People make a difference…
When we are talking about a paradigm shift, people can make all the difference. I realized this today. (Well, I probably realized this long ago, but it hit me again today.) It is so much easier to work with people that are committed to good teaching and willing to try new things, especially where technology is concerned. Part of that is establishing an environment where committment and risk-taking are appreciated. And the person who does that in a school is the Principal. So yes, people do make a difference - for better or worst.
In my school, we are slowly working on changing the mind set. It’s been fairly easy because the small group of people I am working with is flexible, open and excited about change. It would be a whole different story if these folks were resistant, ornary, or set in their ways.
Did you ever wonder how long it will take for a changeover to take place? In a school of 150 faculty, a long time, I suppose. But as time goes by, we will gain momentum. Good, caring people will become the norm. And the system will be ‘infected’ with this goodness! Will we have our hurdles, failure, and disappointments? Sure. But we’ll also be able to pick up and move on, always keeping in mind the reason why we do what we do - for the benefit of students.
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