Superintendents Envision the Future

What if every school in every district in Alabama were a true learning organization? What if every adult in the building were a life-long learner, who collaborated with colleagues to ensure that every day every student was engaged in quality work that was rigorous and relevant … and that required them to do most of the work themselves?

What would that look like?

Well, that’s the question we asked of members of our Superintendents Leaders Network a few weeks ago. Now in their second year of meeting, 20 Alabama superintendents are learning together with the goal of improving teaching and learning in their districts. SLN is a partnership with the School Superintendents of Alabama.

We asked superintendents to fast-forward five years and imagine ALL Alabama schools, school districts, and the state had become true learning organizations. “What do you see?”

Here are their responses:

• The superintendent is the leader of learners.
• Alabama is a magnet for well-paying jobs and talented people.
• Kids are always at school because they love what they are doing.
• There is a new meaning of “at school” through technology and community work.
• Teachers no longer worry about complying with No Child Left Behind; their standards are much higher and are more relevant to what students need.
• Adults are constantly involved in learning meetings.
• Parents are partners with teachers and schools through two-way positive communications.
• Community and business leaders coach teachers and students.
• District staff is organized to support schools and effective teaching. Their presence in schools is constant.
• Students are doing real, consequential work in the community. At the conclusion of their project(s), they make formal presentations to a panel of community members and educators.
• Schools have schedules that are more conducive to learning (no bells) and students move based on proficiency and mastery.
• Education is well-funded at the local and state level.
• Students participate in hands-on learning.
• Grades have been replaced with more meaningful reports on student learning and progress.
• Learning is 24/7.
• All at-risk students are well-served.
• Schools provide parents with learning opportunities.
• More students want to become teachers.
• Every Alabama student is well-prepared for post-secondary or work.
• There has been a dramatic decrease in the drop-out rate.
• Adults and students never stop learning.
• There is no achievement gap.
• Community and school conversations are centered around learning and student success.
• There is a high level of trust between the school and the community, with a focus on results.
• The school culture promotes high levels of teaching and learning.
• There is a sense of collective responsibility among all educators in the district and state.
• The state department of education facilitates school improvement and is no longer a bureaucracy.
• Family dinner-table conversations spur excitement about learning.
• There is a new respect for teaching.
• Data about student learning is transparent and seeds urgency.
• Public schools have become the first choice for parents.

What an exciting vision — one that I believe is within our reach if we work smart and organize schools around the needs and interests of students. Join us as we strive to make this not just a vision, but a reality.

What do you imagine?