Ryan Companies US, Inc.’s Post

I'm thrilled to share that my perspective has been published today in EdNC.org, one of North Carolina's leading education journals. It’s an honor to contribute to the conversation about the vital role of community colleges. Community colleges may not always be seen as the most glamorous institutions—you won’t find people cheering for their football teams—but they play an incredibly important role in education and workforce development. They provide accessible, affordable education and hands-on training that truly make a difference in people's lives. As faculty members, many of us have experience in the real world. We bring practical, industry-specific knowledge to the classroom, bridging the gap between education and employment. In today’s world, where it seems like we disagree on just about everything, there’s one area we should all be united on: the need for strong funding and support for community colleges. They are the backbone of local communities and key to building a skilled workforce for the future. https://lnkd.in/esn-iveQ

I've just announced funding to establish up to 50 charter schools, including 15 new schools and 35 state school conversions, opening in 2025 and 2026. We're bringing back charter schools and allowing state schools to convert. Charter schools will allow educators the freedom to innovate in response to the unique needs of their communities. One size doesn’t fit all – charter schools will mean a more diverse education system that can respond to the diverse needs of students. State schools fail too many students. Charter schools are subject to higher levels of accountability and can be shut down if they don’t achieve the outcomes they’re funded for.

A brilliant morning at Whickham School on a Governor’s walking tour, seeing how the school ticks, talking to students and hearing what they have to say. Fabulously organised by the leadership team who are totally open and honest about what’s good and what needs improving as we (they!) prepare for an OFSTED inspection any time now… Some interesting discussions, specifically: 1. The ‘no mobile phones policy’ appears to be working, having introduced the locked pocket system. It’s early days but seems to be achieving the positive learning and wellbeing outcomes we’d hoped for. 2. There are parts of every school estate that require urgent attention and Whickham is no exception. This government needs to get its school build programme back on track and urgently. 3. Attendance, whilst good at Whickham has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, our young people need to access high quality education in a vibrant school environment to get the best start in life. 4. Maths, for which I’m school link, is back on track thanks to the hard work of the new team, supported by the leadership. I passionately believe in the value of maths as a foundational discipline for life. Too many leave school without the basics needed to successfully navigate life and that’s got to change. 5. Whilst Whickham was praised for its SEND provision following the last OFSTED in May 23, there needs to be more and better provision within the local authority for children with neurodiversities. There’s a lot more to say, but that’ll do for now!

AKRON- Coming together as a community, the Citizen Committee Akron Public Schools launched the first campaign in 12 years to build a new North High School and invest in Akron Student’s futures. The levy would be an investment by property owners of $3.63 per month on a $100,000 home assessed valuation for a new North High School and $22 per month on a $100,000 home assessed valuation for school operating costs. Assessed valuation of a home is 35% of the appraised value of a property. “The need for this levy is imminent, and it’s bigger than any one individual or group,” the Lebron James Foundation said in a statement. “It’s about every current Akron Public School student and the generations of students to come after them. It’s about our future as a school district, and ultimately the responsibility we all share to ensure every single child has an opportunity to succeed. That’s why we’re coming together as a community to do something bigger together.” Over 87% of Akron Public School students graduate in four years and 84% of the 2023 graduating class reported they had a job, went on to higher education or joined the military within six months of graduation. Dr. Carla L. Chapman Carla Jackson Job Esau Perry Rene Molenaur, Ph.D. Summer Hall Alexander, Bruce

It’s not about the needle, it’s about the haystack A recent piece in the New York Times by Rachel Louise Snyder about her path back from being one of America’s over 2 million high school dropouts was both inspiring and a reminder of the work ahead for our public school system. (See link to the NYT article below.) Ms. Snyder’s story (and especially the work of the educators who believed in her all through her turbulent time in school) is an illustration of what’s possible when we stick with struggling kids even when they make it very tough to do so. But Ms. Snyder is the needle in a haystack; the vast majority of children who have failed or are failing out of high school have no good choices. Despite her success, she ends her piece on an uncertain note, fearing that we still haven’t built an educational ecosystem where our children’s futures are not irrevocably damaged by their earliest stumbles. For the charter movement, this is an opportunity: how are we, with our long-standing commitment to high-quality choices for all communities and high standards for all students, going to make sure that we are opening doors for the most challenged children? For one answer, see here: (https://lnkd.in/e_Hh-ApX). The time is now for the charter sector to build on its commitment to excellence by scaling the nation’s best alternative school models to serve the students who need effective schools the most. And if you are working to improve the alternative school space (or want to learn more), please reach out and join Groundswell (https://lnkd.in/e5mfVfnD) and its national network of leading educators and advocates in our efforts to identify, strengthen and scale the best alternative schools nationwide. Link to the NYT article: https://lnkd.in/ezHaA-WH

