VANGUARD+Spring+2014

eally listen to teachers and students.
I’m confident that just by
listening with an open mind you
will learn a great deal. It’s really
simple; just ask them what they
think from time to time. They’ll
thank you for it and you’ll learn
from them.
PRACTICES: CONNECTION
THE “HOLY GRAIL” ISN’T
TECHNOLOGY, IT’S THE PEOPLE
While many think technology is
going to change education, it’s ultimately
a continuum of how the two
feed off each other. In fact, I believe
there has never been a more important
time to have good teachers who are
adaptable and seek ways to cultivate
students’ curiosity and passions.
Technology may play a powerful role
in that, but ultimately it’s the relationships
we have and the belief in each
other.
The goal of #CELI14 was to
assemble passionate, forward-thinking
educators in a room and see what
happened. As I review the feedback, I
get the sense we’ve built some energy.
And, as I look more deeply, I’m
noticing we’ve started to create conditions
of emergence in Farmingdale.
I’m most excited for my teachers and
principals, who are revitalized and are
building a stronger learning network
– a source of continuous learning and
a healthy dose of perspective from
time to time. As the lead innovator
(respectful disruptor) in Farmingdale,
I’m watching how their learning will
recalibrate and reorient our organization
to better cultivate the talents of
our educators and the needs of our
stakeholders – the children.
The times demand a dramatic
shift from a homeostatic paradigm of
adapting to change to where our systems
must begin to shape and drive
change, molding a new organizational
species to support a new species of
learners. To me this is not a digital
age, but an Age of Infinite Possibility;
remember the power of social capital
and connectedness and how this will
be a driver for how individuals and
organizations are able to thrive in this
new ecosystem.
DR. BILL BRENNAN is the lead innovator
at Farmingdale Public Schools
and Co-Founder of School Leadership
2.0 - A Global Knowledge Network for
School Leaders.
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