"Stepping Up to the Plate: Understanding the Culture Before Swinging for Change"

Awareness Before Change? When you hear the phrase "Awareness Before Change," what does it mean to you? Does the phrase "this is how we have always done it here" come to mind? Have you thought more deeply about the systems governing your school and what needs to change before a change occurs? Did you wonder about the data, state legislation, rules, and expectations for high-stakes testing? Or did you think our kids--our students, our scholars, and their families.

Or maybe you wondered about the national teacher and administrator shortage and its impact on an educational system failing to navigate a road map for systematic and intentional change to an outdated educational system. A system now failing our most precious resources--students, families, and teachers.

But Why? The answer here is simple--most people are uncomfortable with change. Simple, right? But why are we so reluctant to change our educational systems? As we continue to fall further and further behind other countries, teachers and administrators are leaving the profession to the masses. Again, with all of the intelligent, innovative, creative and willing educators in our schools we have to ask ourselves "Why".

Author Brene Brown states,

"Change is uncomfortable and hard as hell. When leaders expect others to change without participating and holding themselves accountable, it's almost impossible."

Awareness Before Change? For the past 50+ years, many educators have advocated for change in educational policy at the state and local levels and within individual school districts and schools. Awareness Before Change includes talking to the people in the trenches to ensure the changes we perceive to be "right" address the issues faced by all staff, students, and families. While there may not be one "right" response, we must expand the people at the table to encompass those in the trenches doing the work each day including students who are representative of our cultures. Our work must be intentionally and systematically planned after considering multiple perspectives, or the outcome will be the same as in the past 50 years.

When making decisions bring the people to the table who are most heavily impacted--administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students, community members, etc. Do not be afraid to gather people with varying opinions---learn to navigate these difficult conversations. Navigating crucial discussions is crucial to your success as an administrator.

Representation matters!! At the table, have a purpose and plan, and leave with a product by asking the preplaned right questions and the tricky question. The elephant in the room questions--pause for responses. Rephrase the answers and map the reactions in an easily understood graphic design. And most of all, ensure all are welcome at the table by amplifying the voices of all sectors of your community. Be vulnerable enough to hear the good and the concerns with the same compassion, empathy, and drive as things go well. There is simply no more room for repeating the same process and getting the same outcomes in a system that is beginning to crumble as our most valuable resource exits the profession.

Remember Brown's words, "change is uncomfortable and hard as hell," and it starts with you. Be the assistant principal, principal, or central office personnel who says it's enough---we must change to ensure a bright future for our kids.