Frederick M. Hess, writing for ASCD:
"There's a familiar "spinning wheels" aspect to school reform that can make it tough for any proposed change to actually stick. But this post-pandemic era, with its new landscape, could be a moment of punctuated equilibrium rather than another spin of the wheel.
Rising to that challenge requires leaders to find more promising ways to support students, confront learning loss, and effectively use billions in emergency federal aid."
Hess lists an approach to rethinking education that involves leading inquiry with questions, being precise and specific about the problems being solved, being deliberate about the process and open to new solutions, and rejecting change for change’s sake.
While I appreciate his optimism and agree with his points, I think we’re unfortunately about to see another ”spin of the wheel” in most communities. The intertia of the status quo is strong, and the traditional structures and processes in education have been in place for a long time. Those who have benefited from the way things are will naturally resist any changes that threaten their advantages, regardless of how beneficial those changes may be for the larger community.
Leaders who are pushing for change, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, must be willing to put themselves out there and take a bold stance. This often means going against the status quo and facing resistance, even when the leaders, themselves, may be among those benefiting from the way things are.
To overcome these challenges, leaders must be proactive in forming coalitions that can help drive change. By working together with like-minded individuals and organizations, leaders can help insulate themselves against attacks and criticism, and build a strong foundation for change.