Wow! In this episode, I invited my good friend Jeff Petty, former Principal of the Highline Big Picture School and catalyst for several Big Picture Schools throughout the Northwest, to invite someone he respected for his own work in starting learner-centered schools. That person was Javier Guzman, who started his own Big Picture School in NYC and subsequently the New Village Girls Academy in Los Angeles, and has since been helping schools and districts pursue better learning environments for all youth. The conversation touched on many points: Where does an interest and pursuit of school transformation happen? Who can lead and inspire others to pursue this transformation? Finally, what will it take to SCALE transformative practices? And is that even possible? In all of this, both Jeff and Javier share several stories from their experience working with others in the need to transform school and then how such transformations got underway. A great episode rich with stories – good and bad – with a leaning toward what is possible in education once a fire is lit and the “abundance” of data clearly shows we need to do school differently.
Wow! In this episode, I invited my good friend Jeff Petty, former Principal of the Highline Big Picture School and catalyst for several Big Picture Schools throughout the Northwest, to invite someone he respected for his own work in starting learner-centered schools. That person was Javier Guzman, who started his own Big Picture School in NYC and subsequently the New Village Girls Academy in Los Angeles, and has since been helping schools and districts pursue better learning environments for all youth. The conversation touched on many points: Where does an interest and pursuit of school transformation happen? Who can lead and inspire others to pursue this transformation? Finally, what will it take to SCALE transformative practices? And is that even possible? In all of this, both Jeff and Javier share several stories from their experience working with others in the need to transform school and then how such transformations got underway. A great episode rich with stories – good and bad – with a leaning toward what is possible in education once a fire is lit and the “abundance” of data clearly shows we need to do school differently.