Public education is the great equalizer and a cornerstone of our democracy, and it has proven to be immensely successful. Yet, political rhetoric and constant talk about what’s broken with the system would have you believe otherwise.
The systems that are supposed to support public education have surely failed, creating chaos and cynicism in an era when we need public education more than ever. Outside influence is trying to make you believe that our public education systems are irrevocably broken; however, as with all systems, the key to success is through constant updates and revisions.
Our nation is working hard to adapt to social, cultural, technological, health, environmental and economic changes both at home and abroad. Public school models need to keep up with these shifts by listening to the voices in the classroom: teachers, administrators, staff and students. Systems that regulate and control public education must demonstrate flexibility, variability and a desire to adapt to the ever-changing world.
We need to reimagine education so that our children are prepared for these national and global changes — an effort that will take vision and collaboration, with educators leading the way. It will also take funding and sharing innovative practices, especially where we are currently carrying out extraordinary work. This means policy must be shaped by what the future holds, not by the past; instead of political dominance, we will need political flexibility and action.
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but as former president of the national School Superintendents Association, a current superintendent, an educator and a collaborator with years of experience working in private industry, I can share some invaluable insights — insights that have contributed to my own district’s success, have had a tremendous and positive impact on students, and are transferrable to other school systems.
Give all students access to industry exploration and future-driven opportunities as early as possible.
To truly explore the world of work, one needs to be exposed to the opportunities that are not only currently available, but those that might be part of our children’s future. Many students aspire to careers that require a college education. Others may prefer to seek technical careers.
For those who do plan on attending college, we can help them save money and earn college credits at the junior and senior levels of high school, through partnerships with community colleges and local universities. In our district, we offer “Academic Academies” that allow students to begin industry exploration across seven different paths through a combination of rigorous coursework, hands-on learning excursions in the form of Shadow Days and internships, and competitions related to the field. For instance, in our Education Academy, students not only gain experience through teaching students within our district, but in conjunction with Molloy University, they also can earn college credit.
Develop curriculum based on current and future job trends.
We know the healthcare and technology industries, though thriving, are experiencing significant job shortages that are only expected to worsen over the next decade. The healthcare sector is projected to grow 14 percent, adding 1.9 million jobs by 2028, as technology jobs are expected to increase by at least 12 percent, adding to the current gap of 1 million open jobs in the U.S. Designing a curriculum where students obtain hands-on experiences in these fields is what educators should focus on now. As an example, we offer a drone course, where students can receive their drone certification, because we recognize that the demand for drone pilots will continue to rise in various fields — from real estate and utilities to military and supply chain management.
Allow students to be producers and partners in their own future.
This means enabling students to create their own projects and educational paths and allow teachers to create learning opportunities where they might not be experts and to learn alongside their students. This allows them to challenge each other to expand their respective horizons through collaborations and partnerships.
For instance, one year, our students across all levels in the district wrote, designed and published a “coffee-table book” on the extensive history of their hometown, Baldwin. Our Better World Day initiative allows middle schoolers to work on a year-long multi-disciplinary research capstone centered around civic issues. As a result of this work, our children feel much more invested in their education, create more knowledge and understanding of…
Read More: 6 ways to transform public education — minus the negative rhetoric