A year ago, many of you told us how jarring it felt to make decisions that would fundamentally change the experience of school, with little idea of what the coming months would bring. It's surreal now to compare those early pandemic days to the "new normal" you've created: a patchwork of unique practices designed to fit the needs of your communities.
Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Widespread vaccination is underway across the country, and recent research has helped us refine how to open schools as safely as possible. School may never look the same again, but in that, there is possibility. This past year has required a degree of ingenuity that would have seemed impossible before, but this creativity has now become an integral part of your district's DNA.
In this issue of SchoolCEO, we explore a key part of moving forward: innovation. Many districts have embraced cultures of innovation over the last year, and we believe that even after the pandemic, those cultures can create and catalyze lasting change. After all, very few would argue that our pre-pandemic system served every student to the fullest capacity. We have long needed better ways to serve every child's needs—and now is the opportunity to build systems that make this a reality.
Here you'll find stories of school leaders who have successfully leveraged community support to create transformational change. You'll meet Dr. David Vroonland, who decentralized his district's problem-solving pipeline, and Dr. David Miyashiro, who is harnessing his students' storytelling capabilities into district-wide TED Talks. We'll also offer a process for orchestrating systemic, community-led change that will last beyond the pandemic-and even beyond your time as superintendent.
Right now, you have the chance to create a culture of innovation that can weather whatever comes next, a change that is both fully sustainable and fully led by your community. This, of course, is easier said than done, but we hope the leaders featured in this issue can serve as beacons to light your way.
When used to amplify your community's voices, innovation can form the foundation for what your district's students experience for years to come. What will it take to build thriving schools post-pandemic? We may not know yet, but we do know that it begins with a culture of innovation.
A year ago, many of you told us how jarring it felt to make decisions that would fundamentally change the experience of school, with little idea of what the coming months would bring. It's surreal now to compare those early pandemic days to the "new normal" you've created: a patchwork of unique practices designed to fit the needs of your communities.
Still, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Widespread vaccination is underway across the country, and recent research has helped us refine how to open schools as safely as possible. School may never look the same again, but in that, there is possibility. This past year has required a degree of ingenuity that would have seemed impossible before, but this creativity has now become an integral part of your district's DNA.
In this issue of SchoolCEO, we explore a key part of moving forward: innovation. Many districts have embraced cultures of innovation over the last year, and we believe that even after the pandemic, those cultures can create and catalyze lasting change. After all, very few would argue that our pre-pandemic system served every student to the fullest capacity. We have long needed better ways to serve every child's needs—and now is the opportunity to build systems that make this a reality.
Here you'll find stories of school leaders who have successfully leveraged community support to create transformational change. You'll meet Dr. David Vroonland, who decentralized his district's problem-solving pipeline, and Dr. David Miyashiro, who is harnessing his students' storytelling capabilities into district-wide TED Talks. We'll also offer a process for orchestrating systemic, community-led change that will last beyond the pandemic-and even beyond your time as superintendent.
Right now, you have the chance to create a culture of innovation that can weather whatever comes next, a change that is both fully sustainable and fully led by your community. This, of course, is easier said than done, but we hope the leaders featured in this issue can serve as beacons to light your way.
When used to amplify your community's voices, innovation can form the foundation for what your district's students experience for years to come. What will it take to build thriving schools post-pandemic? We may not know yet, but we do know that it begins with a culture of innovation.