Renegades Needed

Brad Gustafson Renegade Leadership—Creating Innovative Schools for Digital-Age Students

I had the chance to read Renegade Leadership: Creating Innovative Schools for Digital-Age Students by Brad Gustafson in a way I have never experienced before. I joined a Voxer group sponsored by the author and joined by other educators from around the country. Water cooler questions for our on-line chapter discussion was broadcasted by an audio or text Vox by our book study facilitator.  What followed for me was a weekly professional discussion with passionate digital leaders from across the country. Just for me, just in time PD.

I was initially intrigued with the alternative leadership approach i.e. Renegade—who doesn’t dream of that! The fact Gustafson also focused on leadership for our digital-aged students also caught my attention. In the trenches of our school improvement work, preparing our students for our connected world is not as high on our comprehensive achievement plan as it should be. I needed to start paying more attention to the innovation that was occurring in schools across the country. What are they doing to impact student ownership of their learning through digital connectivity?

Gustafson shared The “Renegade Leadership” traits needed for authentic change in our current traditional educational system.

“Renegade Leadership is instructional leadership for the digital age. It is child-centered to the core. It is collaborative, connected, and combines the best of what we know with the best of what’s to come” (p. 6).

A Renegade Leader strives to learn.  A Renegade Leader understands how incredibly connected our world is becoming and to remain relevant pedagogy must by responsive to these changes.  A Renegade Leader takes seriously the responsibility we all have to prepare our students for their future.  “Renegade Leadership prioritized relationships within a relevant and connected pedagogy” (p. 8).

The best practice and innovation needed to move forward requires the Renegade CODE. Renegade Leaders collaborate face to face to create and build student learning experiences. Student ownership transfers our learners from passive to contributive learners. Purposeful digital connectivity is used in meaningful ways when possible. Students experience what it means to be a learner now and as they navigate all of our futures.

 “The book includes a series of unique features designed to challenge, affirm, and inspire” (p. 2). Some of the features I found to be helpful while reading was the companion website which clarified or enhanced the ideas in the book. Also, throughout the book were real-life Renegade Leaders and students, with examples of how their learning was propelled forward, not with a new gadget, but the thinking required to use the digital device as a tool to communicate. Finally, there was plenty of authentic, practical advice to inspire us to get started.

As I read through the book, I marked it up in two ways. Alternative systems to consider in our school improvement journey, and takeaways I can strategically share with teacher leaders to move us all towards a more student-centered school. Together with a bold and brave mind frame focusing on the possibilities of our student’s future with what if rather than the constraints of we can’t was a hopeful message.

Learn more @ Responding to the Needs of the 21st Century Student

Failure as Feedback

Jessica Lahey THE GIFT OF FAILURE—How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go so Their Children Can Succeed

I just finished the last chapter of The Gift of Failure—How the best parents learn to let go so their children can succeed, by Jessica Lahey. It is early, and the house is unmistakably quiet. My head is spinning with Lahey’s thoughts and recommendations on parenting. As I started to get up and start my day, my eye caught one of my most treasured holiday possessions. A homemade wall hanging with handcrafted decorations from the first magical years of my boy’s childhood are on full display.  

A few of these ornaments encase pictures of my kids at various stages of their growth and young personalities. In all of the photos, their heads are tilted up, and the smiles are wide and full of life. Those hectic and delightful days are gone, and my sons are now adults. With Lahey’s book in my hands and my eyes glued to those young faces, my mind wandered to my parenting experience. “How did I do?” “Did I provide enough opportunities for them to struggle? “Did I intervene too much? “Was their path too straight?” “What did they learn?”

It was hard being a parent, and I made many mistakes, but there was incredible joy in the learning. These small beings you are entrusted with is such a gift that keeps on giving. The decisions I made throughout their typical days as an infant, a toddler, a preschooler, then through school, and eventually college were never ending, exhausting, and yet looking back exhilarating. 

Lahey’s everyday examples in her book demonstrate how parents can provide opportunities for children to struggle, fail, learn, and succeed. There are so many insights on the value of walking away and letting them figure it out when they are two—yes two! I should have been celebrating the stubborn two-year-old, so when they were sixteen they would be less likely to give up! I should have of proudly displayed the baseball cap, football jersey, and soccer ball instead of all those stupid trophies to celebrate what they love is theater. I should have let them determine what a clean room looks and smells like for their guest, rather than nagging and appreciating the fact their friends choose to be at our house rather than someplace else. 

Should of, could of, would of, can be a dangerous head game for parents. Knowing Lahey wrote this book midstream of her parenting experience made me again appreciate her realism. Whether you are a parent or an educator who works with children every day, it is never too late to give them opportunities to learn through failure.  Each disappointment, frustration, and life’s letdowns are opportunities to gain insights on what worked and what can you do differently next time.  Giving up is not an option. Learning is. 

My parenting days are not over. One of my sons called me just now. Given the hour of his call which is not his usual check-in pattern, my heart was racing. “Mom, do you have my spare car key in the junk drawer?” I got up to check, double check and got back on the phone with an unfortunate. “No.” I proceeded to ask him cautiously what was up, a parenting skill I acquired in the teen years. “I’ve locked my keys in my car.”  I again replied with a few short words of sympathy, but his answer made me smile and gave me hope I got some parenting right. “OK Mom, I’ll figure it out. Talk to you soon.” 

Lahey’s book The Gift of Failure will now be my go-to gift for every baby shower I attend. I also highly recommend it for every educator so the book is also a perfect new teacher gift. I can't go back and mend my parenting mishaps, but I can move forward.