Donna!
Moira Kelly
President, EXPLO
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