“The future cannot be predicted, but futures can be invented. It is our ability to invent the future that gives us hope and makes us what we are.”
– Dennis Gabor

In DPS109, and across the nation leaders are working to transform education and to re-imagine education for our nation’s students. In DPS109 we have launched a series of instructional and operational initiatives in our school district these past two years that directly tie to innovation. Our tag line is Engage, Inspire, Empower and this year’s Big 3 Focus areas are PIE: Personalization, Innovation, and Engagement

Often I write and those I read write about the need for education to focus on the future of our children as opposed to education focused on our past. As Most Likely To Succeed’s Twitter image reads “Our School System Was Designed in 1893” … that in and of itself causes me to pause and consider the implications of a system designed so far in the past and the impact on the present and in our future.

As a solutions focused person I look for ideas, plans, systems and structures to improve. I am not one to “admire problems” or focus on the negative. In that regard, our District is partnering with our local high school district to host a screening of the documentary film Most Likely to Succeed since it takes a village to raise a child – this film screening at Deerfield High School will be open to the community. Together we can form our own “committee of ten” as suggested by the co-author of the book, in an effort to improve education and sustain our future.

From the authors of Most Likely to Succeed

We made the film Most Likely To Succeed to help school leaders effect change. We’re seeing inspiring examples all over the country where a leader brings their community together to watch the film, hosts a vibrant discussion after the film, and polls attendees on questions of relevance to their go-forward strategy. After seeing this film, the audience understands the urgency for moving forward, and is inspired by what is possible. What we hear back is that the film enables bold initiatives to take place — at the school, district, or state level — that otherwise would shrivel on the vine.

I’m sharing a link to a TED Talk by @mltsfilm producer Ted Dintersmith

To highlight the power of connected educators, I received this link today via a friend and colleague from Virginia, Pam Moran, via a Voxer group to which she and I belong.