Community AND content. Humility AND boldness. Curriculum AND instruction. Hard work AND deep rest. The most impactful teachers in the world are masters of embracing paradox. They’ve got an eye for what Jim Collins calls “the genius of the AND.” Where do they acquire this sense for nuance? In their dogged pursuit of first principle […]
The Two Bottlenecks
So here’s the good news: a lot of teachers have experienced rich, rewarding careers in education, and a lot of teachers are even doing that right now in the midst of all the topsy turvy. On most days, I count myself among this group. Despite its difficulty, this work remains an excellent way to spend […]
Highly Qualified < Highly Competent
(Forgive me if what follows is obvious.) What we’ve called “highly qualified” since No Child Left Behind is not a super useful construct for deciding who should do what in a school building. It’s a way of making sure that the people leading the classrooms once passed enough classes and tests and practica to earn a […]
We’re in the Counterculture Business
The absolute best path to motivating a human being through the Value belief — especially an older one — is through meaning. Meaning acts like a fusion reactor in the human heart. With enough meaning, all manner of things can be endured, understood, pursued, gained. With meaning in mind, take a look at this chart, […]
It Might Not Be Zoom Fatigue
What if it’s not about the screen or the format but is instead about meetings that lack a purpose, an urgent agenda, a vibrant culture, a shared sense of “Isn’t it such a good feeling to be here with one another?” What if the problem isn’t Zoom but is instead an undercurrent of meaninglessness, valuelessness, […]