Tag Archives: chris kennedy

My Top 3 for 2015 (with apologies to Chris Kennedy)

Posted on December 30, 2015 by | 1 comment

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The best work that anybody ever writes is the work that is on the verge of embarrassing him, always.

Arthur Miller

I tried not to do it but I couldn’t resist. I have parodied Superintendent Chris Kennedy on two previous occasions, taking his masterful Top Three List and brutalizing it a bit with my own satirical Top Three. I did this in 2012, and 2013. In 2014 I wrote a half-baked caricature but did not have the nerve to publish it. Now we are in 2015 and he has published his Top Three again (see here and read his first). I was waiting for it. I cannot keep my cheek in check. Even in this form, please note, “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” (Charles Colton).

My Top Three Blog Posts

Here are most read posts for 2015, as gleaned from my followers.

  1. Reporting in a Digital Age
  2. A Window into Learning
  3. Innovation in Action: Learning by Design

But, I have to tell you the stats are absolutely pathetic. It is a wonder I post anything at all. The social media honeymoon just might be over. I note that the second most read post this year (2. A Window into Learning) was even published last year, in December 2014. At that, the post Treasure Wild Ducks: The Flight of Innovation continues to be the most popular piece and that was published way back in November, 2013.

Top Three Blog Posts I Would Like to be Writing

Chris seems disappointed more people are not blogging. He gives no explanation for why there is less blogging but leaves us hanging for a “next post” (unintended irony) on that topic. With no excuses–I expect to find him unpacking it for us in the New Year. And I would like to point out, I, at least, have excuses. I have not even started the blog posts that I would really like to finish. I would if I had time. I would if I could think clearly. I would if I didn’t have an inbox full of email. I would if I didn’t have four children underfoot (even Chris could have used that one). Posts that keep swirling in my head:

  1. Scaling Up: Chasing the Unholy Grail of Transformation
  2. Research Results from a District-Wide Learning Commons Implementation
  3. Passion, Purpose and People: The Interlocking Keys to Excellence

The Top Three Regularly Used Education words (that show we still don’t really know what we are talking about)

  1. Transformation
  2. Innovation
  3. Personalization

See also “scaling up” referred to above. Pardon my cynicism.

Top Three Videos I Have Watched

First of all, I would like to know when people have time to watch all these TEDx videos? I am still relishing the same animated movies from previous years.

  1. How to Train a Dragon
  2. How to Train a Dragon 2
  3. Despicable Me

I feel better AND I am inspired by the sheer art and beauty of them. Sometime I will find a list of the Top 10 videos for Educators, make some popcorn (or melt some butter and sprinkle it with popcorn) and then watch them all.

The Top Three1 Stories People will be talking about in BC in 2016 (see also above category regularly used education words)

  1. Reporting (aka Communicating Student Learning).
  2. Transformation.
  3. Innovation.
  4. Personalization.
  5. Scaling Up.

The Top Three2 Things I Learned This Year

  1. Hard Work Isn’t Always Enough
  2. Excellence is in the Eye of the Beholder
  3. Timing is Everything
  4. Professional Learning is Never Done
  5. Sometimes You Need to Let it Go

Top Three People/Things That Inspire Me

  1. Good Friends: They help me to “let it go”
  2. My Staff: They are amazing at what they do
  3. The Quiet: Silence in the swirl of work & home is treasured

The Top Three Books I Am Still Working On

  1. The Genius Hour Guidebook by Denise Krebs & Gallit Zvi
  2. The Innovators Mindset by George Couros
  3. Accelerate (XCR8) by John Kotter

Top Three Professional Highlights for 2015:

  1. New Staff Members: Karen Fadum (@mrsfadum) and Joe Tong (@teachertong), both Communicating Student Learning Helping Teachers, Shauna Nero (@MmeNero), Modern Languages Helping Teacher and Maryanne Kempthorne (@Maryakem), new Manager of Learning Resources. You should follow them all on twitter–they are great additions to an already amazing #sd36learn Education Services Team!
  2. A Window into My Child’s Learning: Having my own son get a digital portfolio (via @freshgrade) was an unexpected surprise. I’ve been working on this partnership for three years and when it reaches  my own child who attends school in another district–that’s personally and professionally rewarding. I get my own parent view!
  3. Learning from Others: Finding out how other leaders do their work  in other districts in B.C. and across Canada, inspires me.

Leaders I Admire:

  1. Dean Shareski (because I won a coveted #deanie award and he is a most gracious and giving man)
  2. Chris Kennedy (I continue to be inspired and learn from his work)
  3. Many Woman Leaders (some identified in this provocative post)

To sum up the 2015 year can be a daunting task. To follow the high bar set by Chris Kennedy in his blog Culture of Yes is impossible. I have blogged, though, at last.

