I love the fall — it’s an exciting time of renewal — a new school year with shiny floors and everyone looking refreshed and energized. It is also a time when I hear lots of suggestions about what we should be teaching. Here are some of my all-time favourites:
changing a flat tire
surviving in the wild
negotiating a contract
filling out a federal tax form
growing vegetables
performing basic pet care
displaying manners such as holding a door
investing in stocks and bonds
sewing on a button
‘Basic pet care’ was new to me this year. Not sure what that means beyond feeding your dog, putting out some fresh water, going for walks, and taking them to the vet when they need it … but I digress. That’s not really the point.
An innovation that significantly alters the way that consumers or systems like K-12 education operate. Disruptive technologies sweep away the processes they replace because they have attributes that are significantly superior.
We live in a world where changes are the norm — and they are happening at a pace that is often mind-boggling.
Some changes are thrust upon us:
Inflation / Consumer Price Index changes
New Taxes
Daylight Savings Time
When a Pumpkin Spice Latte was all the rage
… while other changes may be optional:
EVs (Electric vehicles)
Seasonal coffee flavours at Starbucks (still have to try the pumpkin spice latte)
New slip-on shoes without shoelaces (these seem like a great new idea, but are they cool?)
When its technology we’re talking about, change typically occurs because the new tech is faster, more user friendly or perhaps even cheaper:
LIGHT BULBS … replaced candles
AUTOMOBILES … replaced the horse & buggy
CALCULATORS … replaced the slide rule
The INTERNET … replaced encyclopedias
In all of these cases the technology change was DISRUPTIVE — the new tech replacing, or disrupting, the existing technology. Transition to the new tech was slow and somewhat predictable over time.
Today, there is a new disruptive tech that is sweeping the planet — and it has been an overnight sensation. Hundreds of millions of users ‘signed on’ in just a couple of months. It has both captivated the world and at the same time created a bit of fear with its insurgence.
When my career started, I already had two Bachelor’s degrees in Science and Education. When I became Vice-Principal, my Master’s degree in Educational Administration laid the foundation for the work that lay ahead. In both situations, I was definitely nervous when starting the job, but I felt somewhat confident with the solid preparation.
Not so much when I became Superintendent.
I was certainly excited about the new gig and was pretty sure that that I could do the job — but, there was a feeling of self-doubt that permeated my being. That was almost 7 years ago.
SUPERintendent
What does an effective Superintendent look like? What should I be doing?
Have a morning ritual of 5:00 am exercise followed by a nutrient-rich breakfast shake;
Review my daily / weekly / monthly Strategic objectives at 7:00 am to fine tune them;
Enter all meetings with purpose and presence;
Pursue my vision for the system with unwavering certainty.
Well, I do wake up every morning around 5:30 and I do try to exercise. And, YES, I make myself a healthy shake for breakfast.
The Power of Why 