Change Brings About More Change

What I Learned in School Today: Change brings about more change.

IMMOOC Week 1 Blog Post

“Change is an opportunity to do something amazing.” How are you embracing change to spur innovation in your own context?

My motto for this spring and summer is “everything is on the table.” As we begin to look ahead to next school year, our K-2 school is asking a lot of questions. Shifts in curriculum and instructional strategies have made this school year one of many changes already, but it has also led people to question practices, roles, responsibilities, resources, curriculum, assessments, and schedules.

The degree of questioning in the school in the past couple months has been significant and forced us to examine what we do and how we do it. The changes put in place for this school year have enabled teachers to think differently about their teaching and how systems are structured in the school, which has spurred discussions that will lead to other changes. When something significant changes, we often see a domino effect and more changes follow. Why does change bring about more change?

1. One significant change can reveal areas where growth is possible. Once we escape the trap of doing something only because that’s how it has always been done, we can look upon our practices and procedures with clear eyes and a new creative lens. We then question why things are the way they are, which leads to more creativity, innovation, and change. The first change opens the floodgates to other possibilities.

2. A large scale change can set the framework for a school culture built on continuous improvement and growth through positive change. After a new initiative or idea succeeds, further changes or innovations won’t seem as daunting and people will be more willing try try something new. Innovation is more likely to happen when we trust that everyone supports growth and change is part of the school’s culture.

As a second year administrator at Concord Elementary School, I have found that I love when teachers question how things are done. The changes that have been put in place for this school year have led to great questions and I am ready to embrace the possibilities, explore innovative solutions, and grow as a school. Everything at Concord is on the table and I look forward to working as a team to find answers to all those great questions.