Here in Massachusetts school closure is extended through the end of the school year. Schools and districts are moving from the phase 1 stage of "frantically shipping Chromebooks to homes" to the next stage of scenario planning for multiple versions of what may or may happen in the summer 'break', and fall and winter semesters. None of us knows what will unfold in the weeks and months to come, but there is much to learn, and, as institutions of learning, we have the opportunity to lead the way in harvesting that learning.
The above graphic caught my eye recently on my LinkedIn feed. It was sketched by Frederic Debailleul, a student in Kelvy Bird's generative scribing class. The questions he poses are great questions for schools and communities to begin asking themselves as we navigate an emerging new reality. The global education system has never experienced this level of disruption before and all of us find ourselves in William Bridges Neutral Zone - the chaotic and creative stage between the ending and the new beginning. We are in a liminal state and a liminal state always hold the promise of the new - and our vision for what that might and could be. It shapes us - and we have the opportunity to shape it. Frederic's email promoted me to brainstorm a few additional questions to help you and your teams reflect and re-orient in the weeks ahead:
What have you lost?
What have you gained?
What is truly important?
What choices will you make? What are the values that will guide those choices?
What are the best and worst-case scenarios for which you should plan in the next 30, 60, 90 days? Six months - twelve months?
What should you keep/stop/start doing?
What is possible now that might not have been possible before?
List your organizational habits - which ones should your stop and which ones should you keep? New ones to try?
What is essential?
What have you learned?
What will you build?
What advice does your 20-year-old version of yourself give you in this moment?
I wish you resilience and hope as you lead during truly transformative times. If you would like to get together online to unpack what is currently happening, explore challenges, and give space to brainstorm ideas, I am here for you. If you would like to get together online to share a cup of tea and just chat - I am here for that too :) Just email me and we'll set up a day/time that works for you.