In Olmsted Falls Schools we’ve been working diligently on re-defining student success and as we explore  how Ohio should re-envision public education in our state, I wanted to share some recent experiences that helped me think about this big idea.

Learning From Others

For the past five years I’ve had the good fortune of being part of an organization called the Mid-American Association of School Superintendents. Each year we have a conference in Chicago and approximately 60 school superintendents from around the midwest gather to discuss the various challenges and opportunities that those in our position face within our local districts, along with things coming at public education from the state and federal levels.

The conference provides a valuable opportunity to hear what is happening in other states on topics such as state accountability systems, the impact that politics have on local control, and so on. This year we had the opportunity to hear from the Commissioner of Education in the State of Kansas, Dr. Randy Watson.  Dr. Watson’s presentation intrigued me in many ways. I wanted to share some of his messages and how they are applicable to Ohio’s Public Schools and Olmsted Falls.

Dr. Watson’s organizing question centered on–do you want student achievement or student success? While he never really gave the answer, the discussion he led demonstrated that, while both are needed, the focus ought be more on one than the other.  You see, the State of Kansas has been under a re-envisioning process that began with gathering opinions from business leaders and members of the local communities. The focus of the conversations and opinions gathered was on defining the kinds of skills, attributes and abilities a successful young adult Kansan would need. They didn’t talk about the common core…the number of points needed on end of course exams to demonstrate that a student was diploma worthy…hollow reading guarantees or other items that would derail the discussion.

Through a series of focus group discussions they asked those that live in their state and those that hire the people that live in Kansas what characteristics of success matter most—academic skills or non-academic skills? Seventy percent of residents indicated that non-academic skills mattered most and 81% of those focus group members from business indicated the same. Through their state engagement they learned that residents in their state also defined successful graduates as: happy; fulfilled; wanting to give back to the community and be in the service of others; along with acquiring the kinds of skills and attributes that would allow one to earn a living in the middle class or beyond.  What’s the lesson to be learned? If the people of the state expect education to focus on something and the businesses in the state think the same thing, perhaps it is the elected officials in the state should ensure an educational system is put into place that meets those demands. 

Beyond Academic Success…Student Success

The aforementioned skills offer a parallel to the kinds of skills we are working to more purposefully develop in Olmsted Falls Students. Specifically, we’ve partnered with the University of Chicago, EdLeader 21 and multiple school districts to provide some of our teachers with professional development that focuses on how to more intently align classroom instructional experiences with the kinds of “non-academic” skills people need well beyond high school (e.g. communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity). I would imagine that if Ohio’s business leaders and citizens were asked about the kinds of skills people need to be successful they would be very similar. 

Dr. Watson from Kansas then went on to explain how the Kansas Department of Education and Legislators worked together to re-envision education in their state and the dream began with engaging groups of people through discussion. They talked about some really big questions and formulating deep commitments.  It’s not that student achievement wasn’t important. It was viewed simply…achievement isn’t enough.

As I hear and learn about how other states are engaging constituents and collaboratively working to essentially “make it work,” I get inspired and simultaneously frustrated. The Ohio General Assembly has been messing around with No Child Left Behind versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2 and other renditions of test-based accountability for well over two decades and you know what? It has failed. Ohio’s laws regarding education and assessment are so intertwined and convoluted it will likely require a complete “do-over” in order to make it right. 

Feedback & Community Partnerships

I believe there is good news. Rather than waiting for the system to fix itself, a group of superintendents from around Ohio got together to work on the work. We are on a consensus building mission and need feedback from the local communities on the statement of purpose and set of beliefs we’ve created for Ohio’s Public Schools. We are engaging in this work because we’re tired of keeping our collective heads down and reacting to the barrage of silliness that comes at us from Columbus.

These statements are a beginning and are meant to start a grassroots conversation. Our purpose in creating them was to solicit feedback from the local communities that represent all of Ohio’s 88 counties in order to further develop the statements. They are purposefully incomplete and not perfect. You can provide your feedback by completing this very brief survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/OhioStakeholders. This survey will be shared throughout the state so that citizens can weigh in on these ideas.  Responses are anonymous and your feedback will be used to revise the statements.

Once consensus has been reached on the purpose and belief statements, implications for action will be developed and these will help to guide advocacy efforts to change policies and laws that might detract from implementation. We have a very long way to go, however that journey begins with a first step. As these develop, I will continue to keep you informed and share further information on how you personally can help.

Finally, we are also engaging members of the Ohio General Assembly to let them know what we are doing and they are very interested. Senator Huffman authored the first educational de-regulation bill. Senator Matt Dolan, who represents Olmsted Falls and several school districts on the west and east side of Cleveland, will be meeting with as superintendent group on November 17 to discuss standardized testing as mandated by Ohio Law and reforming Ohio’s School District Report Card so that it is more relevant and meaningful. We need to more beyond problem identifying. Let’s have Ohioans work together to problem solve. 

~Thanks for listening.

Jim