And a big thank you to those of you that take the time to read my posts. Thanks for your patience with me as I continue to learn what it means to push the boundaries of innovation, attempt to transform education, personalize learning for both students and teachers, communicate that learning to wider audiences and scale up these changes across our district and beyond.3

I will be, forever, a dreamer.

 

Footnotes:
1Did I mention I have a Numeracy problem?
2Numeracy continues to be a challenge.
3Guilty, I am.

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Posted in celebration, Communicating Student Learning, Education, innovation, Making Learning Visible, personalized learning, Reporting, Transformation

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Ramping up innovation: Leading Learning

Posted on November 7, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The culture of YES!  Chris Kennedy’s turn of phrase resonates with innovative leaders.  He has, in a simple way uttered words that override the formal part of the school organization.  The word YES opens doors and minds and feels like an exhilarating call from the informal side of the organization where innovative ideas are sparked—this energy is seductive.

YES attracts, multiplies and creates a critical following and it is the work of the leader to navigate, not only the spirit of the new direction but to keep the “spark” of the idea ignited carefully leading through the dangerous waters of the formal system.

The formal system does not intend to dampen the spark but in reality is designed with checks, balances, regulation, and particularly in education, is built to withstand a critical and unfriendly public.

NO is louder than the YES. The noise is deafening, wearing and can numb best intentions. In addition the formal system has its gatekeepers whom lurk in doorways. Once again it is not their intention to stop innovation but they have learned it is safer to abide by the rules. It is our relationship with the gatekeepers that exhaust our efforts.

What are our answers?  How can leaders sustain the energy to continue to push upstream?  Could we also find a champion like a Chris Kennedy who can help us find a simple and magical turn of phrase and lead us through the dangerous waters while keeping the spark alive!  Tall order!  Are you our champion?

Thank you to Dr. Donna VanSant for contributing this guest post. Donna (@vansantd) is a former Surrey Helping Teacher and is currently a Facilitator/Coach with Healthy Ventures.

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Meeting on Their Digital Ground

Posted on October 3, 2011 by | 2 comments

“Writing still matters. Reading still matters. In fact it may matter even more.” Those were some of the key points I took away from our first session of Engaging the Digital Learner, featuring West Vancouver Superintendent Chris Kennedy. Chris’ message wasn’t new to me, I have heard him before but I still found it wonderfully inspiring. One of the things I like about Chris is although he is comfortably fluent in the digital world, he is absolutely grounded in making sure it is all about learning and not about the technology.

Chris also spoke about how West Vancouver has placed Teacher-Librarians at the centre of their district’s staff development plan. Teacher-Librarians are key to supporting teachers with digital literacy learning. It makes sense. I like the vision of the Teacher-Librarians as digital literacy champions for both students and staff.

Teachers dialogued at their tables in response to several key questions: What is going well with digital literacy? How can we further the appropriate use of technology and social media? What do we need to do to enable further success? What can you commit to explore to increase digital literacy in your classroom?  Here are some of the responses that appeared in the backchannel and the twitter feed:

  • “The emergence of digital leaders or champions at schools is one element of what is going well with digital literacy.”
  • “To promote success we need better access to quality technology and legitimate time to play and explore with colleagues.”
  • “Teachers are starting to play and explore technology. Do that and tell us the 10 coolest things you learned. Play is the first step.”
  • “The implementation of a wireless network across the school campus will be a powerful change agent.”
  • “Ongoing professional development to ensure success. Hands on support…..open wireless big time needed…. Want to bring own technology from home (sic).”
  • “How much “dashboard time” have the teachers received in your district?” (dashboard refers to receiving one-to-one training).
  • “Increased bandwidth is so important.”
  • “Funding, commitment, professional development….less talk, more action.”
  • “We are committing to tweet together as a group and share our twitter and, possibly, our blogs with one another.”
  • “Going well…..hmmmm…we have some motivation and desire…..look how many people are here tonight.”

I think everyone who left that night felt inspired to learn more. We asked individuals to register with a buddy (or two) in order to connect their learning between sessions. Many tables were forming new groups and seeing it as an opportunity to create a network of learners. I was appreciative of the work of the IML Helping Teachers in organizing such a fabulous dinner series. The team asked me to thank Chris and close the session. I wore the “Teachers are the best apps” T-shirt that was designed by Helping Teacher Amy Newman. The shirt was significant because the motto really captures our beliefs about embracing technology in the digital era. It isn’t about the tools, it isn’t about the ipads or the ipods or any other shiny device. It is about teachers who know how to make a difference because they know how to stretch the thinking of students. It is about teachers who care about students and are prepared to meet them on their digital ground.

 

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Posted in Education, Social Media, technology

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