Room With A View

Schools often have pockets of innovation. These pockets are lead by one or two like minded people. Sometimes others follow their leadership but it’s difficult for these pockets of innovation to spread to an entire school. Unfortunately, once these leaders leave the innovation flounders and dies. I’m not thinking only of innovation in the area of technology. Over my career I can think of an innovative environmental program and literacy programs that failed once the lead innovator moved on to a new school.

I heard Robert Landau speak at an Apple sponsored event last night. Landau is the new Head of the Western Academy Beijing. He was reflecting on his time at the International School of Prague. He commented that schools need to look at innovative systems rather than innovative personalities. It’s a bit of a sound bite/catch phrase but it got me thinking.

There is room for innovative leaders. They play an important role in schools but to bring about long lasting change schools need to tie innovation to their curriculum in such a way that the change won’t be lost if a few key people move on.

If nothing else, Landau has forced me to dust off my old copy of Fullan for a little weekend reading.