I got a wild question for ya!

I think I can find you an answer (NOT!) 

As a leader, you learn that if you don't know the answer to a question, it's okay to say that you don't know the answer … but you will seek the answer out and let people know. We are nine months into a pandemic, and I have uttered "I don't know" many times. I have said it publicly in Board meetings, on Zooms with staff, in leadership meetings … This time, though, there are times I have been unable to find the answer — or have found conflicting answers from different sources. 

Even Jim Leyland could be stumped by questions from his staff! 

Strategically Thinking

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we have to be residual and optimistic even when we don't know the right questions to ask, the right answers to give. In education, we often think out three to five years — schools invest in strategic planning. 

At Baldwin Community Schools, we had started a new strategic plan last February. We held a kickoff meeting and generated a number of ideas and some buzz. We had ambition. We were working with the Statewide Field Team to generate a new strategic plan. We had a Partnership agreement and school improvement plans, but it was time to update the district's "big" plan, the guiding map. 

March 12

Then, March 12 came and our world of education was rocked like it had never been before. A three–week break turned into the end of school. It has been an interesting ride, and we have learned A LOT about who we are and what we do. 

I believe we will resume the strategic planning. It would work better if we were all in the same room, but that looks like that could be a ways out. It's work we have to do. But, I have to believe we have learned some new things since March that could instruct our planning. 

Some Brief Thoughts on Education 

1. Education can happen anywhere — This will present a new challenge, but one that schools might be prepared for now. There are going to be students who decide that remote learning is right for them. This will be up to the local schools, the ISDs — or maybe even a private company will develop a K–12 online learning system that works. 
2. Technology can change how we do things — Technology has integrated into education, but it has never really had a true impact. We know that it is a tool to assist with instruction and a tool to create connections and allow for remote instruction. The tools that teachers have found using the technology has been incredible. For too long we have resisted what tech can do for schools. The time is now. 
3. Relationships are paramount — Relationships are the backbone of success in school. The Board's relationship with the superintendent is crucial. The Superintendent's relationships with the leadership team is key. The leadership team's relationship with the staff is so important. And everyone's relationships with the KIDS, the key factor in education is what this is all about. We have learned that we can cultivate relationships using the technology. At Baldwin, our outreach teams at the elementary and secondary have been invaluable this year. We have developed and cultivated relationships with families that we have never done before. Relationships matter. 
4. The future of education is promising — If we incorporate what we have learned since March; if we recognize that this is not all Chicken Littleesque; we can and have to learn from this. Yes, it's been a tough time. Yes, we are challenged in ways we never have been. And yes, no we haven't talked about curriculum and assessment like we are used to; however, we are adjusting curriculum (YES, finally embracing power standards) and examining assessments constantly. But that relationship between the teacher and student — we recognize that it is so key! The future is good. We just don't know when the future starts and the present stops. 
5. What got us here, won't get us there — I have joked to so many people that I skipped the pandemic chapters in my Master's Degree and Educational Specialist Degrees. Truth is, we never went down such a road. All of the contingencies we have looked at over the years, and none of them focused on a global pandemic. Never ever can we say we have seen everything (we've all said it!) We have to be as residual as our kids right now. They're going to be okay. And so are we.