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What is Wise Change in K–12 Schools? A Practical Definition with Examples
You have heard us talk about wise change a lot this past year.
But what does it mean, exactly?
Let’s consider a few examples.
When Flourish Schools came to us and said, “We are creating a microschool network based on joy and experiential learning,” we said, “Tell us more.” They explained, “We need faster and nimbler accreditation to make it available at no cost to families.” Through Next Generation Accreditation, Flourish has changed from not being open to doing breakthrough work with their first cohort of students.
Sleight of Hand
As 12th graders receive admissions notices from early decision and early action applications, I’m thinking about the role of prestige in college admissions.
But I’m also thinking about it because last week I interviewed Jeff Selingo for Evolution Stories (episode to air in January).
Jeff’s latest best seller, Dream School, is a must-read on college admissions. It exposes the illusions of the prestige game while offering a playbook for thriving in college and beyond.
Fifteen schools. One Shared Purpose: Reimagining What Learning Can Look Like
In November, the Middle States Association accredited 15 microschools as part of our Next Generation Accreditation pilot. These schools might not have fit within a traditional accreditation model, yet they meet every one of MSA’s existing standards.
How? Through innovative models, adaptable practices, and deep purpose.
Back in October, I visited five of them across Tennessee. Here’s what I saw:
The Power of PR in Leading Change
Dr. Brian Kelly, Head of School at the Carol Morgan School (Dominican Republic), faced this situation when launching the school’s new Arts, Innovation and Dining Center. When I interviewed Brian recently, he shared that his solution sprang from his early training in public relations.
Notes From The Field
No other form of professional learning can enable you—in 3 short days!—to “see the system” of a school, and certainly not while embedding you in real time. It’s like high intensity cross-training. You may come to the team with experience in teaching and learning, but you’ll also learn about governance, finance, facilities, and other foundational elements of running a school. I wish I had participated on more visiting teams before I had become a Head of School the first time—nothing would have been better preparation.