Sharon Greenberg

“The latest twist on spreading innovation: One school at a time” By Carlos Moreno, Dana Luria, & Charles Mojkowski, November 2013, pp. 8-11 Inordinate time and attention spent on conventional — yet timid and tepid — changes; a culture of compliance rather than risk-taking; and inadequate leadership preparation for innovation are some of the top factors limiting school improvement efforts, according to this 2013 Kappan article. Also at fault?

I will be the first to admit that I have, at times, been resistant to change. It’s unsettling and sometimes scary, even when it’s absolutely necessary. Many people who, like me, resist change are not opposed to change itself but are frustrated by years of efforts that don’t work. Changes that are purposeless — “change for change’s sake” — just pile on more work without considering what those implementing the change actually need.

By Derrick Bell (Basic Books, 1992) Historical and ongoing racism impact American education both directly and indirectly today. From segregation at the inception of public schooling, to championing of the dominant culture through standardized assessment, student tracking, and teacher evaluation systems — racism impacts the way we structure, measure, and plan for education systems. As such, understanding racism is imperative for understanding how to improve our educational systems.