The Metamorphosis of Public Education Starts with Reimagining Educational Leadership
I have been reading The Urgency for Change by Dr. William Cook where he discusses the potential downfall of public education as a result of failed attempts at reformation and transformation due to the nature of the current system. He calls for an end to reforms that ultimately serve to protect the current system and pleas for a “metamorphosis” of public education, a complete rebirth. Dr. Cook goes on to explain the reasons behind the urgency for change. Believe it or not- it was published in 1988. It’s a compelling read that has provoked great reflection on my behalf.
One quote that deeply resonates with me is, “If a system does not continue to create itself, parallel systems grow up alongside and replace it. The rise of these new systems is gradual, but the collapse of the old is sudden and unforgiving, as seen through the emergence of vouchers and schools of choice.”
The recreation, or metamorphosis, of public education starts with reimagining leadership within public education. For example, leaders who are willing to question the role of curriculum in education as we raise children in the “age of information.” Leaders who are relentless learners eager to shape the future. Leaders who live comfortably in the risk zone.
What are the three most important traits of leaders who can help inspire the metamorphosis of public education?
Courage: Courage to not just show up but to live everyday with open eyes and hearts seeking the vision of the future. Courage to let go of what WAS in light of what can BE. Courage to seek INFLUENCE not CONTROL. Courage to listen. Courage to hire those who scare you. Courage to let others shine. Courage to unlearn and rethink. Courage to not hide behind the screen or others when communicating new and different ideas. Courage to allow those to walk away who protect the status quo. Courage to disagree with tradition and rituals that no longer serve the new vision.
Vulnerability: Vulnerability to share a vision out loud that others may not understand. Vulnerability to be learner alongside those we serve in pursuit of a better and different vision. Vulnerability to be wrong often on the path to better and different. Vulnerability to admit fear while still moving forward in pursuit of better and different. Vulnerability to seek and hear feedback from all sides.
Confidence: Confident enough to share the stage and the microphone. Confidence in the boundaries we have established to know when to rest and when to run. Confidence in our intentions of service above self. Confident enough to admit we may not always know the next step but will keep learning. Confident enough to acknowledge how imperative our learning as leaders is in this recreation of public education.
A question I have asked myself lately is, “How relevant are today’s educational leaders in light of the future of public education?” Are we igniting hearts and minds for change or protecting the current system because we fear what we will have to learn or who we will have to become in the new one? Shouldn’t our primary role as public education leaders of today be to INSPIRE and IGNITE hope for tomorrow? I know this. As we open the doors to school each day, when a teacher doesn’t show up, kids suffer. When we leaders don’t show up, no one suffers immediately. My hope is that the relevance of educational leaders is made more real and necessary because of their courage, vulnerability, and confidence to shape the “metamorphosis” of public education that is so needed to serve all students in the very near future.