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?
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