I have more questions than answers from this article: What defines success here? Apparently, anyone can be a private school: "A private school is defined in Section 1002.01(2), Florida Statutes, as “an individual, association, co-partnership, or corporation or department, division, or section of such organizations, that designates itself as an educational center that includes kindergarten or a higher grade” and is below the college level." Interesting. delineation of requirements of private schools vs. homeschool: https://lnkd.in/gk9XhvDz I wonder why they felt the need to include this regulation: "Private schools may not exist at either end of a runway of a publicly owned, public-use airport. s. 333.03(3), F.S." In general, private schools, as defined by Florida, and homeschools have access to all public school services but if you decimate public schools and their subsequent funding, won't those services necessarily go away? Lots of questions, especially as the article notes other states are looking at Florida as a roadmap. What's your question here?

🦄 Lean practitioners, imagine facilitating daily management with experienced whiteboarders! 🤣 ➡️ Teasing aside, what age is “too early” to facilitate self-direction, autonomy, and individual + collective responsibility?! ⬅️ Yes, I work with CEOs and relentless Improvement types to improve work by challenging their own preconceptions. But, what if those preconceptions weren’t taught to us in the first place?! Reimagine school, reimagine work. *** Respect humanity (including younger humans!). Improve work. Continuous Improvement without the Other CI, Consciousness Improvement, is unsustainable (and unfulfilling and outdated and expensive and frustrating and…) Let's experiment together: www.theotherci.com *** #theotherci #continuousimprovement #consciousness #thecountermeasures #executive #leadership #ceo #btfa #executivecoaching #sudbury #education #selfcompassion #consciousleadership #tps #lean #manufacturingexcellence #respectforpeople #futureofwork #change #management #respecthumanity #improvework #democratizework #selfdirected

Middle School, Middle Level- these are the people who guide the boys who have to jump as high as they can on every doorway. The girls who are figuring out what to carry in their purse. The ones who call eveyone “bruh” and “bro” every day and as generically as possible. The ones who will -probably- work for a single Starburst, or any type of food… The ones who still need recess every day even if the school doesn’t schedule it, because kinetic energy is still all over the place… when they act awake after 9am. The ones who can change the smell of a room in 3.5 seconds. The ones who are too cool and are too silly- within five minutes and back again. The ones who sometimes have the self-control of a gnat, and then have startlingly profound awareness. The ones who are both mean and kind on the same day. The ones whose brains are neuro-organizing all the files in new places and they forget everything and all their stuff. The ones whose energy could power the world, just like Monsters Inc. The ones who take a special kind of teacher to *get* them. They’re not just smaller high schoolers. Hats 🎩 Off to the Middle Level Educators.

Turning schools around.... One of the reasons that we believe so firmly in the value of strong multi academy trusts is because of the support and encouragement they can give to other schools, especially those that are struggling.     Recently I saw what this kind of support looks like in action on a visit to Denton Community College, on a visit with Andrew Gwynne MP and it was genuinely inspiring.    The Northern Education Trust, led by Robert Tarn CBE, started working with Donald Cumming, the interim headteacher, to focus on rebuilding a sense of aspiration, pride and confidence in the staff and pupils. This entailed creating a calm environment and recognition of every pupil’s talents.   A small example of this that I witnessed, is that every Friday students are encouraged to go and see the headteacher to show him a piece of work they’re proud of. He then gives them a ‘Proud’ stamp and a certificate.     While that may not sound transformative practice, it has had an extraordinary effect on the school’s students. Who would have imagined that instead of finding this deeply uncool, the year 7s and upwards were to be found queuing round the block for their ‘Proud’ stamps!     Sharing best practice is one of the things that strong academy trusts do so brilliantly week in week out. It is also one of the reasons that as of January this year, there are over 130,000 fewer pupils in underperforming schools than at this time last year.   We work closely with schools and trusts to make sure that they get the support they need, whether that’s in relation to the curriculum, teaching practice, or attendance.   There are great initiatives by the sector to deliver this like the The Education Exchange, where they grow professional networks by uniting people and encouraging professional friendships. But other projects will focus on making sure school leaders get support if they need it and that’s where we come in.   When I founded SafeLives, we had a saying about ‘finding the smallest possible thing that made the biggest possible difference.’ The Proud certificates might just be a great example of that.  

Check this out: In EVERY SINGLE CITY that significantly expanded public charter schools over the past decade, ALL low-income kids (including those in district-run schools!) leapt toward state averages. The other cities? Not so much. No place should be hanging up a "mission accomplished" banner yet, but the evidence continues to mount: When you expand public school options (think: Montessori, magnet, charter, language-immersion, etc.) more kids get access to the best-fit schools that meet their needs and unlock their potential. Read on 👇 https://lnkd.in/gr7_vWAc