President’s Message

Over the summer holidays I read a book that I simply couldn’t put down. Although written by a very successful corporate leader, this book provides many applications for school advancement and the ‘business’ of education.

“Imagine it Forward: Courage, Creativity and the Power of Change” is written by Beth Comstock – a woman who by her own admission was an “unlikely change-maker”.

In her three decades of leading US corporate, GE, from marketing and innovation roles to becoming Vice Chair, she was the voice of change.

But instigating change is hard for us today when we’re all so busy.

The school day flies by at lightning pace, punctuated by bells and the ebb and flow of students. The change around us is relentless, and yet we are somehow resistant to truly embracing it.

A full-to-overflowing agenda forces us to keep our heads down and soldier on. Get the job done. To fall behind is fatal.

But as Beth says in her book, “we must become change-ready – fearless and ready to rethink or redesign whatever we do and wherever we are. We must constantly adapt, discover, think ahead and iterate.” I especially connect with her idea to “give yourself permission to imagine.”

Imagination. It has become something of a lost art. And yet it’s our imagination that sparks innovation. It’s imagination that nurtures captivating and enthralling story-telling in our classrooms and school communities.

I think a little more imagination – and dare I say it, disruption – could work wonders in our schools.

We must challenge the status quo. Efficiency and predictability have obliterated imagination. School must be where imagination and discovery happens…where we meaningfully collaborate and adapt to change.

Beth’s right. It takes courage and conviction to step off the conveyor belt. It’s scary – and it’s fear that perpetually holds us back. We fall back into line because it’s easier to stick to what we know. Get the job done. Don’t fall behind.

What else could be possible? We’ll never know if we don’t improvise. Have a go and test out new ideas. Take some calculated risks and assess the outcomes. Ready ourselves for the problems and challenges we’re yet to encounter.

The need for change won’t go away just because our lives are hectic. We must tackle it head-on.

As the book says, “change starts, first, with you.”

David Osborne
President
NSW/ACT Chapter Educate Plus