From Learner to Leader

 "The world is very different now...let the word go forth from this time and place...that the torch has been passed to a new generation...born in this century..."

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961. Accessed online July 24, 2011 at 4:15 PM at http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html

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This past week ASCD leaders from around the world gathered together here in Virginia for our Leader to Leader (L2L) conference, where we challenged one another to revolutionize the way we learn.

Why now? Society is shifting all around us. The meaning of what it means to be literate, let alone prepared and productive, is being redefined. If we don’t keep our footing and continue to advocate for educators at all levels, who will?

ASCD is unique in that it is not beholden to any one job-alike educator group or academic discipline. Its only agenda is a moral imperative to champion what is best for children. This is evident in its major initiatives: the Whole Child, Healthy School Communities, Educator Advocates, Emerging Leaders and the Outstanding Young Educator Award. I am proud to contribute to an organization that sets standards of excellence admired by educators everywhere.

How do we revolutionize the way we learn? We start with ourselves; revolutionizing the way we work. For the last two years ASCD has thoughtfully, deliberately studied and discussed what this means. From the first day I walked in the door, I have been challenged with new ways of thinking about education and association work. ASCD is a consummate learning organization!

The challenge is moving from our current successful ways of working to a new model that will allow us to better serve our constituents on this new education landscape. Picture an ornate sand castle fully fortified with sturdy walls and a moat surrounding it, proudly standing against the shoreline. As the tides of change wash around it, the value of its placement on the beach changes. We have two choices: convince ourselves we have value as an island, or move to new and higher ground.

At L2L, leaders from our worldwide affiliates, professional interest communities, connected communities, student chapters and ASCD initiatives gathered to begin this important work. There was music and dramatic role playing, brainstorming and questioning, chalk talks and gallery walks, envisioning and planning, and a call to action charging each of us to respond to this societal sea change…because until we transform ourselves, we cannot hope to successfully transform education.

There are significant challenges ahead:

• maintaining momentum from an inspiring L2L event

• consistently pushing ourselves to not return to our comfort zone

• holding one another accountable for walking the walk, not just talking the talk

• moving from understanding the challenge to actually carrying through with decisive action

• holding onto those things that will serve us well moving forward while divesting ourselves of those things that no longer apply

• transforming ourselves to meet the needs of educators well into the future

This is the most challenging, satisfying work I have done in a long, long time. I returned home yesterday from L2L exhausted mentally, emotionally and physically. There were moments during the conference that were so moving, so powerful, it transcended the meeting of minds and connecting with colleagues. Together we built new understandings of what it means to move from being transactional to transformational. L2L 2011 shows us possibilities for ASCD professional development in the future.

The revolution has already begun. It is hard work…rigorous work…and there is no going back. As we move forward, we will imagine and implement new and different ways to support educators everywhere in meeting the needs of every child…the Whole Child. I welcome you to contribute your energy, ideas and interests as we revolutionize the way we learn. Please join us!