JN Foundation’s Education Revolution: Joy and Rigor

August 22nd, 2016

If there was one overriding message to take away from the JN Foundation’s two-day School Leadership Summit 2016 last month, it was this: We can’t keep doing the same things in the same way. We are not just talking about teaching techniques, but about leadership. Are we running our schools properly? Are we inspiring and energizing, or are we still struggling with paperwork and administrative hassles? How do we break through all of this?

JN Foundation’s rallying call was for principals, senior teachers and administrators to “Join the Education Revolution.” In other words, real change is needed, and it’s needed now. The conference was not only about listening to exciting presenters (and they were both exciting and informative) and  expressing your own views. It was also about going away and internalizing some of the suggestions and challenges thrown out by the various speakers.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Dr. Maurice Smith, a man who conveys his thoughts with energy and conviction. (Photo: JIS)

As the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Dr. Maurice Smith pointed out, a leader needs to evaluate him/herself. This requires a great deal of honest introspection. Leadership is not about picking up a megaphone and telling people what to do. It is, as much as anything, an internal process first and foremost. From then onwards, for Dr. Smith, the key word is “collaborative.” It has been said that leadership is a lonely occupation, but I am not sure whether it should be. How can you be a leader, without any followers? Once you have figured yourself out, then you should be able to bring everyone along with you, buying into your dream for a school where things happen – in the right way.

One overseas presenter, Taj Jensen (Washington State’s Elementary Principal of the Year 2015) said much the same thing, in a different way. He and his colleague Pete Hall – himself a former principal – conducted a thoughtful training session with the participants, urging them to find their vision, first. “A plan without a vision is a hallucination!” said Mr. Hall. It may take a while for it to become clear, and then once that guiding light is in place, the goals and plan can be drawn up. Now for the tricky part: fitting them into one’s current reality. With continuous assessment (including self-assessment) and monitoring, and ongoing collaboration with the entire school – including teachers, children, parents, administrators, janitors, everyone – the vision will start to become reality.

Dr. Christopher Emdin: “If the youth are not initiated into the tribe they will burn down the village just to feel its warmth.” (African Proverb)

How far should you go with innovation? Dr. Chris Emdin, a tenured professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University, speaks very fast. He urged the teachers to take “the road less traveled.” There are a lot of teachers following the conventional path, he said, but “that way is too crowded.” There was a lot of discussion during the two days about taking risks – an aspect of leadership that is often underplayed. Yet, as Dr. Emdin so eloquently put it: “Innovation is the art of the remix,” not blindly searching for something new just for the sake of it. With strong collaborative partnerships (yes, that word again), working with “successful people,” much can be achieved. Dr. Emdin teaches Maths and Science through the use of hip hop, having been a fan of that music for many years. By partnering with a New York-based group called the Wu Tang Clan, he found he could reach children who hated the mere thought of Maths and Science. A risky venture, perhaps, which some might have doubts about; but with the right partners, Dr. Emdin emphasized, you can make new ideas work.

Getting the kids involved: Two young journalists from Kidz Hub, who did a fantastic job broadcasting from the School Leadership Summit 2016.

And, yes: It’s all about the children, as Principal Michael Ellis of Green Pond High School put it. His school (“surrounded by six challenged communities“) is making progress under JN Foundation’s iLead program. Everything and everyone in the school is important, he said; one is not less than another. Tell the children: “Even if you have given up on yourself, we have not given up on you.” Award-winning teacher and principal Salome Thomas-EL observed that the teacher’s job is not about “transferring information.” Children need parameters, but they also need to be challenged. Very importantly for those living in disadvantaged communities, children who are going to build resilience also need to learn how to respond when they aren’t doing well. They need love and attention, but “children who need love often ask for it in the most unloving ways.” He finds chess is a very useful tool to calm and focus children. But, coming full circle, as Dr. Emdin noted: “Revolutionary practice is not about tools. It is about the psyche.” It is a combination of joy and rigor.

Revolutions are urgent matters. They are never put off until another day. The new school year is fast approaching, and the energy is building.

“Our children cannot wait,” said Renée Rattray, the dynamic educator who heads JN Foundation’s education programs. Indeed – not a minute longer.

“The practice of a healer, therapist, teacher, or any helping professional should be directed toward his or herself first, because if the helper is unhappy, he or she cannot help many people.”~Thich Nhat Hanh

 

Two principals in agreement: Panelists in a discussion on “Quick Wins,” Heather Murray (left) of Hampton High School and Margaret Campbell of Campion College share a thought at the School Leadership Summit. (My photo)

Tags: chess, children, Christopher Emdin, education, Education Leadership Summit, Green Pond High School, hip hop, iLead, Jamaica, JN Foundation, Kidz Hub, mathematics, Maurice Smith, Ministry of Education, Pete Hall, Renee Rattray, Salome Thomas-EL, science, Taj Jensen