The Revolution. Darren Ellwein

that I wasn’t there to make them comfortable. Preparing kids for the future was our real work, and I was there to push them to transform learning.

      I challenged them to transform and push one another to create something that hasn’t yet been achieved.

      HSMS had already begun to move the needle toward innovative practices. There were a lot of traditional practices in place that had adults at the center of the learning process, but the voice of the learner was becoming more prominent. Our learners were creating unique projects. Teachers had started to use their freedom to experiment with new practices. Our makerspace and personalized learning culture were growing. Now we needed to bring it all under one purpose.

      Revolution@ry Reflection

       “There are two types of schools: Those that prepare kids for the future, and those that allow adults to live comfortably in the past.”

       —Bold School author Weston Kieschnick (@wes_kieschnick)

      Personally, I had begun to feel the power of change when kids had a voice in their products and a choice in their learning. My own motivation for learning grew as my vision for learning expanded. No longer was I learning with blinders on: follow this curriculum, do this project the same time each year, do the same as the person next door. A renaissance had taken hold, and I wanted that to be understood by all the adults in the building.

      Rita Pierson has given one of the most watched TED Talks in the education genre. Her focus was on relationships and the power of believing in our kids. I wanted her passion to awaken a revolution. After showing the Rita Pierson TED Talk (Search YouTube for Every Kid Needs a Champion), our staff met in grade-level teams to brainstorm the question, “What is our purpose at Harrisburg South Middle School (HSMS)?” To gather their ideas, I had them write their thoughts on Padlet, a tech tool that works as an online bulletin board. Asking for their input gave them a voice in determining our purpose. When this was completed, I told everyone that we needed to build this together. They had some great answers listed in the Padlet, but I challenged them to keep digging deeper. What drives us to be the best? What one thing pushes our purpose? Someone eventually said the one word that would become the glue that held our work together—relationships. Our purpose would be building relationships.

      Revolution@ry Reflection

       Fill in the blanks:

       Our staff’s focus is _____________

       Our students want _____________

       Our parents need ____________

      The lesson here for educators in all fields—K–12 and higher education—is to be open and vulnerable with one another to discover your true purpose. What would those in your learning environment say is your purpose? Does everyone agree on what the most important things are about your school? Shifting the culture won’t happen until there is understanding, buy-in, and belief! If we are going to reimagine and rebuild our learning institutions, it’s going to take real work.

      Next, I told them that every program, idea, and instructional strategy had to align with this purpose. For example, we have a program called iChoose, a combination of Edcamp for middle school learners and Passion Projects. I asked the teachers if this fit our purpose of building relationships. The answer was yes. As we were planning our personalized learning model, I asked if this program fit our purpose. Another yes. Any new programs or ideas after this point would have to fit our purpose of building relationships. Probably the greatest change came in our language. We were very intentional in our use of the word “relationship.” It is very common now to hear the word used in our classes and in daily discussions. It has become a valued signpost for the culture of our building.

      So why is this important? What’s the goal of finding a shared purpose? To answer this, think about the change our learners experience on a frequent basis. The change can be social, emotional, physical, or related to culture, home, disability, or gender. With so many changes in their lives, it is vital that we have a common purpose and consistent atmosphere for them.

      Revolution@ry Idea

       We can’t settle for a common vision and mission. There must be shared beliefs, mindsets, and values. We can support the vision of all students succeeding, but what about truly believing that all students can succeed? A vision and mission statement alone won’t ensure we all work as hard as we can to help every student succeed. Changing our culture will require changing beliefs, skills, and mindsets to empower learners.