May 2, 2022

Thinking Ahead Issue

This edition of Ahead in the Count is Janus faced, but the looking back is all in service of the future. Teachers are focused on the finish line of the 2021- 2022 school year, understandably, but heads and boards are thinking about next fall--board succession, enrollment, strategic plans, and a central focus on community and structure as we look forward to what we hope will be the first "typical" opening of a school year in over 3 years.

School communities are eager to gather again, to share in celebration, in vision-making, and in the everyday encounters that help them feel connected and cared for. They're also eager for structure, particularly students: for the rhythms of events on the school calendar, for standards that inspire performance and support, for high expectations for behavior and civility. Good schools will scaffold these efforts and support kids who are struggling, but I anticipate the year will begin with a higher bar and a general call on kids to up their game.