Wait, what?

Colleagues,

MVP: Know why you are doing what you are doing.
 
On last Friday’s podcast I talked about real accountability versus fake accountability as a sub-theme of purpose, of knowing why we are doing what we are doing. After recording the podcast, I saw a couple articles that drove this point home for me.
 
A school district’s 5th grade reading scores are low, so they are implementing a new reading program and will use the state test scores to determine the success of the program. But what’s the purpose?
 
To raise test scores?
 
That’s not the purpose of education, but by focusing on a fake accountability measure, the district loses site not only of the purpose, but of the problem.
 
What if 50% of the 5th grade reading teachers are in their first two years of teaching? What is every AP and instructional coaching the district has turned over in the past three years?
 
A program isn’t the answer to either of those challenges, but because we are measuring the wrong thing, we implement a program that will be counterproductive, not because it is a bad program, but because it doesn’t address the real problem.
 
Today’s intention: As much as you can today, question if actions and programs are fully aligned to the purpose for which they were implemented. Applaud alignment, but think critically about disconnects.

Cheers!

Frederick