[Guest blog post by Dr. Donna Peters - Superintendent, Montgomery County Schools.]21st Century learning for every student--this is Montgomery County School’s superordinate goal for this school year. A superordinate goal, according to Siri Epsy, author of The Handbook of Strategic Planning for Nonprofit Organizations, is one that represents the institution's primary or overriding goal and clarifies and reminds you where you want to go. I want ours to be a rallying cry for us, providing a common purpose and sense of urgency around the need for change. When I presented this goal to our principals and administrators in early August, they immediately came to consensus around the necessity of our making 21st Century learning happen for all.
I am amazed by the effect of our focus on 21st Century learning thus far. The State Board of Education's guiding mission of every public school student will graduate from high school, globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st Century has been in place for several years, and the Montgomery County Schools Board of Education adopted the vision of 21st Century Learning and Teaching for Every Student in a Safe, Nurturing Environment more than two years ago. This has been a focus in our school district for some time; however, this year is different. It is really taking hold with our teachers and administrators.
Phil Schlechty recently posed a question to a group of superintendents in the Schlechty Superintendents Network of which I am a member. The question was "what is wildly important to you?" He went on to challenge us with another question, "who are you and what will make you most proud?" He also emphasized the importance of 21st Century learning-centered classrooms, schools, and school systems and suggested that if we could reach that superordinate goal many other targets would be met as well. NCVPS and Dr. Bryan Setser's leadership with that organization has also had a tremendous influence on our school system. We jumped on board with our state's new virtual school because it was good for students and provided a level playing field in our rural county, opening doors of opportunity that could not have been opened otherwise. We enrolled students and reorganized staff to support them, and our students' success with distance learning has been phenomenal. We are learning from our students--how cool is that! I have always said that students will teach you what they need in one way or another, and they have taught us well here. Our students NEED 21st Century tools to learn at the highest levels. All that we learn from our students personally and read about them collectively in articles and research tells us how different students are today as a result of being born into a digital world. They are the digital natives, and we must design learning that will engage them. Our students also face a very different world economy, where high levels of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are required to be successful. The world has shifted, and we in education must shift too. Almost a decade into the century, it is past time that we commit to preparing our students for THEIR future. We are working hard every day in Montgomery County Schools to do that.
Dr. Peters:
ReplyDeleteI had the opportunity to hear your teachers, central office staff, and students present at the NCASCD Conference in Pinehurst. I was impressed with the technology integration in your district and the way the presenters modeled multiple ways that technology and free online tools can be used to support teaching and learning. I am impressed with the way you model ways to use technology through your blog and through the way you opened the NCASCD session from a remote location (outside Pinehurst). I look forward to speaking with Derek and seeking opportunities to continue learning about technology integration in Montgomery County Schools. Thank you to you and your staff for sharing your innovative ideas and for making staff development an ongoing process, rather than sit-and-get. I am inspired by the work of teachers and administrators in your school district!